Japan cosmetics market: an overview

Cosmetics research groups in Japan

There are approximately 1,500 members of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Japan (SCCJ) although the actual number of Japanese cosmetics researchers is estimated to be ten times larger than this. The International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC), which is the parent body of SCCJ, was established in 1959. Today, the IFSCC boasts cosmetic chemists’ societies from 45 countries with almost 15,000 member chemists. The largest events held by the federation are the annual scientific meetings in which cosmetics researchers gather from all over the world to present the results of their studies and discuss them. Those held in even-numbered years are called congresses, and those held in oddnumbered years are called conferences. The meetings have been held in Europe, America, and Asia at a ratio of 2:1:1, circulating the world like the Olympic Games. Because the country hosting the meeting is requested to fund the meeting and examine the studies applied for presentation, capable countries are limited. Congresses have been held in the US, France, Japan, Germany, UK, Korea, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Netherlands. Besides these countries, Austria, Taiwan, Belgium, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico and Scandinavia hold the right to host conferences. The 2010 congress will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presentations given by Japanese researchers have always attracted attention in the meetings as they have great scientific value and the range of possibilities for cosmetics applications is extremely wide. Shiseido, Pola, Kao, Kose and Nikko Group have each won some of the most prestigious IFSCC awards for the best researchers, based on presentations at the congresses. A recent example is Nikko Group, who received the best oral presentation award with a presentation entitled “Proposal for new anti-ageing/ageing-wrinkle concept” at the 20th IFSCC Conference, held in Melbourne (pictured), Australia in October 2009. This shows that Japanese technical competence is at the top global level. Another international conference is the Scientific Conference of Asia Societies of Cosmetic Scientists (ASCS). Japan proposed and played a major part in the establishment of this conference which aims to improve the technology involved in cosmetics in Asia, further develop the cosmetics industry, and deepen information exchange among cosmetics technology companies in Asia. The 9th ASCS Conference was held in the Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, in March 2009.

Japanese cosmetics research