Koh Gen Do

Koh Gen Do (江原道) is a Japanese beauty company whose official history traces its beginnings to Tokyo’s Azabu-Juban district in 1986. The company says its product development was prompted by actresses’ concerns about the strain that long filming sessions and repeated makeup changes could place on skin. Its founding philosophy is expressed as a commitment to skin-friendly beauty and to the idea that women are the leading actors in their own lives. The brand offers skincare and makeup, including complexion products and skincare collections. Its early development included plant-focused skincare and, within a few years of its founding, a high-definition-oriented moisturizing foundation and face powder. Over time, its range expanded to include cleansing, hair and body care, spa-inspired products, primers, powder foundations, liquid foundations, and prestige skincare. The official site highlights the Maifanshi and Macro Vintage lines, Aqua Foundation, and cleansing water among its named products and ranges. It also operates an online shop and lists domestic and overseas retail channels. Koh Gen Do positions itself around a considered approach to ingredients, skin comfort, and makeup that can withstand professional and extended-use conditions. Its stated product standards include avoiding fragrance, synthetic colorants, and petroleum-derived mineral oil; selecting plant extracts and bio-based ingredients; using technology in product development; and considering environmental impact in products that are rinsed off. The company also states that it does not conduct animal testing during product manufacture. According to its brand page, its products have been used in more than 1,506 film, television, and stage productions in Japan and overseas, as of the end of March 2026. The company is Koh Gen Do Co., Ltd. Its official company profile gives a Tokyo headquarters address, a formation date of February 18, 1986, and identifies Shintaro Itabashi as representative director and president. The supplied company information does not identify a parent company or owner. The brand has a direct salon and shop in Ginza, alongside e-commerce and other retail distribution. Its present offering and communications span product information, professional makeup cooperation, brand history, a flagship salon, and online sales.

Koh Gen Do says it was founded in 1986 in Tokyo’s Azabu-Juban district. Its origin story centers on actresses working through long shoots and repeated makeup changes, whose skin concerns informed a product philosophy that prioritizes skin comfort. The company describes its founding aim as pursuing authentic beauty and developing natural-oriented cosmetics while excluding fragrance, synthetic colorants, and petroleum-derived mineral oil. In 1987, the company opened a street-level shop in Azabu-Juban and introduced its first Maifanshi skincare series, using selected ingredients centered on Eastern botanicals. In 1988, the company says its skincare gained recognition on film and television sets; it also introduced a medicated skincare line and fragrance-free, colorant-free hair and body care. In 1989 it introduced a high-definition Moisture Foundation and face powder, and began shipping products to customers outside its immediate area in response to requests. Wholesale operations began in 1990. During the 1990s, Koh Gen Do developed its salon and treatment work as well as its skincare and makeup ranges. It began full facial treatments in 1993 and updated Maifanshi skincare in 1995. The company identifies 1996 as its tenth anniversary and notes a film tie-up. A makeup trial set promoted with a fashion magazine in 1998 helped the foundation gain customers nationally, according to its history. The brand continued to update Maifanshi and broaden distribution and sales methods in the 2000s. It opened an e-commerce site in 2001 and established a mail-order business division in 2004. Product launches in that period included a makeup color base and powder foundation. In 2006, it began selling base makeup in variety shops nationwide and opened a directly operated store at Hanshin Department Store in Osaka. In 2007 it introduced the Macro Vintage prestige line. The company’s history records the launch of a spa series and Aqua Foundation in 2008, alongside the Oriental Plants series, which combined Eastern botanical ingredients with technology. It also opened a directly operated store in Tokyo’s Shin-Marunouchi Building. Koh Gen Do’s current official materials present it as a skincare and makeup company serving individual customers and professional production settings. Its brand page states that products had been used in more than 1,506 film, television, and stage productions in Japan and overseas by the end of March 2026. The company profile identifies Koh Gen Do Co., Ltd., gives February 18, 1986 as its establishment date, and lists Shintaro Itabashi as representative director and president. The company operates an online shop and a Ginza salon and shop. The supplied sources do not identify the original founder, a parent company, or an owner.

• 2026

  The company profile identifies February 18 as its establishment date anniversary; the brand reported use in more than 1,506 productions as of March 31.

• 2025

  Opened the Ginza Salon & Shop on February 20, according to the official homepage.

• 2008

  Launched a spa series, Aqua Foundation, and the Oriental Plants series; opened a directly operated store in Shin-Marunouchi Building.

• 2007

  Launched the Macro Vintage prestige skincare line.

• 2006

  Started nationwide variety-shop sales of base makeup and opened a directly operated store at Hanshin Department Store in Osaka.

• 2004

  Established a mail-order business division.

• 2001

  Opened an e-commerce site.

• 1996

  Marked its tenth anniversary and conducted a film tie-up.

• 1993

  Began full facial treatments.

• 1990

  Started wholesale operations.

• 1989

  Introduced Moisture Foundation and face powder; began shipping products in response to customer requests.

• 1988

  Skincare gained recognition on film and television sets; the company introduced a medicated skincare line and hair and body care.

• 1987

  Opened an Azabu-Juban street-level shop and launched the first Maifanshi skincare series.

• 1986

  Founded in Tokyo's Azabu-Juban district; began developing skin-conscious cosmetics in response to actresses' concerns.

Japanese skincare and makeup brand focused on skin comfort, carefully selected ingredients, professional makeup use, and a natural-looking complexion.

• Maifanshi skincare series

  The company's first skincare series, introduced in 1987 and described as using carefully selected ingredients centered on Eastern botanicals.

• Moisture Foundation

  A high-definition-oriented foundation introduced in 1989; the official history later records an expansion of its shade range in 2009.

• Aqua Foundation

  A liquid foundation introduced in 2008 and described by the company as a next-generation high-definition foundation.

• Cleansing Water

  An oil-free and alcohol-free product associated with the 2008 spa series; the company describes it as a major hit.

• Macro Vintage

  A prestige line developed from the company's esthetic-salon experience and introduced in 2007.

• 1998Fashion-magazine collaboration to sell a High Definition Makeup trial set.
• 1996Film tie-up for the Ham Mike private-detective film series' third installment, The Trap.

• Product-making standardsOther

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