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History

Over 115 Years of Learning from Honeybees and FlowersAPI Co., Ltd. has always striven for health and happiness.

Over 110 Years of API's History

The history of API dates back to 1907 when two brothers who were textile wholesalers began manufacturing and selling beekeeping equipment. Our business has since grown from bee products to encompass health foods and pharmaceuticals, and no matter how far our technologies have advanced, our "customer-first" spirit is the same as ever.

  • 2022 November
    Motosu Pharmaceutical Plant completed.
  • August
    API Partners Ibi completed.
  • 2020 September
    Added drug substances manufacturing equipment to the north wing of Honjo Plant.
  • 2019 October
    Introduced a hydrolyzer to Ibigawa Plant to develop functional food ingredients.
  • 2019 July
    API Quality & Logistics Center (API QLC) completed.
  • 2019 June
    Created "Gifu University 70th Anniversary API Scholarship Grant Program" to support the development of human resources useful for local industries.
  • 2018 October
    Ikeda Plant acquires Gifu Prefecture's HACCP certification.
  • 2018 June
    Ibigawa Plant and NextStage Plant acquire Gifu Prefecture's HACCP certification.
  • 2018 March
    Motosu Plant acquires Gifu Prefecture's HACCP certification.
  • 2017 December
    Selected as a Driving Company for the Regional Future by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
  • 2017 October
    UNIGEN Inc.'s manufacturing of bulk influenza vaccines for the US receives approval by the FDA in the US.
  • 2017 August
    Halal Certification (JAKIM) acquired.
  • January
    UNIGEN Inc. becomes one of API group companies.
  • 2016 April
    Application for "Jinko no Megumi" to be recognized as a "Food with Function Claims" is accepted.
  • February
    Recognized as a company that provides excellent child-rearing support by Gifu Prefecture in 2015.
  • 2015 December
    Mizuho Techno Center renamed to "Mizuho Advanced Technology Center", enhancing the function as a development base for leading edge technology.
  • August
    Started operation of second phase facilities at Next Stage Plant.
    - First introduction of Little PET Bottle production line in the industry
    - Labor-saving soft capsule production line
  • August
    Launched a community recycling-based program supporting female researchers, in partnership with Gifu Univ., Gifu Pharmaceutical Univ., and Gifu Women's Univ.
  • 2014 October
    We recently opened Head Office Apikko Land, our second in-house childcare facility.
  • September
    Completion of NextStage (NS) plant construction.
  • 2013 August
    Mizuho Techno Center opens.
  • June
    We enter into a joint business agreement on antibody biogenerics in the cancer domain based on the terms of a Memorandum of Intent with UMN Pharma Inc. and Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.
  • May
    Ikeda Bio Pharmaceutical Plant completed.
  • 2012 June
    Ibigawa Plant acquires FSSC 22000 certification.
    The Tokyo Branch office moves (new office: 3rd floor, Matsumoto Building, 14-15 Nihonbashiodenma-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo).
    We enter the biogeneric contract manufacturing business."
  • April
    Motosu Plant acquires FSSC 22000 certification.
    We succeed in developing a functional food that improves constipation in a contract development project from the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
  • 2011 December
    Ikeda Apikko Land, our in-house childcare facility, opened.
  • June
    The second quality center is established adjacent to the head office.
  • 2010 August
    Drug refinery construction completed.
  • May
    API (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. established.
  • April
    We received the active ingredients for the H5N1 avian influenza vaccine developed by pharmaceutical venture company UMN Pharma (Akita City) and concluded an agreement for contract manufacturing with UMN Pharma.
  • 2009 August
    Ibigawa Plant receives dietary supplement GMP approval.
  • 2008 July
    API selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as one of the “300 Small to Medium Manufacturing Companies that will Support the Japan of Tomorrow”.
  • 2007 October
    Event held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of API's founding.
  • September
    Takahiko Nonogaki named President. Takashi Nonogaki named Chairman.
  • August
    Pamphlet commemorating API's 100th anniversary published.
  • February
    New powder filling line launched at Ikeda Pharmaceutical Plant.
  • 2006 August
    The Stay Balance RJ soft drink receives approval as a royal jelly food for specified health use.
  • 2005 October
    Ibigawa Plant completed.
  • July
    Ikeda Plant acquires dietary supplement GMP certification.
  • March
    Ikeda Pharmaceutical Plant operations begin.
  • 2004 July
    Supplement Research Society founded, creating the country’s first collaborative industry-government-academia project.
  • 2003 October
    Comprehensive research center moved to the Nagaragawa Research Center to expand research and development activities.
  • 2002 January
    Shinsei Plant (now the Motosu Plant) receives ISO 9001 certification.
  • 1999 January
    Propolis jelly type developed.
  • 1997 October
    Ikeda Plant completed.
  • 1996 April
    Manufacturing approval obtained for Apipolle Capsules Pharmaceutical business launched.
  • 1995 April
    New type of royal jelly drink developed to boost immunity.
  • 1994 December
    Local subsidiary established in Hong Kong.
  • March
    Full entry into the area of dietary supplements.
  • 1992 April
    Technological Development Laboratory created at the comprehensive research center to promote expansion of propolis products.
  • 1991 March
    Gifu YOHO Co., Ltd changed to API Co., Ltd. The industry’s first independent comprehensive research center established.
  • 1989 April
    The company’s own branded honey product lineup goes on sale.
  • 1988 September
    The industry's first joint company with a Chinese firm, established.
  • 1987 August
    Deproteinized honey production line implemented.
  • January
    Tokyo Sales Office established as company activities expand.
  • 1986 February
    Shinsei Plant (now the Motosu Plant) erected in Shinsei-cho, Gifu Prefecture.
  • 1985 February
    API Royal Co., Ltd. created to focus on sugar processing.
  • 1984 March
    Head Office built, Honjo Plant remodeled.
  • 1980 June
    Work begins on the production of royal jelly and pollen powders.
  • 1977 August
    Automatic honey filler installed in refining plant.
  • 1976 April
    Fully-automatic honey refining line installed in Honjo Plant.
  • 1975 August
    Gifu Honey, Ltd. established to carry out honey refinement processing.
  • 1974 May
    Royal jelly production in China begins.
  • 1973 May
    Gifu Onyu Co., Ltd. established to specialize in the import of royal jelly.
  • 1968 November
    New ion-exchange resin method-based honey refinement equipment installed.
  • 1965 October
    Honey refinement and bottling plant completed.
  • 1961 April
    Royal jelly production guidance provided in Taiwan.
  • 1958 March
    Work begins on royal jelly production.
  • 1928 July
    20,000 swarms of Western-species bees exported to China.
  • 1925 March
    Portions of leased buildings converted into comb foundation plants.
  • February
    Catalog retail services launched, focusing primarily on apiculture equipment.
  • 1924 December
    Independent branch established in Gifu to form Gifu YOHO, Ltd.
  • 1922 October
    Production apiculture for flowering season transfer begins, blazing the trail for modern apiculture.
  • 1907 February
    Apiculture business started by Ryozo Nonogaki and his older brother.