Jokoh Co., Ltd.

Jokoh Co., Ltd. (株式会社常光) is a Japanese company headquartered in Musashimurayama, Tokyo, with a history dating back to its founding on June 14, 1947, and formal incorporation on December 9, 1948. The company operates across three main business segments: medical device manufacturing, medical device dealership, and nanotechnology. Its medical device manufacturing business develops, produces, and sells medical analysis equipment, in-vitro diagnostic reagents, and related software. The dealership business distributes X-ray equipment, diagnostic imaging devices, and medical consumables. The nanotechnology business develops and manufactures ultra-high-pressure homogenizers and provides contract processing services for materials. Jokoh serves a broad customer base that includes university hospitals such as the University of Tokyo Hospital and Hokkaido University Hospital, national medical centers including the National Center for Global Health and Medicine and the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, and commercial testing laboratories such as SRL and BML. Internationally, the company exports to more than 50 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Its products are used in clinical laboratory testing, dialysis, cardiology, cytology, and battery materials research. The company is led by President Naohiko Hattori (服部直彦). As of April 1, 2026, it employs 265 people and has capital of 100 million yen. Jokoh is privately held and not listed on any stock exchange. It is a member of the Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers Association and the Japan Association of Clinical Reagents Industries, among other industry groups. Jokoh has been recognized by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a "Regional Future Leading Company" (地域未来牽引企業) in December 2018. It is also registered as a Sapporo Eco Member (Level 2) and participates in the Zero Carbon Hokkaido initiative. The company has set sustainability targets, including expanding smart healthcare technology adoption in Hokkaido to 16%, increasing the success rate of contract testing from 80% to 90%, and raising the battery-related sales ratio from 33% in fiscal 2022 to 67% by fiscal 2030. Recent product launches include the BlockStation automated fixation and embedding block preparation device (2024) and the Histra HER2 FISH kit for tumor marker testing (2023).

Jokoh Co., Ltd. was founded on June 14, 1947, in Japan, and was formally incorporated on December 9, 1948. The company began as a medical-related enterprise and has since grown into a diversified manufacturer and distributor of medical devices, diagnostic reagents, and nanotechnology equipment. Its early history is rooted in Japan's post-war reconstruction period, when demand for medical and scientific instruments was rising. Over the decades, Jokoh expanded its operations across three main business segments. The medical device manufacturing business develops and produces medical analysis equipment, in-vitro diagnostic reagents, and software. The medical device dealership business distributes X-ray equipment, diagnostic imaging devices, and medical consumables. The nanotechnology business, known as Nanomaterio Engineering, develops and manufactures ultra-high-pressure homogenizers and offers contract processing services for advanced materials. In the mid-1990s, as part of its first medium-term management plan, Jokoh recognized the need to systematize its management philosophy. In 1996, the company formally established its "Management Guidelines" (経営の指針), which serve as a compass for aligning management, managers, and employees. These guidelines have been revised over time, particularly in the 2000s when corporate governance became more important, to clarify the company's mission, governance approach, and communication style. Jokoh has established a strong presence in Hokkaido, with a factory in Kikugawa and close ties to Hokkaido University. In 2018, the company was selected by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a "Regional Future Leading Company" (地域未来牽引企業), recognizing its role in driving regional economic growth. The company is also registered as a Sapporo Eco Member (Level 2) and participates in the Zero Carbon Hokkaido initiative. In recent years, Jokoh has continued to innovate. In 2021, it installed an ultra-high-pressure homogenizer at Stanford Nano Lab in the United States and implemented the Finnish innovation program DEMOLA with Hokkaido University. In 2023, its Histra HER2 FISH kit received expanded insurance coverage. In 2024, it launched the BlockStation automated fixation and embedding block preparation device. The company has set ambitious sustainability targets, including increasing the battery-related sales ratio from 33% in fiscal 2022 to 67% by fiscal 2030, and expanding smart healthcare technology adoption in Hokkaido to 16%. As of April 1, 2026, Jokoh employs 265 people and has capital of 100 million yen. It remains a privately held company, led by President Naohiko Hattori. The company exports to over 50 countries and continues to pursue its mission of contributing to the development of science and culture through the creation of new value.

• Founded in Japan.

• Formally incorporated as a company.

• Formally established the 'Management Guidelines' (経営の指針) during its first medium-term management plan.

• Selected by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a 'Regional Future Leading Company'.

• Implemented the Finnish innovation program DEMOLA with Hokkaido University.

• Installed an ultra-high-pressure homogenizer at Stanford Nano Lab, USA.

• Company initiatives featured in the Nikkei newspaper.

• Histra HER2 FISH kit received expanded insurance coverage.

• Launched BlockStation automated fixation and embedding block preparation device.

A diversified Japanese medical device and diagnostic company with a strong regional base in Hokkaido and growing international reach, combining clinical diagnostics, medical equipment distribution, and nanotechnology applications.

• BlockStation

  Automated fixation and embedding block preparation device for pathology.

• Histra HER2 FISH Kit

  Tumor marker kit for tissue testing, with expanded insurance coverage in Japan.

• Ultra-High-Pressure Homogenizer

  Nanotechnology equipment for particle size reduction and material processing.

1. 1株式会社常光 Official Websitejokoh.com
2. 2SDGs の取り組み/CSR活動 ｜ 株式会社常光jokoh.com
3. 3会社概要 ｜ 株式会社常光jokoh.com
4. 4企業理念 ｜ 株式会社常光jokoh.com
5. 5Wikidata: Jokoh Co., Ltd. (Japan)wikidata.org