history

Inspired by our founder’s vision, Yakult remains committed to promoting health and happiness worldwide through the pursuit of a disease-resistant body. Dr. Minoru Shirota, Yakult’s founder and a medical doctor, began his studies at Kyoto Imperial University in 1921. At the time, poor sanitation and malnutrition in Japan led to many deaths from infectious diseases like cholera and dysentery.

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1930

Dr Minoru Shirota successfully cultured Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1935

Yakult started to be manufactured and sold

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1955

Yakult Honsha building was established in Tokyo

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1963

Yakult lady home delivery began

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1964

Yakult Taiwan opens, Yakults first overseas business

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1967

Yakul research institute is established (Now known as central institute)

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1968

Yakult's first iconic bottle is introduced

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1972

New headquarter building is completed in central Tokyo

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1978

Yakult Swallows win first Japanese's professional Basketball league championship

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1981

Yakult Honsha is listed in the first section of Tokyo stock exchange

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1986

Fuji Susono dairy product manufacturing plant is completed

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
1998

Yakult is approved as "Food for sepecific health uses (FOSHU)"

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
2015

Yakult Middle East FZCO office was established in Dubai, UAE

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
2016

Opening of newly renovated Yakult central institute

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
2017

Yakult Middle East starts marketing Yakult product

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
2018

Yakult Middle East introduces Yakult Light to UAE

Dr Minoru Shirota 1930
2019

Yakult Middle East introduces Yakult Gold to UAE

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