History

Established / 1930- 1940- 1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000- 2010-

Founding the Company
1930

Building the foundation for Harada Corporation

The first president Kametaro Harada founded Harada Shoji Kaisha, Ltd., in March 1923 with 500,000 yen in capital and launched import operations. The Great Kanto Earthquake hit in September of the same year. The Company benefited from business opportunities provided by orders to import reconstruction material for Tokyo (plate glass, etc.).
The head office building was completed in March 1928. This western-style concrete building, constructed using the latest methods at that time, is still used as the Company's head office today.

1923

Kametaro Harada established Harada Shoji Kaisha, Ltd., with initial capital of 500,000 yen, for general import/export trading.
1928

Completed new head office building and moved operations to the new building at the present site
1937

Established Tokyo Office.

1940

Shifting from import business to domestic business

The Pacific War broke out in 1941. Because it was impossible to directly import goods, the company worked to expand its domestic operations and focused solely on business within Japan.
The Company's name was changed to Harada Corporation in July 1943.
When the war ended in August 1945, the Company's former employees who had gone off to war returned to their work at the company.

1943

Changed company name to Harada Corporation.

1950

Returning to its business as a trading company

When three public corporations were established in 1947, including the Textile Goods Public Corporation, the Company started to serve as an import agent for them.
In 1949, export operations were relaunched.
In 1950 the Company started to import goods again. In this way, the company returned to its original business as a trading company.
At that time, the company also introduced various items for shipbuilding companies, which opened up that industry. The company expanded the range of products it handled from tools to machinery, creating a footing for the business that still exists today.

1951

Increased capital several times.

1960

Expanding overseas and shifting to more diverse businesses

In 1962, the Tokyo Branch was upgraded to a full office.
The company opened its first overseas office in Oslo in November 1964. Following that, the London office was opened in October 1965, and the New York office in July 1967, establishing a network of three overseas offices.
At that time, motorization was fully taking off in Japan, and the company, too, started to handle products for related industries, such as automatic drill grinders, which won high praise.

1969

Kametaro Harada took up the post of chairman of the board and Tomio Harada became president.

1970

Becoming a trading company for the new times

In 1971, the dollar-yen fixed-exchange rate (360 yen/dollar) system was dropped, and a floating exchange rate adopted.
The company then started to import precious stones, such as diamonds. When an exhibition was held at the head office, the Company was honored by the visit from the Consul of Belgium, one of the main countries the company imported goods from.
In 1972, there was a rush to build houses because of the land boom spurred on by the policy guidelines New Japan: A Plan for Remodeling the Japanese Archipelago. At that time, there was also strong demand for furniture and carpets that the Company handled.

1972

Increased capital to 300 million yen.
1974

Received thank-you letter from Norway Export Association.

1980

Contributing to the development of Japan's economy

In 1983, the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry established a prize for companies making strong contributions to the import of manufactured goods as one part of its efforts to promote imports in order to lessen trade friction. Harada Corporation was the first company to be recognized as such a company and was awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Prize.
In addition, at that time, Japanese began to drink more and more draft beer instead of bottled beer, and the Company recorded strong sales of imported draft beer keg systems, which draw out beer from metal kegs.

1983

Honored with the first prize for companies making strong contributions to the import of manufactured goods awarded by the Japanese government because of its contributions to imports over the years.
1987

Tomio Harada became Chairman and Hisao Harada became President.

1990

Creating a foothold for the current business

In order to launch a new food business, the Company established Mondomix Japan, Inc., a joint venture with the Dutch food machine manufacturer Mondomix Howden B.V. of the Netherlands.
After launching an electronics business, the Company established the foundation that led to its current business system, which involved using its position in Japan to expand overseas and opening the Singapore Office, its first overseas office in Asia.
The Company also strengthened its footing in Japan with the completion of its head office annex and opening of the Kyushu Office.

1993

Established the joint venture Mondomix Japan, Inc., with Mondomix Howden B.V. of the Netherlands. Opened Yao Research & Development Center.
1996

Established Singapore Representative Office.
1997

Opened Kyushu Office
1998

Completed Headquarters Annex. Upgraded Singapore representative office to office.

2000

Expanding the Overseas Business Division

The nursing and welfare business of the Healthcare Business Department was spun off into the newly established LAC Healthcare Ltd.
In addition, beginning with the opening of its Taiwan Office to strengthen its business foundation in Asia, the Company established offices, representative offices, local subsidiaries, etc., in countries throughout the world.
In Japan, the Company launched an Overseas Business Promotion Division and business development team and took on the challenge of creating new businesses and domestic businesses that make use of these overseas bases.

2000

Established LAC Healthcare Ltd. by spinning off Healthcare Business Department.
2002

Opened Taiwan Office.
2003

Established the wholly-owned local subsidiary HARADA (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION in Shanghai. Opened Korea Branch.
2006

Established the local subsidiary HARADA CORPORATION (THAILAND) CO. LTD. in Thailand.
2007

Opened Philippines Representative Office.

2010Present

To present

The Company opened representative offices in not only countries throughout Asia, including China and Vietnam, but also Dusseldorf, Germany. The Company also strove to expand its business in Europe.
The Company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. We aim to achieve further growth, in accordance with our new corporate philosophy of "Make the best move".

2010

Established HARADA (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION Shenzhen Branch.
2011

Established Dusseldorf Representative Office. Established joint venture local sewing factory with HONG PHUC DUC CO.,LTD. of Vietnam
2013

Hisao Harada became Chairman and Satoru Harada became President.
2015

Established Ho Chi Minh Representative Office.
2017

Took over Sansei Inc.'s business and established Harada Sansei Medical Supply Corporation.
2018

Established HARADA GARMENT VIETNAM CO.,LTD.
2022

Took over the business of EFER-DUMON BRONCHOUSCOPE
2023

Celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Company

Photo Gallery
Osaka head office and Saiho-an Gallery