Gunze

Basic Information

Stock Code
3002
Industry
Textile Products
Category Detail
Apparel & Fashion Accessories
Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
Establishment Year
August 1896
Listing Year
May 1949
Official Website
https://www.gunze.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
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Overview

Gunze is one of Japan's leading textile product manufacturers founded in 1896, a venerable company that diversifies across multiple sectors with mainstay apparel such as underwear and socks, and high-functional plastic materials.

Current Situation

Gunze achieved consolidated sales of approximately 140 billion yen and operating profit of about 6.7 billion yen in fiscal 2020, establishing a stable management foundation. Its core underwear and socks business enjoys strong domestic market support through long-cultivated technological expertise, while the high-functional solutions business is expanding into medical and industrial materials. Transitioning from traditional textiles to non-textile fields, it promotes diversification while focusing on coexistence with local communities and reducing environmental impact. In new business development, it innovates technologies for functional films and plastic materials and actively pursues overseas expansion. Strengthening ties with Ayabe City and Osaka Prefecture, contributing to regional revitalization. Under its medium-term management plan 'CAN20,' it positions growth in medical and health sectors as a key driver toward 2030, aiming to form a sustainable society.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Founded in Meiji 29 (1896), with an extremely long history.
  • Company name derives from the original 'Gunze Seishi Co., Ltd.'
  • Historically emphasized 'female workers' as 'kōjo' (craftswomen) and focused on human development.
  • Operates the Gunze Museum, renovated from a silkworm cocoon storage.
  • Has operated regional redevelopment project 'Tsukashin' since 1985.
  • Established brand statement 'Make tomorrow more comfortable here.'
  • Headquarters sometimes used as filming location for TV dramas and movies.
  • Entered touch panel materials market with proprietary conductive film technology.
  • Long accumulation of technology in women's stockings.
  • Early entry into high-functional medical materials as a key pillar.
  • Signed comprehensive agreements with Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures for community collaboration.
  • Diversified management including Gunze Sports Club operations.
  • Built environmentally considerate production systems before climate change concerns.
  • First in Japan to undertake integrated underwear production.
  • Historical buildings from former large-scale silk reeling factories still exist.

Hidden Connections

  • Founder Hatano Tsurukichi was strongly influenced by the industrial promotion philosophy of Maeda Masana, a agricultural policy bureaucrat involved in殖産興業.
  • Entry into real estate from bubble era has made commercial facility operations a growth area.
  • Development of conductive films contributed to practical use of smartphone touch panels.
  • Model of successful collaboration between Ayabe City in Kyoto Prefecture for regional revitalization and corporate location policies.
  • Gunze Museum opened to public as part of 120th anniversary project, gaining attention as regional cultural asset.
  • Actor Vincent Gallo is a fan of the company's underwear and wore it in films.
  • Shopping mall 'Tsukashin' was named by Itoi Shigesato.
  • Former silk factory used as filming location for movies and dramas, holding cultural value.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expanding demand for high-functional medical materials
  • Technological innovation in functional plastic materials
  • Strengthening brands in domestic textile products
  • Enhancing local production and sales in overseas markets
  • Social value creation through regional collaboration
  • Development and promotion of environmentally considerate products
  • Improved production efficiency via digitalization
  • Risk diversification through diversified businesses
  • Expansion of lifestyle enhancement businesses
  • Establishment of sustainable management foundation
  • Response to rising sustainability awareness
  • Adapting to diversifying consumer needs

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve over 50 billion yen in sales in medical and health fields
  • Dramatically reduce environmental impact and achieve carbon neutrality
  • Further enhance brand value domestically and internationally
  • Accelerate global rollout of functional materials
  • Expand investments in diverse lifestyle support businesses
  • Realize production innovation through digital technologies
  • Establish co-creation model with local communities
  • Continuously improve employee satisfaction
  • Transparent ethical and sustainability information
  • Achieve consolidated sales over 180 billion yen by 2030

Business Segments

Medical Materials and Medical Field

Overview
Develops and supplies functional materials for medical use, providing high-quality and safe products.
Competitiveness
High-precision material control technology and short delivery times
Customers
  • Medical device manufacturers
  • Hospitals
  • Medical materials wholesalers
  • Diagnostic reagent manufacturers
  • Research institutions
Products
  • High-functional medical films
  • Disposable surgical components
  • Medical device parts
  • Diagnostic reagent packaging

Industrial Functional Materials

Overview
Provides high-functional plastics and films for industrial applications, supporting product development across diverse industries.
Competitiveness
Proprietary material technologies enabling high-performance products
Customers
  • Electronics manufacturers
  • Automotive parts manufacturers
  • Electrical equipment manufacturers
  • Semiconductor manufacturers
  • Industrial materials manufacturers
Products
  • Conductive films
  • Plastic molded parts
  • Industrial packaging films
  • Heat-resistant resin parts

Apparel Production Materials

Overview
Provides high-quality materials and packaging essential for apparel manufacturing.
Competitiveness
Long-standing knowledge and reliability in the textile industry
Customers
  • Apparel manufacturers
  • Sewing factories
  • Distributors
  • Retailers
Products
  • Sewing auxiliaries
  • Sewing threads
  • Packaging materials

Commercial Facility Operations and Lifestyle Services

Overview
Aims to enhance lifestyle culture through community-based commercial and sports facilities.
Competitiveness
Composite function development tailored to local needs
Customers
  • Local residents
  • Corporations
  • Sports enthusiasts
Products
  • Shopping mall operations
  • Sports club operations
  • Hot spring facility operations

Overseas Business

Overview
Strengthening local production and sales mainly in Asia to expand global share.
Competitiveness
Local operations and product customization
Customers
  • Overseas retailers
  • Local joint ventures
  • Exporters
Products
  • Underwear products
  • Socks
  • Functional films

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Long history and established brand power
  • High-level material and product technology
  • Revenue stability from diversified businesses
  • Market development capabilities in new areas like medical materials
  • Expertise in community-based commercial facility operations
  • Wide domestic and international sales channels
  • Integrated system from product planning to sales
  • Product diversification responding to customer needs
  • Active overseas expansion and global responsiveness
  • Promotion of environmentally considerate product development
  • Robust supply chain management
  • Sound financial base
  • Employee training and corporate culture cultivation
  • Redefinition of corporate brand
  • Stable customer base

Competitive Advantages

  • High product planning and quality assurance in underwear and socks
  • Technological innovation and product diversification in functional films
  • Expertise and high-precision manufacturing in medical materials
  • Track record in community-based complex commercial facilities and health activities
  • Top-class domestic network with diverse sales channels
  • Accumulated manufacturing know-how and proprietary material technologies
  • Strategic business expansion based on medium-term management plan
  • Local market responsiveness via overseas joint ventures
  • Market leadership in high-functional plastic materials
  • Trust building through comprehensive local community collaboration
  • Customization proposal capabilities per customer
  • Long-term brand nurturing and marketing strategies
  • Rapid market response through integrated production
  • Regulatory compliance and trust in medical field
  • Risk diversification through multi-segment operations

Threats

  • Shrinking domestic textile market and intensifying competition
  • Competitive pressure from low-priced overseas products
  • Raw material price fluctuation risks
  • Cost increases from stricter environmental regulations
  • Impacts from international situations and currency fluctuations
  • Threats from technological innovations by new entrants
  • Domestic market shrinkage due to population decline
  • Geopolitical risks in supply chains
  • Production efficiency decline from labor shortages
  • Delays in responding to rapid digitalization
  • Difficulty adapting to changing customer needs
  • Material supply instability due to climate change

Innovations

2024: Development of Next-Generation Medical Films

Overview
Successfully researched and developed new biocompatible material films.
Impact
Expected to expand share in medical materials market.

2023: Establishment of High-Performance Technology for Conductive Films

Overview
Significantly improved durability and performance of conductive films for electronic devices.
Impact
Contributes to device performance enhancement and secures new orders.

2022: Introduction of Environmentally Considerate Production Processes

Overview
Implemented CO2 emission reductions and waste recycling in production lines.
Impact
Achieved reduced environmental impact and improved cost efficiency.

2021: Sports Club Equipment Renewal

Overview
Upgraded to latest equipment to improve service levels.
Impact
Contributed to higher user satisfaction and membership growth.

2020: Expanded Adoption of New Sweat-Wicking Quick-Dry Materials

Overview
Introduced newly developed sweat-wicking quick-dry functional materials into underwear products.
Impact
Received high consumer praise and boosted sales.

2023: Expansion of Overseas Joint Ventures

Overview
Enhanced capacity of joint venture factories in Thailand and China.
Impact
Improved production capacity and local market responsiveness.

2024: High Functionalization of Packaging Films

Overview
Developed food packaging materials with enhanced heat and cold resistance.
Impact
Promotes increased demand from food manufacturers.

2023: Strengthened Digital Marketing

Overview
Improved EC site UI/UX and promotional activities via SNS.
Impact
Achieved significant increase in online sales.

2022: Introduction of Production Line Automation

Overview
Introduced AI and robotics technologies into manufacturing processes.
Impact
Realized improved production efficiency and quality stability.

2021: Gunze Museum Renewal

Overview
Enriched exhibits at the historical museum and improved visitor services.
Impact
Strengthened regional cultural promotion and corporate branding.

Sustainability

  • Promotion of CO2 emission reductions in manufacturing processes
  • Advancement of biodegradable and recyclable materials development
  • Coexistence and co-prosperity through comprehensive agreements with local communities
  • Ensuring employee health, safety, and diversity promotion
  • Expansion of investments in energy-efficient equipment
  • Logistics optimization aimed at reducing environmental impact
  • Implementation of sustainable procurement policies
  • Introduction of product lifecycle assessments
  • Activities to reduce waste and improve recycling rates
  • Enhancing environmental awareness through employee education
  • Active participation in local environmental protection activities
  • Enhanced ESG information disclosure and transparency