Seirin
Seirin Corporation is a Japanese medical device manufacturer (founded 1978) that pioneered disposable sterile acupuncture needles. It produces precision needles and therapy devices domestically, distributing to licensed acupuncturists, hospitals, and clinics across 30+ countries, plus consumer self-care products online.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersShizuoka, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Seirin does
Seirin Corporation (セイリン株式会社) is a Shizuoka-headquartered medical device manufacturer founded in 1978 that pioneered disposable sterile acupuncture needles and remains the only company in Japan with complete domestic production capability from raw materials to finished sterile product. The firm operates the entire value chain in-house at its Shimizu Factory — from precision stainless steel wire processing (0.032mm to 0.70mm diameter at 1/1000mm precision control), through insert molding of plastic handles, ultrasonic welding of needle-to-tube joins (~1mm weld points), polyester-silicon coating, assembly, packaging, and EOG sterilization — with full lot traceability. Core products span multiple disposable needle types (M, J, L, G, JSP, ELIPEAS, soft, J-Matsuba, J-Sakura, J-Nanshin), Pyonex round-headed press needles in five sizes, intradermal and pediatric needles, SEIRIN picorina low-frequency electrotherapy, ceramic electric moxibustion devices, and SEIRIN laser therapy units. Adjacent lines include consumer self-care products (Kori Supotto pressure patches, Yasashii Hari Gokochi non-penetrating stimulators, Patch Tan titanium particles) and digital services (Health ni Hari clinic search/reservation platform launched April 2021; Shinkyuu Tsunagaru Karte electronic medical records).
Seirin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Seirin
- Legal name
- セイリン株式会社 (SEIRIN Corporation)
- Website
- https://seirin.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Seirin Corporation is a Japanese medical device manufacturer (founded 1978) that pioneered disposable sterile acupuncture needles. It produces precision needles and therapy devices domestically, distributing to licensed acupuncturists, hospitals, and clinics across 30+ countries, plus consumer self-care products online.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Seirin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Devices (Acupuncture Needles)
- NAICS
- Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Medical & Hygiene Technical Textiles (Gauze/Drapes/Wipes/Barrier Fabrics) (IMAOADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets) (CRADALAJ), Home Care Tools & Consumables (Sponges, Wipes, Brushes, Gloves, Mop Refills) (CRADAKAM)
Keywords
Where Seirin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shizuoka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices12 records
Markets served
Seirin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Medical Device Manufacturing and Sales: Design, development, manufacturing, and sales of disposable sterile acupuncture needles and related medical devices. Revenue generated through direct sales to licensed acupuncturists, acupuncture clinics, hospitals, and medical institutions via distributor network.
- Consumer Self-Care Products: Sales of consumer-facing self-care products including adhesive needle patches (Kori Sport), touch-type acupuncture devices (Yasashii Hari), and titanium bead products. Sold through online store and retail channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer self-care products available for individual purchase |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional seminar fees for practitioners |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Seirin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Seirin designs, manufactures, and sells disposable sterile acupuncture needles and related medical devices for licensed acupuncture practitioners, hospitals, and clinics, alongside consumer self-care products such as adhesive pressure patches and non-penetrating therapy devices. Core production is fully integrated in-house in Shizuoka, Japan, using proprietary ultra-precision wire processing, insert molding, ultrasonic welding, and EOG sterilization. The company distributes its products in 30+ countries through wholly-owned regional subsidiaries and authorized medical distributors.
Product overview
Seirin is a medical device manufacturer specializing in acupuncture needles and related healthcare products. The core product line consists of disposable sterile acupuncture needles available in multiple types (M, J, L, G, JSP, ELIPEAS, soft needle, and specialty variants like J-Matsuba, J-Sakura, J-Nanshin), alongside Pyonex round-headed needles for press therapy. The company also offers electronic therapy devices including the SEIRIN picorina low-frequency therapy system and ceramic electric moxibustion device. Consumer-facing self-care products include the Kori Supotto pressure patch, Yasashii Hari Gokochi non-penetrating therapy product, and Patch Tan titanium particle stimulator. Digital services include the Health ni Hari clinic search/reservation platform and Shinkyuu Tsunagaru Karte electronic medical record system. Seirin maintains full domestic production in Japan with advanced manufacturing technologies including insert molding, ultrasonic welding, and precision wire processing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Disposable Acupuncture Needles Single-use sterile acupuncture needles in multiple types (M, J, L, G, JSP, ELIPEAS, soft needle, and specialty variants like J-Matsuba, J-Sakura, J-Nanshin, L-Tsubaki, D/D-Kaede) for clinical acupuncture treatment by licensed practitioners. The product family includes the foundational series Seirin pioneered in 1978.
- Pyonex (パイオネックス) Round-headed press needles with 5 size variations, designed for pain-reduced treatment with good air permeability tape. Used by acupuncture practitioners for sustained point stimulation.
- SEIRIN picorina (セイリン picorina) Low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy device that received the 2017 Good Design Award. Used by acupuncture practitioners for non-invasive electrical stimulation therapy.
- Ceramic Electric Moxibustion Device (セラミック電気温灸器) Home-use heat therapy device for moxibustion treatment, providing controlled thermal stimulation through ceramic technology.
- Kori Supotto (こりスポット) Resin particle self-care product for pressure stimulation without skin penetration. Compact design with breathable tape for home use to relieve muscle tension and stiffness.
- Yasashii Hari Gokochi (やさしい「はり」ごこち) Self-applied acupressure therapy product with non-penetrating needle-like stimulation. Sterilized individual packaging with skin-friendly breathable tape for home use.
- Patch Tan (パッチタン) Titanium alloy particle stimulator for relieving muscle tension. Nickel and chromium-free titanium alloy for users with metal sensitivities.
- Health ni Hari (健康にはり) Acupuncture clinic search and reservation website for finding and booking appointments at acupuncture clinics across Japan.
- Shinkyuu Tsunagaru Karte (鍼灸つながるカルテ) Digital medical record system for acupuncture clinics enabling patient record management and clinic coordination across providers.
- SEIRIN Laser SKL-101/102 Laser therapy devices for acupuncture treatment, providing low-level laser stimulation for clinical use.
- Pediatric Needles (小児針) Specialized needles for pediatric acupuncture treatment, with associated patents registered in 1992.
- Intradermal Needles (皮内針) Short needles for intradermal insertion treatment. SS-type available for sustained stimulation under the skin surface.
Quantifiable outcome
- Minimized pain during acupuncture treatment through precision needle point geometry (tolerance of 2μm radius)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Seirin
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Seirin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Seirin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Acuneeds Australia Pty LtdcoreAcquired in July 2021, Acuneeds Australia serves as Seirin's exclusive distribution partner in Australia and New Zealand, managing local sales and marketing of acupuncture needles and related medical devices.
- SEIRIN-America Inc.coreWholly-owned subsidiary established February 1990 serving as exclusive distributor in the United States market. Located at 230 Libbey Parkway, Weymouth, MA 02189.
- 成都鈴源科技有限公司coreRelated company established February 2019 to manage sales and distribution operations in China. Located in Chengdu, serving as regional representative office.
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)minorSeirin's precision needle processing technology was utilized in the Hayabusa2 asteroid sample return mission. Titanium needles (φ0.5mm, 11mm length) were provided for Ryugu particle sample handling at research institutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves15 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Seirin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schwa-Medico GmbH: German medical device company specializing in acupuncture needles, electroacupuncture, and TENS devices. Comparable as a European-headquartered peer selling sterile disposable acupuncture needles to practitioners with overlapping premium positioning.
- Helio Medical Supplies: US distributor and supplier of acupuncture and TCM clinical supplies including disposable needles. Comparable regional peer competing with SEIRIN-America for North American practitioner accounts.
- Dongbang Medical Co., Ltd. Korean manufacturer of acupuncture needles and traditional medicine devices. Closest direct competitor to Seirin in disposable sterile acupuncture needles, competing in Asia, Europe, and the Americas with comparable product category but lower-cost positioning.
- Lhasa OMS: US-based distributor and supplier of acupuncture needles and TCM clinical supplies, including proprietary disposable needle brands. Operates as both a peer manufacturer of needles and the dominant US distribution channel that competes with SEIRIN-America for US practitioner shelf space.
- Carbo Medical (Koryo): Manufacturer of disposable acupuncture needles headquartered in Korea, supplying global markets. Closely comparable product portfolio to Seirin (sterile single-use needles with color-coded handles), competing primarily on price.
- TeWa Medical: German manufacturer of medical devices including acupuncture and injection needles. Comparable mid-sized European competitor with similar focus on precision needle manufacturing for medical professionals.
Regional players
- ITO Co., Ltd. Japanese medical device manufacturer producing surgical instruments, sterilization containers, and hospital supplies. Comparable as a Japan-domestic specialty medical device manufacturer serving hospitals and clinics, though its product portfolio is centered on surgical instruments rather than acupuncture.
Broad incumbents
- Nipro Corporation: Global Japanese medical device manufacturer producing injection needles, dialysis equipment, and related disposables. Comparable as a Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of precision sterile medical needles and disposables with overlapping competencies in needle metallurgy.
- Terumo Corporation: Major Japanese medical device manufacturer with global reach. While Terumo's core focus is syringes, blood bags, and cardiovascular devices, it is a comparable Japanese-headquartered precision medical device incumbent operating from a much larger scale.
- Owen Mumford: UK-based medical device manufacturer specializing in single-use injection and lancet devices. Comparable as a privately-held specialty manufacturer of precision disposable medical devices sold through healthcare professional channels, similar GTM motion to Seirin's.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Seirin social profiles
Digital presenceSeirin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Seirin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Seirin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Seirin subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Seirin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Seirin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Seirin
What does Seirin do?
Seirin designs, manufactures, and sells disposable sterile acupuncture needles and related medical devices for licensed acupuncture practitioners, hospitals, and clinics, alongside consumer self-care products such as adhesive pressure patches and non-penetrating therapy devices. Core production is fully integrated in-house in Shizuoka, Japan, using proprietary ultra-precision wire processing, insert molding, ultrasonic welding, and EOG sterilization. The company distributes its products in 30+ countries through wholly-owned regional subsidiaries and authorized medical distributors.
Is Seirin a public or private company?
Seirin is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Seirin founded?
Seirin was founded in 1978. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Seirin based?
Seirin is headquartered in Shizuoka, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Seirin make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Medical Device Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are consumer Self-Care Products.
Who are Seirin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Schwa-Medico GmbH, Helio Medical Supplies, Dongbang Medical Co., Ltd., Lhasa OMS, Carbo Medical (Koryo) and TeWa Medical. ITO Co., Ltd. is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Nipro Corporation, Terumo Corporation and Owen Mumford.
Does Seirin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Seirin.
What industry is Seirin in?
Seirin's product category is Medical Devices (Acupuncture Needles). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOADAD, Medical & Hygiene Technical Textiles (Gauze/Drapes/Wipes/Barrier Fabrics), with a secondary code of CRADALAJ, Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets). Its NAICS code is 339112 and its SIC code is 3841.