Kyokuyo

What Kyokuyo does

Kyokuyo Co., Ltd. (旭洋株式会社) is a Japan-domiciled paper and packaging trading company (shōsha kaisha) that operates as the dedicated distribution and proposal-development arm of the Oji Holdings group, importing, exporting, and domestically distributing raw materials and finished products spanning paper, pulp, synthetic resins, packaging materials, chemicals, and machinery. Founded in March 1946 with the current legal entity established in July 1996, the company runs a fabless model with no production facilities of its own, instead coordinating a vertically integrated network that includes nine wholly-owned subsidiaries covering coated-paper manufacturing (Fujikako), printed cartons and corrugated cases (Sunrise Package), plastic containers (Ginpo Pack, WorkCAM), corrugated plastic board and foamed polyethylene (Sunprot), confidential document recycling (Tecolt), regional distribution (Asahi Rester, Yuko Trading), and trucking/warehousing (Kyokuei Butsuryuu) — enabling the firm to handle everything from upstream raw materials to downstream final products through a single counterparty. Its commercial offering is organized around four product pillars: printing and information papers (newsprint, publishing, copying, thermal), industrial materials (corrugated cardboard, plastic sheets, foam cushioning, tires), household and life-related paper, and food packaging (cups, trays, cases, packs), supplemented by specialty items such as the registered Mogurappu™ paper cushioning material, the SPACECOOL radiative cooling film, the compostable coffee package developed with Nakabayashi, Oji F Tex, and Mitsubishi Chemical, the Honshu Taiyo® aluminum-deposited rice seedling sheet, Braille OA paper, and semiconductor buffering materials.

The company makes money through transaction-fee-based trading on the volume of paper, pulp, packaging, chemicals, and machinery flowing through its distribution network, with FY2025 (ending March 2025) consolidated net sales of ¥1,948 billion reported on its corporate profile. Go-to-market is entirely enterprise field sales: a Tokyo headquarters and Osaka regional headquarters coordinate four specialized divisions — Western Paper Sales (洋紙営業本部), Industrial Materials Sales (産業資材営業本部), Chemical Products/Functional Materials Sales (化成品・機能材営業本部), and Market Development (市場開発部) — supported by regional branch offices in Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sendai, and sales offices in Kitakanto, Fuji, and Takamatsu. Customers span five primary verticals: manufacturing (paper and packaging for production lines), food and beverage (food-safe cups, trays, and containers for restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets), publishing and printing (newsprint and publishing paper), household product retail (mass merchandisers and drug stores), and government/social services (braille schools, municipalities, welfare councils). Kyokuyo holds ISO 14001 certification (since 2006), FSC Chain of Custody (FSC-C 021088), and ISCC PLUS certification, and remains entirely Japan-domestic in operations, accessing overseas markets only via the Oji Group's international offices when needed.

Name

Kyokuyo

Legal name

旭洋株式会社

Website

https://kyokuyo-pp.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper and Packaging Distribution

NAICS

Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers (4241), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Papers & Converted Paper Distribution (Corrugated sheets/boxes, Paper bags, Labels, Stationery) (IMAMAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stationery, Writing Instruments & Paper Products Distribution (CRAOALAH)

Keywords

• Paper trading
• Packaging materials
• Industrial materials distribution
• Food packaging supply
• Pulp import export

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paper and Pulp Products: Kyokuyo handles paper and pulp products including printing paper, publishing paper, newsprint, copying paper, thermal paper, and various paperboard. Revenue is generated through domestic and international trading of these materials, serving customers from upstream (raw materials) to downstream (final products).
2. Industrial Materials: Industrial materials including corrugated cardboard, packaging paper, plastic sheets, foam cushioning materials, tires, and various industrial supplies. Products span from raw materials to finished products, handled through integrated supply chain coordination.
3. Chemical Products and Functional Materials: Synthetic resin raw materials, films, sheets, foam products, molded products, plastic corrugated board, and related chemical products. Includes eco-friendly materials and industrial packaging solutions.
4. Food Packaging: Food packaging materials and products including cups, trays, cases, and packs, serving food manufacturers, restaurants, convenience stores, and retailers.
5. Import/Export Trading: The company conducts import and export business for paper, pulp, synthetic resin products, packaging materials, chemicals, and machinery as stated in their business description.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kyokuyo is a proposal-development trading company (提案開発型商社) that imports, exports, and distributes raw materials and finished products in paper, pulp, synthetic resins, packaging materials, chemicals, and machinery. It coordinates the entire value chain from upstream raw material procurement to downstream final products via a fabless model, offering customers consulting, customized product development, quality control, and logistics. It also distributes specialty proprietary products developed with Oji Group partners, including Mogulup™ paper cushioning, SPACECOOL radiative cooling film, compostable coffee packaging, and Braille OA paper.

Product overview

Kyokuyo is a proposal-development trading company specializing in paper and packaging materials. Their product portfolio encompasses printing and communications papers (newspaper, publishing, copying, thermal paper), industrial materials (corrugated cardboard, plastic sheets, foam cushioning, tires), household products (tissue, toilet paper, paper towels), and food packaging (cups, trays, cases, packs). They offer specialty products including Mogulup™ paper cushioning materials, SPACECOOL radiative cooling films, compostable coffee packages, and industrial packaging solutions. Their services include consulting, market development, and one-stop coordination from raw materials procurement through development, processing, and logistics management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mogulup™ Paper Cushioning Material (もぐらっぷ™) Paper cushioning material with raised/indented shapes (凹凸形状) applied to craft paper, providing cushioning performance and recyclable as waste paper, contributing to SDGs. Sold to packaging and logistics customers.
• SPACECOOL Radiative Cooling Film High-performance flexible optical film that achieves sub-ambient temperature with zero energy consumption via radiative cooling. Sold to industrial, construction, and infrastructure customers.
• Compostable Coffee Package (コンポスタブルコーヒーパッケージ) New-generation 'plastic-reduced or paper-based' coffee package using barrier paper material to maintain bean quality, with valve-less degassing and no aluminum, making it compostable. Sold to coffee roasters and food brand owners.
• Honshu Taiyo® Sheet (本州太陽®シート) Aluminum-deposited sheet with mirror-like reflective surface used for flat rice seedling cultivation, providing high reflectivity, heat shielding, nighttime heat retention, and all-day moisture retention. Sold to agricultural customers.
• Braille OA Paper (点字OA用紙) Universal braille paper compatible with various braille printing machines, available in 90kg (thin) and 110kg (thick) grades, 8-inch x 10-inch continuous form, 1000 sheets per box. Sold to braille schools, libraries, municipalities, social welfare councils, and volunteers.
• Semiconductor Materials (半導体関連資材) Semiconductor buffering materials and returnable handling materials sold to semiconductor manufacturers for in-fab parts handling and shipping.
• SK-YM250 Foldable Plastic Tray Foldable plastic tray designed to address bulkiness and trash-bag fit issues, reducing waste volume at disposal. Sold to industrial and distribution customers.
• Industrial Packaging Materials (産業包装資材) Industrial packaging materials including trays, cushioning materials, and returnable cases used for industrial parts handling. Sold to manufacturing and logistics customers.
• Notebook Computer Stand (ノートパソコスタンド) Posture-improving notebook computer stand designed to create a more comfortable and healthier desk work environment. Sold to office and enterprise customers.
• Burger Wrap Paper (burgar wrap paper) Burger wrap paper made with O-hajiki non-fluorine oil-resistant paper from Oji Ftex. Sold to quick-service restaurants and food service operators.
• Burger Paper Plate (burger paper plate) Paper plate made with O-hajiki Frais non-fluorine oil-resistant paperboard from Oji Ftex, processed by Oji Packaging. Sold to quick-service restaurants and food service operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced defect rates and improved production efficiency through coordinated quality control across supply chain
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nakabayashi Co., Ltd. (ナカバヤシ株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Joint development partner in the food-grade paper barrier packaging project for coffee beans and other foods, contributing to plastic usage reduction.
• Oji F Tex Co., Ltd. (王子エフテックス株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Joint development partner providing materials for the food-grade paper barrier packaging project.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group (三菱ケミカルホールディングスグループ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Joint development partner in the food-grade paper barrier packaging project.
• MIB Inc. (株式会社MIB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Joint development partner in the food-grade paper barrier packaging project for plastic reduction.
• Nagara Co., Ltd. (長瀬産業株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Joint development partner in the food-grade paper barrier packaging project for plastic reduction.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (三菱ケミカル株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2022Partner in circular system demonstration experiment, using Kyokuyo's biodegradable paper cup base paper for compostable circular system testing.
• Asahi Rester Co., Ltd. (旭リスター株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company handling distribution of paper products, general office supplies, stationery, packaging materials, hygiene products, and household goods. Located in Kyoto.
• Tecolt Co., Ltd. (株式会社テコルト)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company handling confidential document collection/processing and recycled paper sales. Located in Tokyo.
• Yuko Trading Co., Ltd. (ユーー商事株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company handling sales of various containers and packaging materials. Located in Osaka.
• Fujikako Co., Ltd. (富士加工株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company manufacturing and selling coated paper for food packaging, communication papers, aluminum-evaporated films, and release papers. Located in Gifu.
• Sunrise Package Co., Ltd. (サンライズパッケージ株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company manufacturing and selling paper processed products including printed cartons, decorated corrugated cardboard, and case manufacturing. Located in Sendai.
• Ginpo Pack Co., Ltd. (株式会社ギンポーパック)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company manufacturing and selling plastic containers. Located in Tokyo.
• Sunprot Co., Ltd. (サンプロト株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company processing and selling corrugated plastic board and highly foamed polyethylene. Located in Kanagawa.
• WorkCAM Corporation (株式会社ワークキャム)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company handling planning, design, prototyping, manufacture, and sale of plastic containers and related products. Located in Tokyo.
• Kyokuei Butsuryuu Corporation (旭栄物流株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company handling motor truck transportation and general warehousing services. Located in Osaka.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rengo Co., Ltd. Large Japanese packaging manufacturer producing corrugated packaging, flexible packaging, and paper products. Competes with Kyokuyo in the packaging distribution space and serves overlapping enterprise customers.
• Daio Paper Corporation: Major Japanese paper manufacturer with significant paper, packaging, and household products operations. Competes with Kyokuyo's principals and serves overlapping end markets in paper and packaging.
• Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. One of Japan's largest pulp and paper groups, with operations spanning printing paper, packaging, and chemicals. Comparable enterprise customer base and overlapping product portfolio in the paper and packaging distribution market.
• Hokuetsu Corporation: Japanese paper manufacturer producing printing paper, packaging paper, and specialty paper. Comparable in product mix and customer base, and competes in many of the same paper categories that Kyokuyo distributes.
• Oji Holdings Corporation: Parent company of Kyokuyo and one of Japan's largest pulp and paper conglomerates. Provides Kyokuyo with manufacturing capacity, partner network, and supply chain reach. As the parent, it is the dominant related peer.
• Sumitomo Corporation (Paper & Printing Materials): Japanese sōgō shōsha active in paper and printing materials trading. Comparable in product categories and target customer base, with broader geographic reach and larger product portfolio than Kyokuyo.
• Itochu Corporation (Paper & Pulp Division): Major Japanese sōgō shōsha with a paper, pulp, and packaging trading division. Competes with Kyokuyo in domestic paper distribution and benefits from much larger scale and global reach.

Direct peers

• Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd. Japanese paper and packaging wholesaler/distributor with a comparable trading model focused on paper distribution to enterprise customers. A direct peer in the paper and packaging distribution value chain.
• Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd. Japanese paper manufacturer and a shareholder of Kyokuyo. Comparable in product mix and serves overlapping enterprise customers in printing and packaging paper.

Others

• UPM-Kymmene Corporation: European pulp and paper manufacturer with global operations in printing paper, packaging, and label materials. Comparable in product categories that Kyokuyo distributes, though Kyoto's operating geography is Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Kyokuyo