Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd.

Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of surface materials, headquartered in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture. The company develops and produces PVC and PU synthetic leather as well as decorative paper and decorative film — materials that form the visible and tactile surface of finished products rather than the products themselves. Its synthetic leather is used in items such as tennis racket grips, spiked shoes, bags, furniture, and vehicle interiors, while its decorative paper and film are used for furniture, building materials, and interior surfaces, reproducing wood grain, stone, and abstract patterns through high-definition printing. The company traces its origins to 1950, when Nankai Rubber Co., Ltd. was established in Naruto, Tokushima, as an independent entity from Kyowa Leather Co., Ltd. Over the following decades it expanded into PVC products and dry-process synthetic leather, while affiliated companies in Kobe and Tokyo developed decorative printing operations. In 2018, three group companies — Nankai Technart Co., Ltd., Nihon Gravure Industry Co., Ltd., and Kyore Co., Ltd. — merged to form Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd. The company is a subsidiary of Kyowa Leather Co., Ltd. Kyowa Lifetechno positions itself as a materials maker that supports product value through surface design, feel, durability, and functionality. It emphasizes material development capability, quality control, and environmental initiatives, including the development of the bio-vegan leather series "LeNa," the use of biomass and recycled materials, and low-VOC inks. As of March 2025, the company reported 243 employees and annual sales of 8.98 billion yen for the fiscal year ended March 2025. Its fiscal year ends in March, and its representative director and president is Ryuta Kawashima.

Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd. was formed through the 2018 merger of three companies with roots dating back to the mid-20th century. Its earliest predecessor, Nankai Rubber Co., Ltd., was established in November 1950 in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, as an independent entity from Kyowa Leather Co., Ltd. In 1956, Nankai Rubber began manufacturing and selling PVC products, marking its entry into synthetic materials. In 1958, Namba Shoten Co., Ltd. — the predecessor of Kyore Co., Ltd. — was established in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, and in 1963 it began selling dry-process synthetic leather. In 1973, Nihon Gravure Industry Co., Ltd. was established in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and in 1974 it completed a plate-making factory and printing factory in Yokohama, beginning operations. That same year, Namba Shoten changed its name to Kobe Kyosho Co., Ltd., and in 1977 it became Kyore Co., Ltd. In 1990, Nankai Rubber changed its name to Nankai Technart Co., Ltd., and Nihon Gravure Industry completed its Fukuroi factory. In 2001, Kyowa Leather Co., Ltd. acquired all shares of Nihon Gravure Industry, bringing it under the Kyowa Leather umbrella. On July 1, 2018, the three companies — Nankai Technart Co., Ltd., Nihon Gravure Industry Co., Ltd., and Kyore Co., Ltd. — merged to establish Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd. The company's corporate emblem, inherited from Nankai Technart, represents PVC, synthetic leather, paper, film, and challenges in new businesses. Its corporate color, ocean green, derives from the Naruto whirlpools and symbolizes harmony. The company continues to develop surface materials, including the bio-vegan leather "LeNa" series, and pursues sustainability through biomass materials, recycled materials, and low-VOC inks.

• Nankai Rubber Co., Ltd., predecessor of Nankai Technart, established in Naruto, Tokushima, as an independent entity from Kyowa Leather Co., Ltd.

• Nankai Rubber begins manufacturing and selling PVC products.

• Namba Shoten Co., Ltd., predecessor of Kyore Co., Ltd., established in Kobe, Hyogo.

• Namba Shoten begins selling dry-process synthetic leather.

• Nihon Gravure Industry Co., Ltd. established in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

• Nihon Gravure Industry completes plate-making and printing factories in Yokohama; Namba Shoten changes name to Kobe Kyosho Co., Ltd.

• Kobe Kyosho Co., Ltd. changes name to Kyore Co., Ltd.

• Nankai Rubber changes name to Nankai Technart Co., Ltd.; Nihon Gravure Industry completes Fukuroi factory.

• Kyowa Leather Co., Ltd. acquires all shares of Nihon Gravure Industry, making it a subsidiary.

• Nankai Technart Co., Ltd., Nihon Gravure Industry Co., Ltd., and Kyore Co., Ltd. merge to form Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd.

A surface-material manufacturer that supports product value through design, texture, durability, and functionality, with a focus on material development, quality, and environmental responsibility.

• PVC/PU synthetic leather

  Synthetic leather combining design and functionality, used in sports goods, bags, furniture, and vehicle interiors.

• Decorative paper and film

  Decorative paper and film for furniture, building materials, and interior surfaces, reproducing wood grain, stone, and abstract patterns with high-definition printing.

• Bio-vegan leather "LeNa" series

  Environmentally conscious leather alternative developed as part of the company's sustainability initiatives.

1. 1共和ライフテクノ株式会社kyowalt.co.jp
2. 2共和ライフテクノについて | 共和ライフテクノ株式会社kyowalt.co.jp
3. 3会社概要 | 会社情報 | 共和ライフテクノ株式会社kyowalt.co.jp
4. 4共和ライフテクノの化粧紙・化粧フィルム | 技術情報 | 共和ライフテクノ株式会社kyowalt.co.jp
5. 5Kyowa Lifetechno Co., Ltd. (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org