KINJIRUSHIKINJIRUSHI

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Our HistoryOur History

Established period (1929-1951)Established period (1929-1951)

1929

1929 - Founder Motoji Kobayashi1929 - Founder

The founder and the first president, founder opened Seikaten to sell fresh fruit and vegetables in Yanagibashi Central Market

1930

Switched to selling wasabi wholesale

1933

Began researching and producing powdered wasabi

1937

1937 - First Sashimi garnish maker developed by Motoji Kobayashi1937 - First sashimi garnish maker

Developed "Kanto-style Garnish Machine" and "Wasabi Drier"
Powdered wasabi products officially named "KINJIRUSHI Wasabi" and "GINJIRUSHI Wasabi"

1940

Purchased western style-house in Nagoya-shi, Nakagawa-ku (now KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Nagoya Factory); factory established
Began producing powdered wasabi using horseradish

1948

Opened Osaka Agency (now Osaka Branch)

1949

Opened Tokyo Agency (now Tokyo Branch)

1950

1950 - KINJIRUSHI’s trademark registration notice1950 - KINJIRUSHI’s trademark registration notice

Received first trademark registration for "KIN"

1951

Began contract cultivation of horseradish in Nagano

Fundamental period (1952-1974)Fundamental period (1952-1974)

1952

Established (incorporated) KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. (now KINJIRUSHI Co., Ltd.),

1955

Established All Japan Wasabi Association

1960

Opened new Nagoya Factory (now Nagoya Factory #1)
and Fukuoka Office (now Fukuoka Branch)

1962

Opened Sapporo Office (now Sapporo Branch)

1965

Switched horseradish contract cultivation land from Nagano to Hokkaido

1968

1968 - Abashiri Factory is completed1968 - Abashiri Factory is completed

Abashiri FarmAbashiri Farm

Completed Abashiri Factory (now KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Okhotsk Factory #1)

1969

KINJIRUSHI’s pure powdered wasabiKINJIRUSHI’s "Pure Powdered Wasabi"

First in industry to release pure "KINJIRUSHI Wasabi" without any mustard powder mixed in
Opened Hiroshima Agency (now Hiroshima Branch)
Established All Japan Powdered Wasabi Fair Trade Council

1971

KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Paste (packets)KINJIRUSHI "Wasabi Paste" (packets)

First in industry to release "KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Paste" (packets)

1972

Opened Sendai Agency (now Sendai Branch)

1973

1973 - KINJIRUSHI grated wasabi “Fuji,” “Shirayuki” and “Sansui” 1973 - "KINJIRUSHI Grated Wasabi (Fuji, Shirayuki and Sansui)"

Fresh Grated Wasabi"Fresh Grated Wasabi"

First in industry to sell "KINJIRUSHI Grated Wasabi" and "KINJIRUSHI Fresh Grated Wasabi"
Released "KINJIRUSHI Pickled Wasabi"

KINJIRUSHI wasabi recommended as a designated product by ZENSUISHOREN

1974

KINJIRUSHI RAIFORT®"KINJIRUSHI RAIFORT"

Released "KINJIRUSHI RAIFORT"

Breakthrough period (1975-2003)Breakthrough period (1975-2003)

1976

KINJIRUSHI wasabi recommended as a designated product by the Sushi Product Environmental Hygiene Trade Association Federation
KINJIRUSHI wasabi recommended as a designated product by the All Japan Noodle Environmental Hygiene Trade Association Federation
KINJIRUSHI wasabi recommended as a designated product by the All Japan Food and Beverage Environmental Hygiene Trade Association Federation

1978

Released "Fresh Grated Ginger"

1979

Released "Mustard"
Established Waner Sales Co., Ltd. (now KINJIRUSHI Sales Co., Ltd.)

1980

Completed Nagoya Factory #2 (now KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Nagoya Factory #2)

1981

Released "Fresh Grated Garlic"

1982

Received Food and Marketing Bureau Head's Award from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Received Health and Welfare Minister's Award from Ministry of Health and Welfare
Completed Abashiri Research Center (now KINJIRUSHI Co., Ltd. Okhotsk Research Center)
Released "Poshe Mustard"

1983

Fresh Grated Wasabi for Sashimi"Fresh Grated Wasabi for Sashimi"

Released "Fresh Grated Wasabi for Sashimi"

1984

Opened Los Angeles Representative Office (now KWI HQ)

1986

Released "Fresh Grated Wasabi" in a cold tube for home use

1987

Established Abashiri Agricultural Goods Advanced Processing Research Center

1988

Received Tokai Region Award during 22nd Medium and Small Business Research Institute Awards (now Good Company Award)

1989

Established Yanagijima Research Center

1990

Released "Pickled Leaf/Stem/Flower Bud Wasabi in Soy Sauce"

1991

"All Japan Wasabi Association" renamed to "All Japan Processed Wasabi Association;"

1992

Released "Eel Sauce & Japanese Pepper"
Opened Kanazawa Office

1993

Received Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minster's Award
Released "Sengyo Ichiba" Series of tubed product for home use

1994

Completed new Okhotsk Factory (now KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Okhotsk Factory #2)

1997

"KINJIRUSHI Fresh Grated Wasabi" wins 1st "Commercial Processed Food Hit Award" in Japanese Food Category
(held by THE JAPAN FOOD JOURNAL Co., Ltd.)

1998

Established Waner Foods Co., Ltd. (now KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Shizuoka Factory)

2001

Released "KINJIRUSHI Finely Chopped Wasabi"

2002

Developed "Mitsuki," a new type of wasabi product, and registered seedlings with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Split KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. into a holding company and two production subsidiaries (KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Nagoya and KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Okhotsk)
Changed name of Waner Foods Co., Ltd. to KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Shizuoka, a production subsidiary
Converted Warer Sales Co., Ltd. (now KINJIRUSHI Sales Co., Ltd.) into a subsidiary

2003

Company name changed from KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. to KINJIRUSHI Co., Ltd.
Completed new Shizuoka Factory (now KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Shizuoka Factory)
Established KINJIRUSHI Mail Order Co., Ltd. (now KINJIRUSHI Co., Ltd. Mail Order Business Division)
Awarded with "Manufacturing Brand NAGOYA" honor (Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry)

The Future (2004-Present)The Future (2004-Present)

2004

Certified as "AICHI Brand Company" (Aichi Prefecture)
Released "Wasabi-sulfinyl" Series health product

2005

Waner Sales Co., Ltd. renamed to KINJIRUSHI Sales Co., Ltd.
Integrated Waner brand with KINJIRUSHI brand
Released "Condiments" Series of fresh spices
Released "Sunsulfee Bi no Kaname Cosmetics" Series of basic skin-care products

2006

Opened KINJIRUSHI Online Shop
Opened Paris (France) Representative Office

2007

"KINJIRUSHI Finely Chopped Wasabi" wins 11th "Commercial Processed Food Hit Award" in Japanese Food Category
(held by Nihon Shokuryo Shinbun Company)
Held 1st "Wasabi Forum"
(inaugurated Wasabi Health Science Society)
Opened KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Functionality Laboratory website
Opened New York Branch (now KWI Branch)

2008

Released "Wasabi-thiohexyl" Series of refreshment items
Held 2nd "Wasabi Forum"

2009

Opened London Representative Office (England)
Received Tokai Regional Agricultural Administration Office Head's Award
Received Production Office Head's Award from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (horseradish cultivation)
Opened Frankfurt Representative Office (Germany)
Merged three production subsidiaries (KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Nagoya, KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Okhotsk, KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd. Shizuoka), name changed to KINJIRUSHI Wasabi Co., Ltd.
Held 3rd "Wasabi Forum"

2010

Received Production Office Head's Award from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (wasabi cultivation)
Held "Wasabi Academy 2010"

2011

Began producing "Waner Powdered Wasabi V-1A" in the U.S.
Renewed "Sunsulfee Bi no Kaname Cosmetics" Series of basic skin-care products

2012

Merged KINJIRUSHI Mail Order Co., Ltd. with KINJIRUSHI Co., Ltd.

2013

"Grated Wasabi" and "Fresh Grated Ginger" condiments received "2013 Superior Taste Award" from International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi)

2014

Established KINJIRUSHI Agriculture Co., Ltd.
Established KINJIRUSHI WASABI INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD in the U.S.
"Grated Wasabi" and "Fresh Grated Ginger" condiments received "2014 Superior Taste Award" from International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi)

2015

Released "Spice Selection" Series

2018

Reformulated the "Sunsulfee Bi no Kaname" Series

2019

Awarded by Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister for Commendation for Excellent Businesses Engaged in Exports in 2018
Established German subsidiary KINJIRUSHI WASABI EUROPE GmbH
Held the 4th "Wasabi Forum"

2020

Launched the industry's first functionality-labelled wasabi "KINJIRUSHI Kizami Wasabi for Meat".
Revamped the KINJIRUSHI brand logo, brand concept, and brand statement

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