Kao Corporation

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Kao Corporation
花王株式会社

Head office
Company type	Public (K.K)
Traded as	TYO: 4452 TOPIX Large 70 Component
Industry	Personal care, Cosmetics
Founded	June 1887 (1887-06) Nihonbashi-Bakurocho, Tokyo, Japan
Founder	Tomiro Nagase
Headquarters	14-10, Nihonbashi-Kayabacho Itchome, Chūō, Tokyo , Japan
Revenue	¥1,381,997 million (2020)
Operating income	¥175,563 million (2020)
Net income	¥128,067 million (2020)
Total assets	¥1,665,616 million (2020)
Total equity	¥938,194 million (2020)
Number of employees	33,409 (consolidated) (2020)
Website	www.kao.com/global/en/

Kao Corporation (花王株式会社, Kaō Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese chemical and cosmetics company. It is based in Nihonbashi-Kayabacho, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan.

History

Kao was created in 1887 by Tomiro Nagase. It was created to manufacture toiletry soap. They were first known as Nihon Yuki Company (日本有機株式会社). In 1940, they changed their name to Kao Soap Company (花王石鹸株式会社). In 1985, they changed it again to Kao Corporation.