History

Moriroku's long journey to the present day

The beginnings of the Moriroku Group can be traced back to the year 1663 in the former province of Awa in Tokushima Prefecture. Thanks to your patronage and support, we marked the 360th anniversary of our founding in 2023.
Have a look for yourself at the long history that the Moriroku Group shares with the development of chemical industries in Japan, starting with our initial forays in the distribution of the natural raw materials of indigo and manure.

The origin of the company name “Moriroku”

In 1663, Moriroku founder Yasube Mori started trading in indigo dye balls and fertilizer in the form of dried sardines under the company name “Shimaya.” Subsequently, during the tenure of Rokube Mori, the sixth-generation head of the company (1853), Shimaya started doing business in the Kanto region. The “Roku” and “Mori” taken from the given and family names of this president were rearranged to form what would become the company’s new name, “Moriroku.”

Early history from 1663 to 1915

Sales of indigo dyed goods commenced and spread nationwide

1663	Foundation Started dealing in Awa indigo and manure in Awa（Tokushima）
1853	Established Kanto area sales headquarters in Edo （Tokyo）
1878	Exhibited Awa indigo at Paris International Exposition
1882	Started wholesaling of domestic and foreign fertilizers
1899	Opened Kobe Offices
1909	Opened Osaka Office Started import and sales of dyestuffs, industrial chemicals and sodas

Image: A Moriroku newspaper ad in the late 1800s — A Moriroku newspaper ad in the late 1800s

Image: Moriroku's office in the early years — Moriroku's office in the early years

Growth from 1916 to 1948

The company was reorganized into a modern chemical trading business

1916	Moriroku reorganized as a joint-stock company （Capital: 1 million yen, Head Office: Tokushima, Branch Offices: Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe）
1927	Moved the head office to Osaka (Opened Shikoku Office)
1939	Started dealing in food mold inhibitors →Advanced into modern chemical products business
1940	Opened Nagoya Office

Image: Former President Rokuro Mori — Former President Rokuro Mori

Image: Moriroku's former branch in Nagoya — Moriroku's former branch in Nagoya

Laying solid foundations from 1949 to 1964

Moriroku continued to establish a foothold as a manufacturer

1949	Started dealing in vinyl chloride →Advanced into resin business
1958	Started dealing in low-pressure polyethylene, and developed product application methods →Advanced into production business
1962	Moved the head office to Muromachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Opened Osaka branch)
1963	Changed the trade name to Moriroku Trading Company, Ltd.

Netron brand protective bottle covers

Hi-Zex brand polyethylene on display at a plastic trade show

Transformation from 1965 to 1985

The company started full-fledged production of auto parts

1965	Constructed new factory in Suzuka City, Mie
1968	Moved the head office to Kasumigaseki Building, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
1979	Opened the Technical Service Center
1980	Constructed Kanto Plant in Ohizumi-cho, Ohra-gun, Gunma
1982	Changed the trade name to Moriroku Company Ltd.
1983	Constructed the Technical Research Center and prototype facility in Kawagoe City, Saitama

Image: The original Suzuka Plant — The original Suzuka Plant

Image: A celebration marking the opening of the Kanto Plant — A celebration marking the opening of the Kanto Plant

Expansion from 1986 to 2007

Moriroku began expanding its operations globally

1986	Established a local corporation Greenville Technology, Inc. in Ohio, U.S.A. through joint venture with Honda
1990	Constructed Meiwa Factory in Meiwa-cho, Ohra-gun, Gunma Established a local corporation, Moriroku Company (HK) Ltd., in Hong Kong
1994	Established a local corporation, Moriroku Philippines, Inc. in Laguna, Philippines Opened Shanghai Representative Office in China
1996	Opened Bangkok Representative Office Established a local corporation, Listowel Technology, Inc., in Ontario, Canada Established a local corporation, Moriroku UT India Pvt., Ltd., in New Delhi, India Established a local corporation, Moriroku (Singapore) Pte., Ltd., in Singapore
1997	Established a local corporation, Moriroku (Thailand) Co., Ltd., in Bangkok, Thailand Opened Hezliya Representative Office in Israel
2000	Established a local corporation Rainsville Technology, Inc. in Alabama, U.S.A.
2001	Established a local corporation, Guangzhou Moriroku Technology Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, China Established a local corporation, Suzhou Moriroku Technology Co., Ltd. in Suzhou, China
2002	Established a local corporation, Moriroku (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China
2003	Established Moriroku (Guangzhou) Trading Co., Ltd. Established Production Operational Headquarters Development Center to integrate the production operational headquarter functions in Moka City, Tochigi
2004	Moved the head office to Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo Established a local corporation, Wuhan Moriroku Technology Co., Ltd. in Wuhan, China.
2006	Consolidated Chemical Department and Plastic Department into Chemical Business HQ (reorganization).
2007	Established Moriroku Precision Co., Ltd. Established Moriroku (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. Established Moriroku Austria GmbH

Image: The opening ceremony for Guangzhou Moriroku Technology Co., Ltd. — The opening ceremony for Guangzhou Moriroku Technology Co., Ltd.

Image: The building in Hong Kong housing Moriroku Company (HK) Ltd. in 1993 — The building in Hong Kong housing Moriroku Company (HK) Ltd. in 1993

Image: The building housing Moriroku's office in Hezliya, Israel — The building housing Moriroku's office in Hezliya, Israel

Image: Moriroku's office in Shanghai — Moriroku's office in Shanghai

Image: Moriroku's office in Guangzhou — Moriroku's office in Guangzhou

Image: Moriroku's office in Vienna, Austria — Moriroku's office in Vienna, Austria

Reorganization from 2008

A holding company framework was adopted and Moriroku Holdings was publicly listed

2008	Established Moriroku America, Inc. Moved the Suzuka Plant to Ifuna-cho, Suzuka City, Mie. Changed its trade name to Moriroku Holdings Company, Ltd., at the same time establishing new operating companies, Moriroku Chemicals Company, Ltd. and Moriroku Technology Company, Ltd., which would take over the chemical and production sectors of the company, respectively (transition to a holding company structure).
2010	Established Moriroku Agri Co., Ltd. Established Moriroku Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
2011	Established Moriroku Chemicals Korea Co., Ltd.
2012	Established PT. Moriroku Technology Indonesia Established Moriroku Technology De Mexico S.A. De C.V.
2016	Consolidated Kanto Plant, Meiwa Plant and Mold Production Plant (in Kawagoe City, Saitama) into Ota City, Gunma. Established PT. Moriroku Chemicals Indonesia
2017	Moriroku Holdings was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
2021	Established MORIROKU CHEMICALS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
2022	Moriroku Holdings was moved to the Prime Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
2023	Established THE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF MORIROKU CHEMICALS CO., LTD. IN HO CHI MINH CITY Greenville Technology, Inc. and Rainsville Technology, Inc. merged to form Moriroku Technology North America Inc.

Image: The certificate for listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange — The certificate for listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

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