Our History

Our origin traces back to the food ingredient businesses of various companies. We leverage their respective histories and technologies to create new values in the field of food and health.

Our Origin

Our History

April 2019 MC Food Specialties Inc., Mitsubishi Shoji Foodtech Co., Ltd., and KOHJIN Life Sciences Co., Ltd. consolidated to start Mitsubishi Corporation Life Sciences Limited.
April 2020 Vitamin C60 BioResearch Corporation became a subsidiary through transfer of stock from Mitsubishi Corporation, to conduct development, manufacture, and sales of cosmetic raw materials, starting our cosmetics business.
April 2021 Acquired a portion of the food business of Dai-Nippon Meiji Sugar Co., Ltd., and expanded lineup of seasonings-related raw materials.

History of former MC Food Specialties Inc.

December 2001 Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. reached basic agreement on food business tie-up.
April 2002 Founded as Takeda-Kirin Foods Corporation and began operation after transferring food business of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
April 2005 Food business of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. spun off and formed Kyowa Hakko Food Specialties Co., Ltd.
April 2007 Takeda-Kirin Foods Corporation became wholly owned subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. Trade name changed to Kirin Food-Tech Co., Ltd.
April 2009 Kyowa Hakko Food Specialties Co., Ltd. and Kirin Food-Tech Co., Ltd. merged to launch Kirin Kyowa Foods Co., Ltd.
July 2010 Consolidated industrial liquor and fermentation seasonings businesses of Mercian Corporation.
July 2013 Became subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation through its acquisition of approx. 81% of shares. Became Group company of Mitsubishi Corporation.
January 2014 Changed trade name to MC Food Specialties Inc.
January 2015 Became wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation through its acquisition of shares owned by Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.

History of former Mitsubishi Shoji Foodtech Co., Ltd.

June 1954 Towa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was founded, and sorbitol manufacturing and sales started.
April 1977 Chuo Kasei Co., Ltd.’s Banshu Plant started manufacturing seaweed extract carrageenan.
March 1991 Yoshioka Co., Ltd. founded Yoshioka Engineering Co., Ltd. to design, produce, and sell food processing machinery. In 1992, switched business from manufacturing machinery to manufacturing additives. In 1993, changed trade name to Yoshioka Food Mix Co., Ltd.
March 1999 Yoshioka Food Mix Co., Ltd. changed trade name to Yoshioka Foodtech Co., Ltd.
April 2000 Functional ingredient business divisions of Chuo Kasei Co., Ltd. and Banshu Chemical Co., Ltd. were split off and combined. Chuo Foods Material Co., Ltd. established and started manufacturing and selling ingredient-related raw materials.
August 2003 Yoshioka Foodtech Co., Ltd. changed trade name to MC Foodtech Co., Ltd.
August 2007 Towa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., MC Foodtech Co., Ltd., and Chuo Foods Material Co., Ltd. merged, and trade name changed to Mitsubishi Shoji Foodtech Co., Ltd.

History of former KOHJIN Life Sciences Co., Ltd.

April 1953 Saiki Plant began operation as dissolving pulp factory of Koukoku Jinken Pulp Co., Ltd.
January 1969 Trade name changed to KOHJIN Co., Ltd.
November 2012 KOHJIN Life Sciences Co., Ltd. established after spinoff of fermentation business of KOHJIN Co., Ltd.