Hide Kasuga 1896

What Hide Kasuga 1896 does

Hide Kasuga 1896 (hide kasuga 1896, Inc.) is a Tokyo-headquartered circular economy company that develops and markets proprietary eco-friendly composite materials and lifestyle brands while providing material-strategy consulting to major Japanese and global manufacturers. Founded in 2012 by Hideyuki Kasuga (Ph.D., Engineering, Shinshu University) as a materials-focused think tank, the group traces its heritage to a family hemp wholesale business established in 1896 in Nagano Prefecture. The company operates three core brands: TRANSWOOD, a 100-year-cycle bio-composite combining wood derivatives with Prasus biomass resin; hide k 1896, an eco-friendly lifestyle brand offering tableware, fashion, furniture, and interior goods; and BLANC BIJOU PARIS, a Paris-origin luxury brand built around PTFE with patented recycling technology registered in Japan, the USA, and China. R&D is conducted at hide kasuga LABO, embedded within Shinshu University's International Science Innovation Center.

The company's revenue mechanics combine four streams: branded product sales through the Omotesando flagship, premium department stores (Isetan Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, Takashimaya), the Rakuten Ichiba marketplace, and the hide k 1896 online store; brand and technology licensing (e.g., Prasus resin co-branding with Mitsui Chemicals); technical consulting and rebranding services for major materials and chemicals firms (AGC Fluon ETFE consulting, Daikin DAI-EL rebranding); and direct material sales of TRANSWOOD and composite textile inputs to manufacturers. The go-to-market is dual-track B2B/B2C: enterprise field sales targeting automotive, chemicals, and luxury brand partners (Toyota, Lexus, Leica, Mitsui Chemicals, AGC, Daikin, TOPPAN, Kotobuki Seating) alongside D2C and retail distribution for branded consumer products. Customer segments span luxury hospitality, corporate and institutional buyers, affluent consumers, and manufacturing partners.

The underlying technology rests on three proprietary material platforms: TRANSWOOD (wood flour and cellulose microfiber combined with Prasus biomass resin to reduce CO2 emissions and plastic usage), COMPOSITE TEXTILE (carbon fiber and hemp composites with soft resin), and a patented PTFE recycling process with multi-jurisdiction IP. Hide Kasuga 1896's strategic positioning is reinforced by the Green Composite Hills (GCH) industry-academia-government consortium, which builds traceability and circular flows across material suppliers, manufacturers, and end markets. The business model is intentionally cross-subsidized between premium consumer products, B2B licensing, and consulting, with expansion concentrated in educational and institutional furniture, safety flooring, and international sustainability platforms.

Name

Hide Kasuga 1896

Legal name

hide kasuga 1896, Inc.

Website

https://hk1896.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hide Kasuga 1896 is a Tokyo-based circular economy company that develops proprietary eco-friendly composite materials (TRANSWOOD, COMPOSITE TEXTILE, PTFE recycling) and operates luxury and lifestyle brands (BLANC BIJOU PARIS, hide k 1896) while providing materials consulting and licensing to major manufacturers such as Toyota, Mitsui Chemicals, AGC, and Daikin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Materials & Circular Economy Consulting

NAICS

All Other Miscellaneous Wood Product Manufacturing (321999), Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable & Certified Materials (Organic, Recycled, Traceable) (CRAAAMAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable / Ethical Apparel & Accessories Wholesale (CRAOADAJ)

Keywords

• Circular economy materials
• Eco-friendly composites
• Biomass resin materials
• Sustainable lifestyle products
• Circular economy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Minato

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of branded products including tableware, fashion accessories, furniture, and interior materials under brands BLANC BIJOU PARIS, hide k 1896, and TRANSWOOD. Products sold through flagship stores, department stores, online stores, and marketplaces.
2. Brand Licensing: Licensing of proprietary technologies and brand names to manufacturing partners for use in their products and production processes.
3. Consulting Services: Technical consulting and advisory services for major manufacturers including Fluon ETFE consulting for AGC Corporation and DAI-EL rebranding for Daikin Industries.
4. Material Sales: Direct sales of proprietary eco-friendly materials including TRANSWOOD wood composites and Prasus biomass resin to manufacturers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hide Kasuga 1896 develops and sells proprietary eco-friendly composite materials (TRANSWOOD combining wood-derived materials with biomass resin; COMPOSITE TEXTILE combining carbon fiber and hemp with soft resin) and patented PTFE recycling technology. The company sells branded consumer products including tableware, fashion accessories, furniture, and interior goods under brands hide k 1896, BLANC BIJOU PARIS, and TRANSWOOD, and provides circular economy consulting and brand development services to major manufacturers.

Product overview

Hide Kasuga 1896 operates as an environmental harmony brand conglomerate centered on circular economy principles. The company manages three core brands: TRANSWOOD® (environmentally friendly material brand - an all-bio composite designed for 100-year cycle), hide k 1896® (eco-friendly lifestyle product brand originating from 1896 hemp trading company), and BLANC BIJOU PARIS® (eternal white brand from Paris expressing PTFE value). The portfolio includes COMPOSITE TEXTILE material technology, product lines such as les trois collection, Retwa Collection, and Japan Minimal Collection designed by renowned architects and designers. The company also operates hide kasuga LABO (R&D organization at Shinshu University), Green Composite Hills consortium (industry-academia-government circular economy platform), and hide kasuga & PARTNERS creative firm. Services include circular economy consulting utilizing the 'Hide K Method.' Recent product launches include TRANSWOOD SEATING SD-777-TW (April 2026) and TRANSWOOD Safety Flooring with TOPPAN (March 2027).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TRANSWOOD: A totally bio-based composite material brand designed for a 100-year life cycle. Combines wood-derived materials with biomass resin from waste cooking oil, reducing CO2 emissions and plastic usage throughout the product lifecycle.
• BLANC BIJOU PARIS
• hide k 1896
• les trois collection
• L'Etoile Collection
• Retwa Collection
• Japan Minimal Collection
• Green Composite Hills

Products and services

• TRANSWOOD An environmentally friendly composite material brand based on the concept of materials that can last for 100 years. Made from wood-derived materials (wood flour, cellulose microfiber from thinned wood) combined with biomass resin from waste cooking oil. Fully recyclable and reduces CO2 emissions and plastic usage. Sold to manufacturers and used across the company's product portfolio.
• hide k 1896 Eco-friendly lifestyle product brand originating from a family hemp trading company founded in 1896 in Japan. Offers tableware, fashion accessories, furniture, and interior goods based on TRANSWOOD and COMPOSITE TEXTILE composite materials. Sold through flagship store, department stores, online store, and Rakuten marketplace to affluent consumers.
• BLANC BIJOU PARIS An eternal white brand established in 2009 in Paris, France, expressing the emotional value of PTFE through its eternal whiteness and silky smooth texture. Spans art, tableware, and fine jewelry categories. Holds patents for proprietary PTFE recycling technology in Japan (2019), United States (2023), and China (2023).
• COMPOSITE TEXTILE Environmentally harmonized material technology developed by Hideyuki Kasuga, designed to be recycled by compositing textiles such as carbon fiber and hemp with soft resin. Available in various forms including COMPOSITE TEXTILE_Carbon, used in products across the brand portfolio.
• Circular Economy Consulting Consultation services for building circular economy, from development, production, sales, collection and sorting, to upcycling. Provides 'Hide K Method' consulting utilizing hide k 1896 brand know-how to various companies including materials and chemical manufacturers. Includes Fluon ETFE consulting for AGC Corporation and DAI-EL rebranding consulting for Daikin Industries.
• les trois Collection A tableware collection designed by architect Kengo Kuma, made from TRANSWOOD material. Features lightweight, unbreakable bowls in three different shapes with black gradation. WABI contemporary aesthetic concept.
• Retwa Collection A tableware collection launched in October 2025, featuring chopsticks as the first cutlery item. Made from TRANSWOOD material combining cellulose microfibers with Prasus biomass resin. Priced at 2,750 yen per set.
• L'Etoile Collection Tableware collection made by TRANSWOOD with product design by Kengo Kuma, launched in 2023.
• Japan Minimal Collection A collection developed based on know-how gained from developing various COMPOSITE TEXTILE products, designed to further express the essence of composite textiles through product design.
• TRANSWOOD SEATING SD-777-TW Seating solution for lecture and learning spaces utilizing TRANSWOOD eco-friendly material, developed in partnership with Kotobuki Seating Co., Ltd. Designed for academic and public spaces with long-term durability and environmental harmony.
• TRANSWOOD Safety Flooring Hybrid safety flooring product jointly developed with TOPPAN, integrating TRANSWOOD eco-friendly material brand with TOPPAN's safety floor technology. Combines safety (reducing fracture risk), aesthetic design, and environmental sustainability using biomass resins. Targeted at hotels, residences, museums, and medical facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Patented PTFE recycling reduces environmental waste while recovering high-value fluoropolymer materials
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.

• quantum Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Comprehensive partnership agreement with quantum Inc., a Hakuhodo Group company, for strategic collaboration in marketing, communications, and brand development initiatives.
• Toshi Techno Co., Ltd. (Urban Techno)majorTechnology or IntegrationBusiness collaboration partnership for technology integration and material development with Toshi Techno Co., Ltd., operating under the Urban Techno brand.
• TOPPAN Co., Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partnership for safety flooring products combining Hide Kasuga's material expertise with TOPPAN's manufacturing capabilities.
• Kotobuki Seating Co., Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership for TRANSWOOD SEATING SD-777-TW, a sustainable seating product combining TRANSWOOD materials with Kotobuki's seating expertise.
• Mitsui ChemicalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for TRANSWOOD products with Prasus branding, combining Mitsui Chemicals' biomass resin technology with Hide Kasuga's material development capabilities.
• Toyota Motor CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOYOTA UPCYCLE collaboration partnership, applying Hide Kasuga's circular economy expertise and recycled materials to Toyota's automotive sustainability initiatives.
• AGC CorporationmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partnership for Fluon ETFE materials, leveraging Hide Kasuga's specialized fluoropolymer expertise to support AGC's Fluon ETFE product development and applications.
• Daikin IndustriesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDAIKEL rebranding consulting partnership, supporting Daikin's transition of fluoropolymer product branding and positioning.
• LeicaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partnership with Leica Camera AG, the German premium camera manufacturer. High-profile collaboration indicating Hide Kasuga's international luxury brand appeal.
• LEXUSflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEXUS collection collaboration, integrating Hide Kasuga products into the Lexus luxury automotive brand ecosystem through dealer network distribution.
• Shinshu UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D partnership establishing hide kasuga LABO at Shinshu University campus, providing dedicated research facilities for material innovation and circular economy technology development.
• Higashikawa TownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration agreement with Higashikawa Town for community engagement and regional sustainable development initiatives.
• Nagano CityminorOthersIndustrial strategy advisory partnership with Nagano City, providing guidance on regional industrial development and circular economy initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Teijin: Japanese sustainable materials company producing recycled polyester fibers and bio-based composites, comparable to Hide Kasuga 1896 in combining material innovation with downstream consumer applications.
• Toray Industries: Major Japanese materials manufacturer with strong sustainability and recycled fiber portfolio, overlapping with Hide Kasuga's eco-material innovation and B2B materials supply model.
• UPM-Kymmene: Finnish bio-based materials company developing sustainable fiber and composite products, comparable to Hide Kasuga's TRANSWOOD biomass-resin composites and circular economy positioning.
• NatureWorks: US-based bioplastics manufacturer producing PLA from renewable resources, directly comparable to Hide Kasuga's Prasus biomass resin integration and bio-based composite strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Asahi Kasei: Large Japanese diversified materials and chemicals company with sustainable product lines, providing broader incumbent context against Hide Kasuga's niche specialty materials focus.
• Sumitomo Chemical: Major Japanese chemical company with bio-based and circular economy initiatives, comparable in industry context though operating at significantly larger scale than Hide Kasuga.
• Patagonia: Established sustainable lifestyle brand demonstrating how circular economy values translate into premium consumer products, relevant comparable for hide k 1896 and BLANC BIJOU PARIS consumer strategy.

Emerging players

• Stella McCartney: Luxury sustainable fashion brand combining designer credibility with circular materials, comparable to Hide Kasuga's Kengo Kuma-led premium positioning and material innovation narrative.
• Eileen Fisher: Sustainable apparel brand with take-back and renewal programs, directly comparable to Hide Kasuga's circular lifecycle approach and eco-luxury consumer positioning.
• Allbirds: Sustainable lifestyle brand using bio-based materials (wool, sugarcane) with circular economy messaging, comparable to hide k 1896's eco-material storytelling and consumer accessibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gdkchannelgdk3444
• Instagraminstagram.com/hidek1896

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hide Kasuga 1896