ー The History of Higo Seiyu ー
Founded in 1909 as ‘Takagi Aburaya.’ The founder was the first-generation owner, Mr. Benzo Takagi. Supporting him by his side was his wife, Masie.
During the Meiji period, amid rapid social change, the livelihood foundations of the samurai class were shaken. Mr. Benzo, however, viewed that situation as an opportunity for a new era. Believing that overseas held the key to his future, he journeyed alone to Seattle, USA, in the 1890s. He worked tirelessly, using his resources to establish a restaurant. It was during this time that the future second-generation owner, Toshiyuki Takagi, was born in America.
Upon returning to Japan, he relinquished the restaurant, used the proceeds as seed money, and returned to Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture, where he started a business.
Due to the abundance of rapeseed in Aso and the fact that oil was a valuable commodity at the time, he made pressing canola oil his livelihood.
At that time, the factory was built adjacent to the Uwaide River, which had been created by Lord Kiyomasa Kato of Otsu Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture (the company's current location) through flood control projects. Waterwheels were erected to generate power for oil pressing. Production continues at the same location to this day.
On November 23, 1948, the second-generation, Toshiyuki Takagi, founded Higo Seiyu Co., Ltd. At that time, in addition to oil, soap was also sold. He also extracted wax from the wax tree and sold it as candles, and produced juice and other products from vineyards.
With such a history, for about 115 years since our founding in 1909, we have been devoted to product-making every day, carrying the founder’s frontier spirit in our hearts!
ー Company Overview ー
- Company Name
- Higo Seiyu Co., Ltd.
- President & CEO
- Koji Takagi
- Address
- 1985 Muro, Ōzu Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture
- Tel
- +81-96-293-3371
- FAX
- +81-96-293-8631
- higoseyu@axel.ocn.ne.jp
- Founded
- November 23, 1948 as Higo Seiyu Co., Ltd.
- Established
- 1909 as ‘Takagi Aburaya'
- Capital
- 19 million yen
- Business Description
- Manufacturing and sales of vegetable edible oils and oilcakes
- JAS Certifications
-
- July 22, 1971
- Certified as a JAS factory,
- Certification No. 26
- July 1, 2018
- Certified as a JAS factory,
- Certification No. 26
- February 24, 2021
- Certified as an Organic JAS factory,
- Certification No. 2102-B 02
- Affiliated Organization
-
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation: Japan Oil & Fat Inspection Association,
Kumamoto Prefecture Organic Agriculture Research Association