The corporate figures above are derived from Okamoto Industries’ current company information, with sales reported for the fiscal year ended March 2026 12.

Several unrelated Japanese companies use the name Okamoto, making it necessary to distinguish between them. The subject of this article is OKAMOTO INDUSTRIES, INC. (オカモト株式会社), the rubber and plastics manufacturer known for its condom brand. It is distinct from entities such as Okamoto Corporation, which manufactures socks, or Okamoto Machine Tool Works 2.

Okamoto Industries originated in the rubber sector and developed specialised expertise in latex and polymer technology. Although condoms remain a significant consumer-facing segment, the company describes itself today as a “comprehensive rubber and plastic manufacturer” 3. This distinction is relevant because Okamoto is not solely a condom company; rather, the condom business is the division that has achieved the greatest global recognition.

Origins: 1932–1934

The foundation of Okamoto’s condom business dates to 1932, when Minosuke Okamoto, alongside his older sister and younger brother, began researching products made from natural rubber latex 1.

In January 1934, Nippon Gum Industries, Ltd. was established in Tokyo, followed by the establishment of the Okamoto Rubber Plant in February of the same year. A factory in Hirai was subsequently opened in 1935 1. Consequently, 1934 is generally regarded as the company’s founding year, despite the later evolution of its modern corporate structure.

From its inception, the company focused on condom manufacturing. Okamoto states that its original objective was to develop condoms with high quality and durability during a period when manufacturing technology, raw materials, and machinery were scarce 1.

Corporate consolidation

The contemporary Okamoto organisation emerged through a series of mergers and integrations. According to official corporate history, the company formed around Okamoto Rubber Co., Ltd., together with Nippon Gum Industries and Riken Rubber, later expanding by absorbing other businesses including Zebra-Kenko Bicycles 1. This consolidation explains the diverse product portfolio maintained by the company today.

Over subsequent decades, Okamoto expanded beyond condoms and traditional rubber products. Its current business divisions include:

Industrial products

• Plastic films
• Automotive materials
• Wallpaper
• Flexible container bags
• Adhesive tape
• Rubber bands
• Food-wrapping films
• Dehydrating/absorbing sheets
• Food-grade gloves

Consumer products

• Condoms
• Personal-care products
• Heating pads
• Dehumidifiers
• Gloves
• Boots
• Safety shoes
• Medical equipment
• Leather shoes
• Sneakers

Other businesses

• Solar power generation

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This diversification is a less widely known aspect of the brand. Consumers familiar primarily with Okamoto condoms may not be aware that the parent company is a substantial materials manufacturer.

Okamoto’s prominence in the condom market is largely attributed to material engineering. While condoms have traditionally been associated with natural rubber latex, Okamoto has invested significantly in developing thinner and alternative polymer materials, enabling competition based on thinness, flexibility, texture, and fit.

This focus on material science underpins the brand’s 0.01 series. International branding emphasises the development of specialised thin condom materials, while Japanese product specifications identify the 0.01 as approximately 0.01 mm thick 3.

SHEERLON technology

A key component of Okamoto’s condom technology is SHEERLON. International materials describe SHEERLON as a proprietary material developed to reduce thickness while maintaining durability, and it has been utilised across various products in the portfolio, including classic lines 3. This reflects the brand’s competitive identity, which is built upon materials science rather than packaging or marketing alone. The brand aims to translate polymer engineering into consumer benefits such as reduced rubber sensation and improved comfort.

The OKAMOTO 0.01 is arguably the product most representative of modern Okamoto. The Japanese ZERO ONE product is described as approximately 0.01 mm thick and uses aqueous polyurethane instead of conventional latex. Marketed as an exceptionally thin condom, it is manufactured in Japan 4.

The international product line specifies the 0.01 product as:

• Approximately 0.01–0.019 mm thick
• Made from hydro polyurethane
• Non-latex
• Transparent
• Approximately 52 ± 2 mm wide
• Approximately 175 ± 10 mm long
• Made in Japan

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Polyurethane vs latex

Polyurethane enables the manufacture of extremely thin condoms without relying on natural rubber latex. This offers a practical alternative for individuals who need to avoid latex, although users should always consult package instructions regarding specific products and personal circumstances. Okamoto explicitly describes its 0.01 polyurethane product as suitable for people with latex sensitivity 3.

It is important to note that Okamoto is not synonymous with polyurethane; the material used depends on the specific product. Conventional latex condoms offer high elasticity and a familiar feel, and are used in many other Okamoto product lines.

Thickness categories

Okamoto’s ultra-thin range is structured around distinct thickness categories:

The current catalogue lists separate 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 families. The 0.03 range includes variants such as Platinum, Cool, Hyaluronic Acid, Rich Lubricative, Aloe, and Real Fit 5. These numbers represent thickness categories rather than a simple quality ranking. Factors such as material, fit, lubrication, comfort, and personal preference are all relevant to product selection.

Interpretation of “0.01”

The designation 0.01 should not necessarily be interpreted as an exact 0.01000 mm thickness at every point on the condom. Product documentation describes the item as 0.01 mm / 0.01–0.019 mm, while the Japanese ZERO ONE page refers to it as “around 0.01 mm” 5. The name essentially communicates an ultra-thin thickness class rather than claiming uniform microscopic precision.

Broader catalogue

Beyond the ultra-thin series, Okamoto’s international catalogue includes:

• Classic: Crown, Roman, Harmony, and other traditional designs
• Functional/specialty: Products featuring varying lubrication levels, aloe, cooling agents, hyaluronic acid, fit-oriented designs, and other specialised formulations
• Sexual wellness: Products beyond condoms

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Product availability varies significantly by country; lineups in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia may differ.

Okamoto occupies a distinct position in the condom market. Rather than competing primarily through celebrity endorsements, lifestyle branding, novelty, or low pricing, its identity is anchored in Japanese engineering, thinness, and quality. The 0.01 name functions as a product specification transformed into a brand identifier, immediately communicating the product’s central proposition.

This association is particularly strong among consumers seeking premium condoms. Okamoto describes itself as a major Japanese condom brand and claims in international materials to be the number-one-selling condom in Japan 3. This is a corporate claim rather than an independently verified global statistic. Outside Japan, the brand has established a strong reputation in parts of East and Southeast Asia, including Singapore, particularly among consumers specifically seeking Japanese ultra-thin condoms.

Okamoto’s corporate identity is closely linked to science, materials, manufacturing technology, and quality control. Its corporate slogan, “Science Delivers Better Living,” reflects a long-term focus on developing materials, production technologies, and quality improvements 1.

For condoms specifically, product information indicates that polyurethane products undergo electronic pinhole testing as part of quality control 3. While no condom provides 100% protection, this demonstrates how manufacturing precision is positioned as central to the brand. Correct use remains paramount, and Okamoto instructs users to follow product directions strictly 3.

As of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, OKAMOTO INDUSTRIES reported:

• ¥108.04 billion in consolidated sales
• ¥79.688 billion in parent-company sales
• 17,699,367 issued shares
• ¥13.04763 billion in capital
• Headquarters in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
• Kunihiko Okamoto as president and representative director

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These figures confirm that the parent company is a substantial Japanese manufacturer rather than a niche sexual wellness firm. Beyond manufacturing, the company has expanded its corporate agenda to include energy conservation, renewable-energy investment, environmentally friendly products, waste reduction, supply-chain compliance, human-rights considerations, and workplace safety and diversity 12.

• 1932: Okamoto family begins researching natural-rubber latex products 1.
• 1934: Nippon Gum Industries established; Okamoto Rubber Plant established 1.
• 1935–1936: Factory expansion and incorporation of Okamoto Rubber 1.
• Later decades: Expansion from rubber products into plastics and other industrial and consumer products.
• Corporate consolidation: Nippon Gum Industries, Riken Rubber, and Okamoto Rubber become part of the corporate lineage that developed into today’s Okamoto 1.
• Modern era: Development of increasingly thin and specialised condom materials.
• 0.01 era: Ultra-thin polyurethane condom becomes the company’s most recognisable international product.
• 2026: OKAMOTO INDUSTRIES remains a diversified Japanese rubber-and-plastics manufacturer with more than ¥108 billion in group annual sales 12.

1. Corporate History | OKAMOTO INDUSTRIES, INC.
2. Enterprise Information – Okamoto Corporation
3. About – Okamoto Global
4. 0.01 OKAMOTO ZERO ONE | 0.01mm range made in Japan
5. 岡本 0.01 水性聚氨酯 10片裝 PU 安全套