It was 1923, when Kenji Matsui started a paint business in Kyoto, Japan. In those early days, we started out by trading dyes, and after that making crayons and painting materials. By the 1950’s, we transitioned into the production of pigments and resins for printing. The crayons and paint materials we started out with, dyed into our new focus on textile printing.
By the 1980’s was a time for change & we created Chromicolor, our color changing specialty ink. In the early 1990’s we decided that most of our ink should be eco- friendly water based for textile screen printing. Since then, we are committed to stay true to the japanese tradition of seeking balance with nature, we believe this eco-friendly approach is what is best for having a sustainable environment for the future.
Matsui International Company, a family business that has solidified passing from generations offers a wide range of exclusive products where every product is manufactured with the finest quality and highest standard in reliability fulfilling the promise of excellence synonym in the world to our Japanese heritage.
Paint business is founded by late chairman Kenji Matsui in Kyoto, Japan
Production and sales of crayons and painting materials begin
Starts production & sale of pigments and resins for printing
Halt of production of crayons and painting materials to focus on textile printing business
A major driving force of Matsui Company is born in Japan, first product, Active Carbon resin agent "Hirzitt"
We enter paper transfer business
Additional land is purchased in Kyoto and business develops into an early form of what we are today
Completion of new plant, we are ready for an increased production and operation expansion
Osaka branch was developed
Tokyo sales branch is established with the introduction of thermo revealing change colorant Chromic color to the market.
Chromicolor is introduced on live TV at the NHK TV show "Ultra Eye"
Sanrio introduces color changing colors in the US
New York offices are established
Mattel introduces color changing diecast cars in US
Overseas affiliated company Matsui and Company, INC, was established in Los Angeles, USA.
5 story Kyoto factory is completed & the 7th factory Nagoya sales plant is established
Matsui & Company, Inc changes its name to Matsui International Co. Inc with a clear intention of international expansion
Hyper color (color changing t-shirts) applied with Chromicolor™️ becomes a great hit in the US market propelling the next expansion of Matsui
We move the new head office in Kamikazan, Yamashinaku, Kyoto
As the head office moves, we take the advantage, expand our technical dept considerably and create the International development department. We are ready for the next wave of hyper-growht!
Entering the business of wall-paper material
The old showroom turns into an expanded site for production for the technical section.
We incusionate into the transfer paper market in the US with Unimark®
"LICCA" dolls a registered trade mark of TAKARA, Co. LTD applied with Chromicolor® become a great hit in the US market.
Shangay office is established in China
Added printing facilities to the 7th plant expansion to accommodate for Unimark® transfer paper business demands
We add of Thermolock to our line of Products
Dyestone is developed and introduced to the global market
DigiAce is developed and patented
We inagurate offices in Honduras & Hong Kong