About Us

Our Services for the Pharmaceutical,
Cosmetic, and Health Food Supplement Industries

H. Holstein offers a broad range of consulting and business support services tailored to the specific needs of the pharmaceutical industry. We supply high-quality raw materials and excipients to pharmaceutical manufacturers, supporting compliance with stringent regulatory and quality standards. In addition, our expertise extends to the sourcing and supply of a wide range of ingredients for the cosmetics and health food sectors. Through our established international network, we provide innovative and reliable materials and technologies that help our partners develop safe, effective, and competitive products for the Japanese market.

Mission

Technology and Know-How Transfer

A key focus of our mission is the facilitation of technology and know-how transfer between different parts of the World and Japan. By fostering this exchange, we aim to support our partners and enhance the well-being of patients and consumers who rely on products developed from these advanced technologies. This ongoing collaboration ensures that innovative solutions are accessible and beneficial to all stakeholders involved.

President

Peter H. Holstein

Upholding values – now more than ever

Our mission is to bring high technological innovations in the field of pharmaceuticals and cosmetic and nutraceutical science from all around the world to Japan for the benefit of patients and consumers in Japan. Close collaboration and active communication between us, our international partners and our Japanese customers are essential to this endeavor.
We trust in international agreements based on applicable international law, reliable rules and shared guidelines and honor our relationships. We stand by our word—and we stand by our customers, partners, suppliers and employees.
We want to be a rock in the stormy sea: This rock stands for reliability, honesty, mutual respect and fairness in all business decisions—as well as for long-term harmonious partnerships that hold firm even when the headwinds grow stronger.
With this mindset, we at Holstein shape our collaborations—today and in the future, as we have done throughout our over 100-year company history.

History

Since the foundation of C. Holstein Company in Kobe in 1919 and H. Holstein & Co. in Hamburg in 1932, Holstein has supplied products and technologies from the pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic, optical, mechanical machinery industries and stationery products from Germany to Japan. Over the years Holstein introduced many famous brands to Japan that include world known brands such as Mont Blanc and Faber-Castell pens, Henkel’s Persil washing agents and chemicals from BASF.

  • 1897
    Arrival of Christian Holstein in Japan,
    where he starts to work for Nickel & Co.
    (he will be later its managing director).
    Christian Holstein and Carl Nickel
  • 1919
    Founding of C. Holstein Company in Kobe.
    Branch offices later established in Osaka,
    Tokyo and Yokohama.
  • 1920
    Founding of Holstein Shipping & Insurance Company in Kobe.
  • 1925|1930
    C. Holstein Company in Dairen (today Dalian) and Holstein and Company Manchuria-Siberia in Harbin and Mukden (today Shenyang) established.
  • 1932
    Founding of H. Holstein & Co. in Hamburg
    New Year's Reception 1932 in Osaka
  • 1939|1945
    During World War II business activities of the companies were at a virtual standstill. The companies in Manchuria are lost. Closure of Holstein Shipping & Insurance Agency.
  • 1945
    Relaunch of the C. Holstein Company in Japan and later H. Holstein & Co. in Hamburg.
  • 1955
    Jens C. Holstein becomes President of C. Holstein Company and H. Holstein & Co.
  • 1994
    Peter H. Holstein becomes President of H. Holstein & Co.
  • 1996
    Establishment of H. Holstein & Co., Tokyo Branch
  • 2000
    Establishment of Holstein (Switzerland) GmbH; President Peter H. Holstein
  • 2014
    Establishment of H. Holstein Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) and consolidation of all Japanese business activities at H. Holstein Co. Ltd.; President Peter H. Holstein