Vilmorin-Mikado (Japan)

Vilmorin-Mikado (Japan) is the Japanese business unit of Vilmorin-Mikado, a vegetable seed company that combines Japanese and French seed-breeding traditions. Its Japanese roots trace back to the Edo-period Koshibe Asagoro Shoten, which became Mikado Breeding Farm, and to Umagoe Seed, founded in 1952, which became Kyowa Seed. These two merged in 2007 to form Mikado Kyowa Co., Ltd. In 2016 the company integrated operations with the French seed company Vilmorin, and in January 2022 it changed its name to Vilmorin-Mikado Co., Ltd. The company has headquarters in both Japan and France; its Toke headquarters in Chiba Prefecture houses manufacturing, supply chain, seed testing and marketing functions, and ships seeds mainly to Japan and Asia. It also operates two farms in Chiba Prefecture as one of the research bases for Limagrain's vegetable division, developing varieties for the Asian market. The company breeds and sells vegetable seeds, with particular strength in Japan in pumpkin, mini tomato, Japanese radish, carrot, cabbage, Welsh onion, pea, tomato and sweet corn. Globally, Vilmorin-Mikado is a leading company in carrot and chicory and plays a major role in lettuce, tomato, pumpkin, Japanese radish and Welsh onion seeds. It is part of Limagrain, an international seed and agri-food group run by a French agricultural cooperative and the world's fourth-largest seed company. Vilmorin-Mikado employs more than 1,000 people and reported sales of €249 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, spending 17% of that on research and development. The Japanese unit presents itself as a partner across the vegetable food chain, aiming to support better diets worldwide through sustainable vegetable production solutions.

Vilmorin-Mikado (Japan) traces its Japanese lineage to the Edo period, when the Koshibe Asagoro Shoten began operations; this business later became Mikado Breeding Farm. A second root is Umagoe Seed, founded in 1952, which became Kyowa Seed. In 2007, Mikado Breeding Farm and Kyowa Seed merged to form Mikado Kyowa Co., Ltd. In 2016, Mikado Kyowa integrated its operations with the French seed company Vilmorin, and in January 2022 the company changed its name to Vilmorin-Mikado Co., Ltd. The company describes itself as having about 300 years of history as a seed company originating in Japan and France. Vilmorin-Mikado is part of Limagrain, an international seed and agri-food group run by a French agricultural cooperative and the world's fourth-largest seed company. The Japanese unit has headquarters in both Japan and France; its Toke headquarters in Chiba Prefecture houses manufacturing, supply chain, seed testing and marketing, and ships seeds mainly to Japan and Asia. It operates two farms in Chiba Prefecture as one of the research bases for Limagrain's vegetable division, conducting R&D for the Asian market. Globally, Vilmorin-Mikado employs more than 1,000 people and reported sales of €249 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with 17% spent on research and development. It is a world leader in carrot and chicory seeds and has a major role in lettuce, tomato, pumpkin, Japanese radish and Welsh onion seeds. In Japan, it focuses on pumpkin, mini tomato, Japanese radish, carrot and many other crops. The company presents itself as a partner across the vegetable food chain, aiming to support better diets worldwide through sustainable vegetable production solutions.

• 2026

  Won First Prize Special Award in Cabbage category at All-Japan Vegetable Variety Competition; started sales of three Welsh onion varieties.

• 2025

  Welsh onion 'MKS-N40' won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award; pumpkin 'Kuri Yutaka DX' sales began.

• 2024

  Uru Toma® series launched; received three-star 'Eruboshi' certification.

• 2022

  Company changed its name to Vilmorin-Mikado Co., Ltd. in January.

• 2016

  Mikado Kyowa integrated operations with the French seed company Vilmorin.

• 2007

  Mikado Breeding Farm and Kyowa Seed merged to form Mikado Kyowa Co., Ltd.

• 1952

  Umagoe Seed, a predecessor of Kyowa Seed, was founded.

• 1743

  Vilmorin's founding year, cited by Vilmorin-Mikado as the start of its French seed heritage.

A market-close global player in vegetable seeds, combining Japanese and French breeding expertise to serve the entire vegetable food chain with sustainable solutions.

• Uru Toma® TY Miwaku (mini tomato)

  Mini tomato variety; won Gold Award at Japan Food Selection in 2026 and was featured on MBS Radio.

• Delicious Dome® (broccoli)

  Broccoli variety featured on TV in 2025.

• Kinbi Citron (carrot)

  Carrot variety featured on TV and in media in 2025.

• Kuri Yutaka DX (pumpkin)

  Pumpkin variety; sales started in February 2025.

• Natsu no Takarayama (white Welsh onion)

  White Welsh onion variety with a production area cultivation report video.

• Sunny Chocolat Lyla (sweet corn)

  Sweet corn variety introduced in media in 2025.

• Red Barbarian (late-bolting sunny lettuce)

  Late-bolting sunny lettuce with upright growth, easy harvesting and boxing.

• MKS-N40 (Welsh onion)

  Welsh onion variety that won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in 2025.

1. 1ヴィルモランみかど | Vilmorin Mikado Japanvilmorinmikado.jp
2. 2About us | Vilmorin Mikado Japanvilmorinmikado.jp
3. 3Vilmorin-Mikado (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org