Our History
1894
Founded as a cotton cloth wholesaler in Naka-ku, Nagoya under the name of "Hattori Kanesaburo Wholesale Store"
1912
Hattori & Co.,Ltd incorporated.
1914
Launched cotton cloth manufacturing (a new Sakurada factory constructed in Naka-ku, Nagoya).
1919
Started spinning at Atsuta factory.
1939
Separated the spinning division (the present Kowabo Company, Ltd.) from the trading division to establish Kaneka Hattori & Co.,Ltd (the present Kowa Company, Ltd.)
1940
1943
1945
Branched out into the Industry and chemical field.
1946
Branched out into the optical equipment field; Gamagori factory constructed.
1947
Branched out into the pharmaceutical field; Nagoya factory constructed in Kita-ku, Nagoya.
1954
Head office moved to the present location. Established Kowa Shinyaku Co., Ltd.
1960
Company name changed to Kowa Company, Ltd.
1964
Tokyo Research Laboratory (the present Tokyo New Drug Research Laboratories) opened. Fuji Factory constructed (drug production).
1986
1989
1995
Hamamatsu Factory (for the manufacture of medical equipment) constructed.
1997
Kowa Research Institute, Inc. established.
1999
Kowa Research Europe, Ltd. was established. Through TOB, Nagoya Kanko Hotel Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary of Kowa Company, Ltd.
2003
Nikken Chemicals Co., became a subsidiary of Kowa Company, Ltd. through the acquisition of stock.
2006
Nikken Company Co., Ltd. changed the company name to Kowa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
2008
Purchased ProEthic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changes its name to Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
2010
Maruei Department Store Company Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary of Kowa Company, Ltd. through the acquisition of stock.