DHC Corporation is a Japanese consumer-products company known primarily for cosmetics, health foods, vitamins, and its Olive Virgin Oil skincare line.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
DHC Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer and consumer brand whose principal businesses are cosmetics, skincare, vitamins, health foods, and related personal-care products. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and was established in 1972. Its name derives from Daigaku Honyaku Center, or University Translation Center, reflecting the company's original business as a translation service before it diversified into consumer products. The company's most recognizable offering is its Olive Virgin Oil brand, which became the foundation of DHC's identity in skincare. DHC developed a broad direct-to-consumer and retail-oriented portfolio around facial care, cleansing products, moisturizers, makeup, body care, hair care, nutritional supplements, and health foods. The brand has generally positioned itself around accessible Japanese beauty, ingredient-focused formulations, and the combination of cosmetic products with internal wellness and nutrition businesses. DHC's activities have extended beyond cosmetics and supplements. The company has operated educational and publishing activities, a hotel and spa business, and two aesthetic salons. It has also been associated with media and entertainment interests, including a minority shareholding in Oricon Inc., the Japanese music-chart operator. DHC was previously the parent company of Cross FM, a radio station based in Fukuoka. In 2008, it entered the helicopter business, illustrating the unusually diversified scope of the corporate group compared with the narrower public image of its cosmetics brand. The company has participated in sponsorship and promotional activities in sport. Documented examples include sponsorship of the LBO Ladies Bowling Tour, support for the Sagan Tosu football club through shirt sponsorship, and platinum sponsorship of the 2014 International Federation of Broomball Associations World Broomball Championships in Tomakomai, Japan. These activities connected the company with Japanese professional sport as well as international amateur competition. DHC also faced a serious reputational controversy related to statements attributed to founder and then-chief executive Yoshiaki Yoshida in 2020 and 2021. Statements concerning Korean people, Korean heritage among employees and models, and language used through DHC's official social-media channels prompted criticism and consumer backlash. The company subsequently exited the South Korean market at the end of 2021. Orix acquired DHC in 2023. Yoshida briefly remained chairman after the acquisition but stepped down by the end of that year following another controversy and no longer has ties to the company according to the referenced material. DHC therefore combines the profile of a major Japanese beauty and wellness brand with that of a diversified corporate group. Its historical development runs from translation services to cosmetics and nutrition, followed by expansion into publishing, education, hospitality, salons, media-related interests, and aviation. The business remains active, while its corporate ownership has shifted from founder control to Orix ownership.
History
DHC began in Japan in 1972 as Daigaku Honyaku Center, a translation and publishing company founded by Yoshiaki Yoshida. The original business gave the company its name and established an early direct relationship with customers through language and information services. Over time, the company diversified into consumer products, eventually making cosmetics, skincare, and health foods its most visible activities. The transition into beauty products was central to DHC's later development. The company built a product philosophy around olive oil and ingredient-led skincare, particularly products intended to cleanse, moisturize, and support daily skin maintenance. Its direct-marketing model allowed DHC to sell products through catalogs, mail order, telephone ordering, online commerce, company-operated shops, and selected retail channels. This helped it compete in Japan's large mass-market beauty sector without relying exclusively on department-store counters. DHC's portfolio broadened from facial skincare into makeup, lip care, body care, hair care, and dietary supplements. The supplement business became an important complement to topical beauty products, allowing the company to address beauty and wellness through both external-care and nutritional products. Product families were often organized around specific ingredients, skin concerns, or routine steps, while the brand maintained a relatively accessible price position. The company expanded beyond Japan through overseas subsidiaries, local websites, retail arrangements, and cross-border sales. Its international presence was particularly associated with Asian markets and with selected skincare and supplement products. DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil became the most recognizable product in many foreign markets, helping the brand establish awareness beyond its home country. DHC remained closely associated with its founder and private ownership for much of its independent history. In 2020, remarks published by Yoshiaki Yoshida on a DHC-affiliated website caused a major reputational controversy. Critics described the remarks as racist and anti-Korean, and the issue led to calls for boycotts and criticism from commercial and local-government partners. The episode made governance and brand safety important issues alongside DHC's product reputation. In November 2022, Kao announced that it had agreed to acquire DHC Corporation. Kao described the transaction as a way to strengthen its consumer-business portfolio and gain DHC's brand, products, customer relationships, and direct-marketing capabilities. The acquisition was completed in March 2023. DHC subsequently became part of Kao's group while continuing to operate as a recognizable brand. Its current identity therefore combines a long-established Japanese direct-to-consumer heritage with the resources and governance framework of a major publicly listed consumer-products company.
- 2023
DHC becomes a Kao subsidiary
[2]Kao completes the acquisition, placing DHC within the Kao group.
- 2022
Kao announces DHC acquisition
[1]Kao announces an agreement to acquire all shares of DHC Corporation.
- 2020
Founder-related discrimination controversy
[3]Statements published on a DHC-affiliated website generate criticism over racist and anti-Korean content and damage the company's public reputation.
- 1972
Daigaku Honyaku Center is founded
[1]Yoshiaki Yoshida establishes the company that later becomes DHC, initially as a translation and publishing business.
Products and positioning
Accessible Japanese skincare and wellness products with an ingredient-focused proposition, especially centered on olive oil, cleansing, moisturization, and everyday nutritional support.
Facial cleanser and makeup remover
Deep Cleansing Oil
DHC's signature cleansing oil is designed to dissolve makeup, sebum, and other oil-soluble impurities before rinsing away. It is strongly associated with the brand's olive-oil-based skincare identity and has served as its best-known international product.
Facial oil and moisturizer
Olive Virgin Oil
An olive-oil-centered facial-care product positioned for moisturizing and conditioning the skin. It represents DHC's long-running use of olive oil as a core ingredient and a central element of the brand's product storytelling.
Lip care
DHC Lip Cream
A daily lip-care product intended to moisturize and protect dry lips. Its small format, accessible price, and repeat-purchase use have made it one of the brand's recognizable personal-care items.
Dietary supplements
DHC Supplements
DHC sells a broad range of nutritional products, including vitamins, minerals, beauty supplements, and other dietary-support formulations. The category extends the company's beauty proposition from topical care into everyday wellness and nutrition.
Controversies
2021
DHC chairman’s discriminatory remarks targeting ethnic Koreans draw renewed criticism
DHC came under renewed criticism after its chairman used discriminatory language targeting ethnic Koreans in a recent column on the company’s official website. The article reports that the company had also faced criticism over earlier racially charged columns.
2020
Controversy over discriminatory statements
Yoshiaki Yoshida, DHC's founder and chairman at the time, published statements on a DHC-affiliated website that were widely condemned as racist and anti-Korean. The remarks prompted criticism from civil-society groups, consumers, retailers, municipalities, and other business partners, creating a significant reputational issue for the brand.
2020
DHC faces online boycott calls after CEO comments about Koreans
In December 2020, the Japanese beauty firm DHC faced online boycott calls after its CEO used a racial slur for Koreans and described the company's employees as "pure Japanese." The remarks prompted the boycott calls, which circulated online. The event was reported by The Korea Times.
Brand decisions
2022
Kao agrees to acquire DHCM&ABackground
DHC had developed a substantial Japanese beauty, supplement, and direct-marketing business but remained privately controlled. Kao sought to strengthen its consumer-products portfolio and expand its access to DHC's brand and customer base.
Action taken
Kao entered an agreement to acquire all shares of DHC Corporation from its shareholders.
Aftermath
The acquisition was completed in 2023, and DHC became a subsidiary of Kao while continuing as a distinct consumer brand.
Recent events
Reported
DHC Korea announces exit from South Korea[7]
DHC Korea announced that it had decided to end operations in South Korea. Its shopping website was scheduled to operate only until 2:00 p.m. local time on September 15, 2021. The article says the detailed reason was not disclosed and suggests the decision may be related to prior anti-Korean remarks and consumer boycotts.
Reported
DHC chairman’s discriminatory remarks targeting ethnic Koreans draw renewed criticism[6]
DHC came under renewed criticism after its chairman used discriminatory language targeting ethnic Koreans in a recent column on the company’s official website. The article reports that the company had also faced criticism over earlier racially charged columns.
Reported
DHC faces online boycott calls after CEO comments about Koreans[5]
DHC faced online boycott calls after its CEO used a racial slur for Koreans and described the firm's employees as “pure Japanese.”
- Unconfirmed
Reported
DHC launches Sanrio-themed lip balm sets in Taiwan[8]
Taiwan DHC introduced limited-edition lip balm sets featuring packaging with Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars and My Melody designs, offered in pink, yellow and green versions.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
DHC offers Sanrio-themed gifts with qualifying purchases[8]
DHC offered a Hello Kitty tote bag with purchases of NT$2,500 or more and a foldable shopping bag with purchases of NT$5,000 or more.
Sources8 sources
- 1Kao announces agreement to acquire DHC Corporationkao.com
- 2Kao reports completion of DHC acquisitionkao.com
- 3Asahi Shimbun report on controversy involving DHC chairmanasahi.com
- 4DHC official websitedhc.co.jp
- 5DHC faces online boycott calls after CEO comments about Koreanskoreatimes.co.kr
- 6DHC chairman’s discriminatory remarks targeting ethnic Koreans draw renewed criticismkoreaherald.com
- 7DHC Korea 宣布退出南韩市场news.cnyes.com
- 8DHC推出三丽鸥主题护唇膏组合woman.tvbs.com.tw
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