Kowa (company)
{{Short description|Trading company in Japan}}
File:Kowa Company logo.jpg{{Other uses|Kowa (disambiguation){{!}}Kowa}}
Kowa Company, Ltd. ({{Langx|ja|興和株式会社}}) is a Japanese specialized trading company and manufacturer. Its headquarters are located in Nagoya, the capital of Japan's Aichi prefecture.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZwUAQAAMAAJ|title=Japan Trade Directory|date=1994|publisher=JETRO|language=en}}
Overview
File:Digiscoping with Kowa TSN-774.JPG being used for digiscoping.]]
Kowa Company is the core of the umbrella Kowa Group.{{Cite web|date=2013-01-11|title=CRAiLAR Technologies signs fiber supply agreement with Japan's Kowa Company|url=https://scnow.com/business/crailar-technologies-signs-fiber-supply-agreement-with-japan-s-kowa-company/article_7dca2aee-5c1d-11e2-8feb-0019bb30f31a.html|access-date=2021-10-18|website=SCNow|language=en}} Other companies within the group include Kowa's sibling firm {{Interlanguage link|Kowabo|lt=Kowabo Company, Ltd.|ja|興和紡}}{{Cite web|title=Kowabo KK - Company Profile and News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0813662D:JP|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Bloomberg|language=en}} and the consolidated subsidiary {{Interlanguage link|Kowa Pharmaceutical Company|lt=Kowa Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.|ja|興和創薬}}.{{Cite news|date=2021-09-23|title=Japan expected to see record number of M&A deals in 2021|work=Kyodo News|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/09/b8d4e7959f13-japan-expected-to-see-record-number-of-ma-deals-in-2021.html|access-date=2021-10-18}} Its predecessor, Hattori Kensaburo Shoten, notably supported the industrialist Sakichi Toyoda's development of his automatic loom.{{Cite web|title=明治名古屋を彩る どえりゃー商人 服部兼三郎が興和の前身を創業|url=https://www.nagoya-rekishi.com/meiji/chapter2/nagoyasyounin01.html|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Nagoya Rekishi|language=ja}} The business is divided into trading and manufacturing divisions. The trading company division trades in fibers, machines, building materials, watercraft, mineral resources, chemical materials, and everyday goods. Meanwhile, the manufacturing division produces medicine, medical equipment, optical instruments, and energy-saving products.
Marketing of Kowa medical products under such brand names as Colgen Kowa and Cabagin Kowa{{Cite book|last=Ohtsuka|first=K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luAdAQAAMAAJ|title=The Comprehensive Directory of Japanese Pharmaceutical & Related Firms|date=1984|publisher=Technomic|language=en}} via nationwide TV commercials increased the company's brand recognition. The company also manufactures and sells Prominar-brand camera lenses, spotting scopes, and video equipment that is used by NHK and various commercial TV and radio stations.{{Cite book|last=Callahan|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=76XvAwAAQBAJ|title=A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects|date=2014-08-14|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1-4081-8665-7|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Tangcay|first=Jazz|date=2020-11-24|title=Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' — Behind the Visuals With DP Santiago Gonzalez|url=https://variety.com/2020/artisans/awards/black-is-king-cinematography-beyonce-1234839158/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Variety|language=en-US}}
Kowa is the largest shareholder in both {{Interlanguage link|Bull-Dog Sauce Co.|ja|ブルドックソース}} and {{Interlanguage link|Meito Sangyo|lt=Meito Sangyo Co.|ja|名糖産業}}, with which it shares cross ownership. The company also owned the now-defunct radio station RADIO-i.{{cite web |url=http://www.kowa.com/history/index.htm|title=History of the Kowa Group (2000-2004:Arrival of the 21st Century)|author=|work=kowa.com|date=2011|quote=Kowa Co., Ltd. fully entered the FM radio broadcasting business through Aichi International Broadcasting Co., Ltd. The broadcasting range of the company covers the whole Chubu region.}}
History
= Predecessor company =
- 1894: Fiber wholesaler Hattori Kensaburo Shoten ({{Langx|ja|服部兼三郎商店}}) is established in Nagoya
- 1912: Reorganized and established as a corporation, Hattori Shoten Co., Ltd. ({{Langx|ja|株式会社服部商店}})
- 1919: Added a spinning operation
- 1920: Founder Hattori Kensaburo kills himself at age 51 after facing bankruptcy
= Current corporation =
- 1939: Trading division separated and established as Kaneka Hattori Shoten Company, Ltd.
- 1943: Name changed to Kofu Sangyo Company, Ltd.
- 1945: Expanded beyond textiles
- 1960: Name changed to Kowa Company, Ltd.
Promotion
Kowa's mascot is a frog often referred to as Kero-chan.{{Cite web|last=Harrison|first=Edward|date=2010-07-15|title=Pharmacy Mascots|url=https://injapan.gaijinpot.com/play/photography/2010/07/15/pharmacy-mascots/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=GaijinPot InJapan|language=en}} In 2020, Kowa acquired the naming rights for a Nagoya baseball stadium, now known as the Vantelin Dome Nagoya, after one of its pharmaceutical products.{{Cite web|last=湯野|first=康隆|date=2020-12-10|title=興和がナゴヤドームのネーミングライツ取得、「バンテリンドーム ナゴヤ」に|url=https://travel.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1294373.html|access-date=2021-10-18|website=トラベル Watch|language=ja}}
References
Category:Trading companies of Japan
Category:Pharmaceutical companies of Japan
Category:Medical technology companies of Japan
Category:Manufacturing companies based in Nagoya
Category:Electronics companies of Japan
Category:Telescope manufacturers
Category:Optics manufacturing companies of Japan
Category:Photography equipment manufacturers of Japan