| Kosé Corporation | |
| Native Name: | 株式会社コーセー |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Type: | Public Kabushiki kaisha |
| Isin: | JP3283650004 |
| Founded: | Kita, Tokyo |
| Founder: | Kozaburo Kobayashi |
| Hq Location City: | Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8251 |
| Hq Location Country: | Japan |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Key People: | Kazutoshi Kobayashi (President and CEO) |
| Industry: | Personal care |
| Revenue: | (Mar 2021)[1] |
| Net Income: | (Mar 2021)[2] |
| Num Employees: | 14,403 (incl.temporary and part-time employees) (as of March 31, 2021)[3] |
| Subsid: | Albion Tarte Cosmetics Jill Stuart cosmetics |
| Footnotes: | [4] [5] |
(stylized KOSÉ) is a Japanese multinational company that manufactures cosmetics, personal care products, and beauty products. It's headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo.[6]
The company was founded in 1946 by Kozaburo Kobayashi with his son as the principal chemist.[7] In 1956, the company established Albion, a manufacturer of premium cosmetics. Kosé and L’Oréal of France signed an agreement for technological cooperation, a joint venture that lasted until 2001. The company expanded its international presence in Asia during the 1960s to the 1980s. The company's name was changed to its present one in 1991.
In 2000 it was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Kazutoshi Kobayashi, the founder's grandson, took over as the company's CEO in 2007. Under the leadership of the new CEO, Kosé introduced the Jill Stuart branded cosmetics after the company acquired global trademark rights for the brand in 2009. Kosé subsequently expanded into the European and North American markets when it acquired Tarte Cosmetics in 2014.[8] [9]
Kosé's products were advertised over the years by models and athletes including Shohei Ohtani[10] and Kate Moss for its Decorté brand photographed by Mario Testino,[11] Yuzuru Hanyu for Sekkisei[12] [13] and Yui Aragaki, for the Esprique line of makeup.[14]