Our History

“I want to produce an artificial nipple

which is very similar to mothers’ nipple”
– Yuichi Nakata, founder of Pigeon

Our History

“I want to produce an artificial nipple

which is very similar to mothers’ nipple”
– Yuichi Nakata, founder of Pigeon

With no available research data and know how, Mr. Nakata found his own unique methods to study the sucking mechanism of babies.

Mr. Nakata’s research data has contributed to the development of artificial teats. What Yuichi Nakata saw was the unique movements of the tongues of babies when they sucked milk. Scientifically named “Peristaltic Movements” much later, they formed the basis of all the bottles and nipples made in the PIGEON research center.

To meet the needs for quality mother and baby care, PIGEON was founded in 1957 in japan by its founder Yuichi Nakata whose vision to provide quality, comfort, convenience and affordability in one brand has made PIGEON the market leader today.

Spreading our wings to over 40 countries

With the range of products encompassing every need in maternity and baby care, PIGEON is a one-stop shop for mothers and mother-to-be.

Spreading its wings to over 40 countries, PIGEON is the top player in the international markets today. Headquarters in japan, PIGEON has subsidiaries in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Korea, China, and USA. Singapore is the regional headquarter for ASEAN countries.

For over 6 decades, PIGEON has dedicated research capabilities towards the sucking behavior of babies. Having established a solid foundation of research, PIGEON is recommended today by most top medical and academic professionals.

1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s

1950s

1957

Pigeon Honyuki Honpo Corporation

Pigeon Honyuki Honpo (Nursing Bottle Manufacturing) Corporation established in Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture

1958

Head office relocated to Kanda-Higashimatsushita-cho, Tokyo

1960s

1963

Ichikawa Plant opened in Chiba Prefecture; Osaka Office established

1964

Fukuoka Office established

1965

Nagoya and Sapporo offices established

1966

Name changed to Pigeon Corporation

1967

Hiroshima Office established

1968

Sendai Office established

1970s

1973

Branch offices reorganized as stores; head office new building in Kanda-Tomiyama-cho, Tokyo, constructed

1978

Pigeon Singapore Pte. Ltd. established in Singapore

1980s

1983

Yoichi Nakata appointed President

Yoichi Nakata

1985

Adopted Corporate Identity

1986

Omiya Sales Office renamed Omiya Store

1987

Newborn Baby Commemorative Tree-Planting

The “Newborn Baby Commemorative Tree-Planting” Campaign launched as part of our corporate identity

1988

Shares registered

1989

Tsukuba Office opened

Tsukuba Office opened in Ibaraki Prefecture (relocated from Ichikawa); Pigeon Will Corporation established

1990s

1990

Thai Pigeon Co., Ltd. established as a joint venture in Thailand

1991

Joso Research Center

Joso Research Center (now Central Research Center) established in Ibaraki Prefecture

1993

Pigeon Land

“Pigeon Land” child-minding facility for infants launched at Joso Research Center (now Central Research Center)

1994

Pt. Modern Pigeon Indonesia established as a joint venture in Indonesia

1995

Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

1996

Pigeon Industries (Thailand) Co., Ltd. established as a joint venture in Thailand Hitachiota Logistics Center began operations

1997

Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

1998

Kanzaki Logistics Center (Hyogo Prefecture) began operations

1999

Pigeon Kids World Corporation established

Seiichi Matsumura
Pigeon Manaka Corporation established

2000s

2000

Seiichi Matsumura appointed President and Chief Operating Officer; Yoichi Nakata appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2001

The “Newborn Baby Commemorative Tree-Planting” Campaign conducted for the 15th time

Tsukuba Office acquired ISO14001 certification

2002

PHP Hyogo Corporation joins the Pigeon Group

2003

Fukuyo Ibaraki Corporation changed its name to PHP Ibaraki Corporation

Pigeon Kids World Corporation changed its name to Pigeon Hearts Corporation

PHP Hyogo Corporation changed its name by replacing the katakana representation of “PHP” to its romanized form

2004

Tahira Corporation joins the Pigeon Group

Operation of Sanno national child-minding facility (Ota-ku, Tokyo) launched

Lansinoh Laboratories, Inc. in the USA joins the Pigeon Group

Operation of 113 child-minding facilities in hospitals of the National Hospital Organization (independent administrative agency) launched

2005

Operation of 113 child-minding facilities in hospitals of the National Hospital Organization (independent administrative agency) launched

2006

Pigeon Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. established in China

Tahira Corporation changed its name to Pigeon Tahira Corporation

The “Newborn Baby Commemorative Tree-Planting” Campaign conducted for the 20th time

Head office relocated to Nihonbashi-Hisamatsu-cho, Tokyo, as a result of the integration of all offices

2007

Akio Okoshi appointed President and Chief Operating Officer; Seiichi Matsumura appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer;

Akio Okoshi

Yoichi Nakata appointed Executive Advisor and Member of the Board

Recoup brand of anti-aging products launched

2008

Representative office established in India

2009

Lansinoh Laboratories, Inc. acquired sales rights for Soothies brand

Pigeon Industries (Changzhou) Co. Ltd established in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.

Pigeon India Pvt. Ltd. established in India

2010s

2010

Sales of UK brand “Mamas & Papas” products launched

Sales of Double Heart brand launched in South Korea

Lansinoh Laboratories, Inc. took over “mOmma” business

2011

Pigeon Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd. established in Malaysia after a local sales company became our wholly-owned subsidiary

Lansinoh Laboratories, Inc. acquired all of Health Quest Ltd. shares

2012

DoubleHeart Co., Ltd. established in South Korea

2013

Shigeru Yamashita appointed President and Chief Operating Officer; Akio Okoshi appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Shigeru Yamashita

2014

Pigeon Corporation absorbed and merged with Pigeon Will Corporation

Lansinoh Laboratórios Do Brazil Ltda. established in Brazil

2015

LANSINOH LABORATORIES BENELUX established in Belgium

2016

LANSINOH LABORATORIES SHANGHAI established in China

2017

PT PIGEON INDONESIA in Indonesia became consolidated subsidiary

2019

Norimasa Kitazawa

1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s