Rohto
ロート製薬
Business focus
Consumer Brands, Apparel & Retail
Description
Rohto Pharmaceutical was founded in Osaka in 1899 by Anmin Yamada, initially making gastrointestinal remedies. It began developing eye drops in 1909, and in 1931 launched the "Rohto Eye Drop" in packaging unique for its time. Its skincare business took shape from the late 1970s and gained momentum after acquiring The Mentholatum Company in 1988; it launched Obagi in 2001 and Hada Labo in 2004. Rohto's labs are located at its headquarters and in Iga and Kizugawa (Kyoto), where "Rohto Research Village Kyoto" opened in 2006.