The company reported 493 employees as of April 2026 and capital of ¥440 million.

The name KINCHO (金鳥) combines two Japanese characters:

• 金 (kin) — gold
• 鳥 (chō) — bird

Literally, 金鳥 translates to “golden bird.”

However, the company’s visual identity features a rooster rather than a generic bird. This choice reflects the Japanese proverb 「鶏口牛後」 (keikō gyūgo), which roughly means:

It is better to be the head of a rooster than the tail of an ox.

KINCHO interprets this proverb as embodying a spirit of independence, ambition, and leadership rather than simply following others. 2 Consequently, the rooster has become one of the most recognizable elements of the KINCHO brand.

KINCHO’s history begins in 1885, when founder Eiichiro Ueyama (上山英一郎) became involved with pyrethrum, a flowering plant known for its natural insecticidal properties.

Ueyama obtained pyrethrum seeds and worked to establish the cultivation of the plant in Japan. At the time, pyrethrum was particularly valuable because compounds contained in the flower could be used to combat insects.

This agricultural foundation distinguished KINCHO from other companies; it did not begin as a modern chemical insecticide manufacturer but grew out of the cultivation of pyrethrum and the development of products based on that natural resource.

From stick to spiral

Around 1890, Ueyama developed a mosquito-repellent incense stick using pyrethrum, influenced by traditional Japanese incense-making techniques.

The limitation of the straight stick was its relatively short burning time. According to KINCHO’s historical account, Ueyama’s wife, Yuki Ueyama, suggested shaping the incense into a spiral. This idea led to the development of the spiral mosquito coil in 1895.

The spiral design dramatically extended the burning duration, allowing a single coil to burn for approximately six hours—roughly the length of a night’s sleep at the time.

Significance of the spiral design

A straight incense stick burns quickly, whereas a spiral provides a much longer continuous burning path within a compact area. This innovation resulted in a product capable of providing sustained insect-repellent action without requiring an impractically long straight stick.

Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science recognizes this invention as part of the heritage surrounding the world’s first pyrethrum-containing mosquito repellent and mosquito coil.

Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance; in many parts of the world, they transmit diseases. Consequently, an inexpensive device that could continuously repel or kill mosquitoes had considerable public-health significance.

KINCHO exported mosquito coils internationally, and the company states that its products became widely used overseas, particularly in regions where insect-borne diseases pose significant health problems. 3

KINCHO progressively evolved from naturally derived pyrethrum products toward increasingly sophisticated insecticide technologies. Key milestones include:

These milestones illustrate the company’s transition from burning pyrethrum to sprays, electric devices, volatilizing formulations, and newer non-electric technologies.

Although mosquito coils remain the signature product, KINCHO’s current portfolio is broader. The parent company lists businesses including household insecticides, mosquito repellents, clothing insect repellents, household cleaning products, public-health pest-control products, and toiletry products. The company also applies its technological expertise to other household and gardening-related products.

Major categories

Mosquito control

• Traditional mosquito coils
• Electric mosquito repellents
• Aerosol mosquito/insect sprays
• Newer non-fire/non-electric products

General insect control

• Cockroach control
• Fly control
• Ant control
• Other household pest-control products

Clothing and storage

• Insect repellents for clothing and stored items

Household products

• Cleaning and toiletry-related products

Gardening

• KINCHO garden products Co., Ltd. operates within the corporate group, covering household gardening chemicals, fertilizers, and related materials.

KINCHO’s product development reflects a shift from natural resources to advanced synthetic and delivery systems:

1. Natural pyrethrum: Reliance on Tanacetum cinerariifolium.
2. Extracted ingredients: Extraction of active insecticidal components and development of liquid formulations.
3. Synthetic pyrethroids: After World War II, the ability to chemically synthesize pyrethroid insecticides greatly expanded product possibilities.
4. Electrification: Introduction of electric mosquito-repellent systems, such as the liquid electric repellent launched in 1965.
5. Room-temperature volatilization: Products using ingredients that volatilize without traditional burning.
6. Modern non-electric systems: Recent innovations like the 2024 Shinkatori product, which works without fire, electricity, or batteries.

The rooster logo is central to KINCHO’s identity, communicating the company’s philosophy of distinctiveness and leadership. The trademark was registered in 1910, reflecting Ueyama’s ambition for the brand to contribute to global health while becoming widely recognized.

In Japan, KINCHO is famous for its memorable advertising and creative marketing, often combining humor, cultural references, catchy characters, and seasonal themes. For many consumers, KINCHO is associated with summer, mosquito coils, and the familiar scent of Japanese mosquito-repellent incense, creating a strong emotional connection to an otherwise mundane household product.

One of the company’s corporate slogans is 「昔も今も品質一番」 (“Quality first, in the past and today”), emphasizing principles of quality, effectiveness, human safety, and consideration for nature.

KINCHO distributes products internationally through local subsidiaries and distributors, particularly across Asia. Its corporate network includes operations in Thailand and China.

Specific entities include:

• Cocksec Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Zhongshan KINCHO Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in Guangdong, China.

Overseas operations are significant because mosquito-control needs vary between tropical and temperate regions. While the brand may have a nostalgic/cultural identity in Japan, it often maintains a practical/public-health identity in tropical markets.

The brand is operated by Dainihon Jochugiku Co., Ltd. (大日本除虫菊株式会社). Founded in 1885, the modern incorporated company was established in 1919. Headquarters are located in Nishi-ku, Osaka.

Manufacturing facilities in Japan include sites in Osaka, Wakayama, and Chiba, along with a research and development laboratory in Toyonaka, Osaka.

KINCHO’s importance can be summarized by four key contributions:

1. Creation of the modern mosquito coil: The 1895 spiral coil was a highly effective product innovation.
2. Industrialization of insect control: Progression from agricultural pyrethrum to sophisticated chemical and delivery technologies.
3. Brand recognition: Transforming ordinary insecticides into a distinctive household brand through the rooster logo and advertising.
4. Adaptability: Surviving technological change by evolving from natural insecticides to coils, liquids, aerosols, electric devices, and passive systems.

This ability to evolve has helped the company remain relevant for more than 140 years.

As of 2026, KINCHO remains an independent Japanese household-products company centered on pest control, continuing to expand into adjacent areas. Its official profile lists household insecticides, clothing insect repellents, cleaners, public-health insecticides, and toiletries among its businesses. The company describes its current approach as combining accumulated insect-control knowledge with new technologies rather than relying solely on traditional mosquito coils.

1. 会社概要｜会社案内｜KINCHO 大日本除虫菊株式会社
2. Official KINCHO website
3. We are Dainihon Jochugiku Co., Ltd. KINCHO. ~Part 1: Pyrethrum and Evolution｜KINCHO公式note 大日本除虫菊株式会社 金鳥