What Kuramoto does

Kuramoto Co., Ltd. is a Japanese public company (TYO:5216) that develops, processes, and sells glass substrates for flat panel displays (FPDs). Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Nishihara, Japan, the company occupies a specialized niche within the display industry supply chain, producing processed glass that serves as the foundational substrate for flat panel display technologies used in televisions, monitors, and other consumer electronics. The company maintains a focused workforce of 51-100 employees, consistent with its positioning as a small, specialty-tier materials supplier rather than a large-scale commodity producer. Its public listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange provides capital market access and disclosure obligations.

The company's business model is built on B2B sales of processed glass substrates to display panel manufacturers, with revenue tied to the cyclical dynamics of the consumer electronics and display panel end markets. Financial data spanning 2016-2025 reveals substantial volatility: the company posted large net losses in 2016, 2017, 2018, and again in 2025, while achieving positive net income in 2024. This pattern points to exposure to sharp cyclical swings in the display industry, potential restructuring events, or non-cash impairment charges that have materially affected the profitability profile. Given the small headcount and the capital-intensive nature of glass substrate manufacturing, Kuramoto likely serves a narrow set of large display panel customers under long-term supply arrangements, with the company website (kuramoto.co.jp) and Tokyo Stock Exchange listing providing the primary public reference points.

The 2024 positive net income followed by a sharply negative 2025 result is a material red flag that warrants further diligence. Combined with no documented M&A, product launches, leadership changes, or partnerships in the input data, the strategic direction of the business is unclear, and the data quality of the financial labels (apparent unit inconsistencies between the $M designation and the magnitudes shown) introduces additional uncertainty into any forward-looking assessment.

Name

Kuramoto

Website

https://kuramoto.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kuramoto Co., Ltd. is a Japanese public company (TYO:5216) that develops, processes, and sells glass substrates for flat panel displays, serving display panel manufacturers from its headquarters in Nishihara, Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Display Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Flat Glass Manufacturing (327211)

SIC

Flat Glass (3211)

akta.pro primary industry

Flat Glass (Float/Sheet/Plate) Manufacturing (IMADAHAA)

Keywords

• Glass substrates
• Flat panel displays
• Display components
• Substrate manufacturing
• Specialty glass materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Kurihara

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Core offering

Kuramoto develops, processes, and sells glass substrates used as core components in flat panel displays. Its products are supplied to display panel manufacturers serving the consumer electronics and information display markets. The company's activities span glass substrate development, processing, and commercial sale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Glass substrates for flat panel displays Developed, processed, and sold by Kuramoto as a base material used by display panel manufacturers in the production of flat panel displays (such as LCD panels). Customers are display panel makers and OEMs in the consumer electronics and information display markets.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• Schott AG: German specialty glass manufacturer producing substrates for electronics, flat panel displays, and industrial applications. Comparable product technology and FPD end-market exposure, though with a broader portfolio than Kuramoto.
• Nippon Sheet Glass: Japan-headquartered global glass manufacturer producing flat glass for architectural and specialty applications including display glass. Comparable as another Japanese flat glass producer with FPD exposure, though much larger and more diversified than Kuramoto.
• AGC Inc. Formerly Asahi Glass, AGC is one of the world's largest flat glass producers with a major display glass (Glass substrates for LCD/OLED) business. Comparable as a much larger incumbent serving the same FPD substrate market as Kuramoto, but with vastly broader product portfolio and global scale.
• Corning Incorporated: US-based global leader in display glass substrates (Corning EagleXG) and Gorilla Glass for consumer electronics. Directly comparable end products and customer base (panel makers) but vastly larger scale and technology resources.

Direct peers

• AvanStrate Inc. Japan-based specialist manufacturer of glass substrates specifically for flat panel displays (LCD). Highly comparable given its exclusive focus on FPD glass substrates and its position as a smaller, focused competitor to Kuramoto.
• Central Glass Co., Ltd. Japanese glass manufacturer with operations spanning flat glass, container glass, and specialty glass for electronics. Comparable given shared Japanese market, specialty/flat glass product overlap, and serving of display and electronics customers.
• Nippon Electric Glass: Japanese specialty glass manufacturer producing flat glass, display glass substrates, and glass for electronics. Direct peer given shared geography, product overlap in FPD glass substrates, and similar end markets in the Asian display supply chain.
• Hoya Corporation: Japanese specialty materials company with a significant display glass mask substrate business serving FPD manufacturers. Direct peer given overlapping product category (display glass substrates) and Japanese-headquartered customer base.

Regional players

• Taiwan Glass Industry Corporation: Taiwan-based flat glass producer with display and electronics glass offerings serving the Greater China panel supply chain. Comparable in product category and FPD end-market, but focused on a different regional cluster than Kuramoto.
• IRICO Group New Energy Co., Ltd. Chinese flat glass and display glass manufacturer serving the Chinese panel maker ecosystem. Comparable product category (flat/FPD glass) and serves similar downstream customers, but is regionally focused on China versus Kuramoto's Japanese orientation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kuramoto-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Kuramoto