History
1949
Our company was established by Dr. Jin Matsuo, a former head of the National Institute of Health in Japan. The head office was situated in Tokiwamatsu in Shibuya, Tokyo, with the production facilities in Sakura City in Chiba, at the time.
We began with the production of drug substance, Rutin, after being approved to manufacture pharmaceutical products.
1957
Relocation of the main office from Tokyo to Sakura City
Hiroshi Tatsuzaki was inaugurated as the president of the company
1970
Began production of Glycyrrhizic acid extracted from Licorice
1973
Completion of the first production plant
1974
Began production of Stevia extract
1977
Introduction of HPLC to the facility
1979
Additional construction of microbial wastewater treatment plants
1981
Formalization of the Licorice extract extraction technology for the use of tobacco
1982
Branching out to the field of health food production
Began production of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), an extract from fish oil
1983
Completion of the second production plant (extract production facility)
Began extraction of several plant extracts
Situated the Tokyo sales office in Honcho, Nihonbashi
Productization of herbal products; startup of Japan Sana Co., Ltd.
1984
Inauguration of Hiroshi Tatsuzaki as the chairman, and Takashi Tatsuzaki as the president
1987
Began production of ginkgo leaf extract
1989
Began acquiring 41,000m2 land for building additional production facilities
1991
Completion of the third production plant (extract production facility)
1992
Completion of the fifth production plant (chemical filling and R&D lab)
Completion of the seventh production plant (extract production facility)
Began production of billberry extract
1993
Held the first employee training program for the entire company
1994
Construction of additional production plants (with freeze-drying machine)
1996
Established a research farm in Fukushima prefecture
Startup of Japan Ginkgo Farm Co., Ltd.
1997
Completion of the fourth production plant (extract production facility)
Escalation of soy isoflavone production
1998
Completion of the eighth production plant (quality control lab, etc.)
1999
Construction of main office building
50th anniversary
Received the 3rd Best Venture Business Owner Award from the Chiba Prefecture Industrialists’ Club
Received the Chiba Genki Company Award from The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
2002
Began production of rafuma extract (VENETRON®; the scientific name is Apocynum venetum)
2003
Completion of the eleventh production plant (extract production facility)
Began production of black currant extract
2004
Established Tokyo branch office in Honcho, Nihonbashi; placement of plant functional analysis lab
Completion of the new industrial fractionating column
2006
Began production of sennoside calcium
Began production of maca extract
Application of large-scale HPLC
2008
Began manufacturing and selling experimental reagents for research purposes
Approved for the production of experimental reagents for animal research purposes
Implantation of the environmental management system
2010
Inauguration of Takashi Tatsuzaki as the chairman, and Jin Tatsuzaki as the president
Received the GMP approval for health food ingredients from the JIHFS (Japan Institute for Health Food Standards)
2011
Began production of kampo (Chinese medicine) extracts
Renewed the brand logo
Obtained Halal Certification
2012
Completion of tenth production plant (expanded pharmaceutical production facility)
Obtained the FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification from the Global Food Safety Initiative
2013
Began manufacturing black turmeric extract (SIRTMAX®; the scientific name is Kaempferia parviflora)
2014
Tokiwa Yakuso Shrine (a healing shrine) was bestowed by Gojoten Shrine in Ueno as its branch shrine
The very first all-hands meeting was held
2016
Completion of twelfth production plant (new freeze-drying facility)
2018
Received investment from SBIC East Japan
2019
Received the Best Young Entrepreneur Award from The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
Obtained HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) Certification
Held 56th Phytochemical symposium and Tokiwa Phytochemical 70th anniversary symposium
2020
Tokiwa was added to the list of leading companies who support community growth, by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
2021
Received the Encouragement Award at the Chiba Prefecture Awards for Workplaces Promoting Gender Equality
Certification of the Business Continuity Strengthening Plan (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Received the Excellence Award at the Courageous Management Awards (Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
2022
2023
Certified as a “Bright 500” company in the 2023 Health Management Excellence Awards (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category) (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Won the Bronze Award in the Social Category at the Eco Action 21 of the Year 2022 Awards (Sustainability Promotion Organization)
2024
Received the Diamond Business Leaders Club Annual Outstanding Company Special Jury Award
Winner of the Special Award at the 29th Chiba Genki-in Corporate Awards (Sankei Shimbun)
Certified as a “Bright 500” company in the 2024 Health Management Excellence Awards (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category) (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Winner of the Eco Action 21 of the Year 2023 Gold Award (Social Category) (Minister of the Environment Award)
(Sustainability Promotion Organization, a general incorporated foundation)
Conduct a positive impact assessment
Start of Production of Mate Extract (MATESOL®)
Sakura Universal Company Receives Award
2025
Certified as a Sports Yell Company 2025+
Winner of the Eco Action 21 of the Year 2024 Special Jury Award in the Social Category and the Bronze Award in the Environmental Report Category
(Sustainability Promotion Organization, a general incorporated foundation)
Received the Governor’s Award at the Chiba Prefecture Outstanding Business Executive Awards (Chiba Industrialists’ Club)
Certified as a “Bright 500” company in the 2025 Health Management Excellence Awards (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category) (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Recipient of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award at the “Most Valuable Company in Japan” Awards (Society for People-Centered Management)
2026
Certified as a Sports Yell Company 2026+