Our History

Here is a history of SEED since 1951.

Period	Events
1951	Started Japan’s first research into contact lenses.
1957	October 9, founded the Tokyo Contact Lens Research Institute.
1962	Launched the Mycon brand.
1970	Mycon stored in the Time Capsule of Osaka Expo.
1972	Launched "Mycon Soft", Japan’s first soft contact lens.
1984	Launched "Mycon Hi-O₂", oxygen permeable hard contact lens.
1985	Founded the SEED Contact Lens Research Institute. Brand name changed from "Mycon" to SEED. Founded sales subsidiaries in various places for separation/independence of manufacturing and sales functions.
1987	Trade name changed to SEED Co., Ltd.
1988	Founded the Omiya Research Institute.
1989	Registered shares with the Japan Securities Dealers Association. (The present JASDAQ Securities Exchange)
1991	Founded the Okegawa Research Institute.
1992	Launched Concept F, soft contact lens care system requiring no boiling sterilization.
1993	Entered the glasses market.
1998	Liquidated sales subsidiaries and integrated business operations into head office.
1999	Built a corporate intranet and established a LAN system to cover all bases.
2000	Launched "SEED S-1", high oxygen permeable hard contact lens. Launched the "Vivid Moon" eyewear brand that is produced by actress Yasuko Matsuyuki.
2001	Launched "Purety 1Bottle Type", enzyme cleaning and storage solution for oxygen permeable hard contact lenses. Launched "Softmate", cleaning and sterilizing system for soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED 2weekFine, bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses. Merged the Omiya and Okegawa Research Institutes to form the SEED Research Institute. Launched "the Plusmix" eyewear brand for young people.
2002	Launched "SEED MonthlyFine", monthly replacement soft contact lenses.
2003	Tadashi Inoue became the seventh president. Launched "Adeno Test AD", an adenovirus antigen detection reagent.
2004	Renewal of Purety 1Bottle Type by adding antimicrobial constituent. Launched "SEED 2weekPure", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses. Launched "Gel Clean", cleaning solution for oxygen permeable hard contact lenses.
2005	Renewal of "SEED 2weekPure", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses.
2006	Launched "SEED 2weekFineα", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses. Launched new eyewear brands "BOCO", "Wabi Sabi", "S+ART", "KRANS", and "fiotico".
2007	Celebration of the 50th anniversary. Launched "Purety Moist", enzyme cleaning and storage solution for oxygen permeable hard contact lenses. Launched "SEEDO Softcare", cleaning, rinsing, sterilizing and storage solution for soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED 1dayFine", ultra-thin daily disposable soft contact lenses. Launched the "new I SEED" eyewear brand to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary. Founded the SEED Konosu Research Institute.
2008	Launched "SEED 2weekFineαTORIC", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses for astigmatism. Launched "SEED UV-1", hard contact lens with ultraviolet protection.
2009	Launched "SEED 1dayPure", the first Japanese-made daily disposable soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED MonthlyFine UV", monthly replacement soft contact lenses with ultraviolet protection.
2010	Masahiro Urakabe became the 8th president. Launched "SEEDO Softgel", cleaning solution for soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED 1dayFine UV" and "SEED 2weekFine UV", soft contact lenses with ultraviolet protection. Launched "SEED 2weekPure Multistage", bi-weekly replacement bifocal soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED 1dayFine Cool", daily disposable contact lenses with menthol component.
2011	Acquired “EN ISO 13485” certification, international standard of quality management system for medical equipment, and received official approval to use “CE mark” which indicates conformity with EU safety directives. Started supporting The Eye mate inc, for training guide dogs and providing training to visual impairment people. Succeeded conventional lens sales operation of FACIL Co., Ltd. Launched "SEED Multifocal O₂"," Noah bifocal hard contact lens. Launched "SEEDO Softcare Pure", cleaning, rinsing, sterilizing and storage solution for soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED 1dayPure moisture", the daily disposable contact lenses which include natural moisturizing agent.
2012	Launched "SEED 1dayPure Multistage", bifocal Japanese-made daily disposable soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED Eye coffret 1day UV", the daily disposable circle contact lenses. Launched new eyewear brands "CROCS" eyewear and "ViVi" fleurs. Launched "Gel clean Si", cleaning solution for oxygen permeable hard contact lenses.
2013	Launched "heroine make 1day UV", the daily disposable circle contact lenses. Launched "Seedrop", conditioning solution for contact lenses.
2014	SEED’s stocks transferred to second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Launched "SEED 1dayPure moisture for Astigmatism", the daily disposable soft contact lens for astigmatism.
2015	Launched "SEED PlusMode 1day Homme", the daily disposable circle contact lenses. Launched "SEED AS-LUNA", high oxygen permeable hard contact lens of aspheric design. Launched "SEED Multifocal O₂ M Type" and "SEED Multifocal O₂ H Type", bifocal hard contact lenses.
2016	Launched "SEED 2weekPure moisture", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses. Renewal of "SEED 2weekPure Multistage", bifocal bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED 2weekPure moisture", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses with custom-made lens power.
2017	Changed the package design of "SEED 1dayPure Multistage", bifocal daily disposable soft contact lenses. SEED’s stocks transferred to first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Launched "SEED 2weekPure moisture for Astigmatism", bi-weekly replacement soft contact lenses for astigmatism. Celebration of the 60th anniversary.
2018	Opening of "Fukuro No Mori", a nursery and childcare center. Acquired 100% shares of UK-based Contact Lens Precision Laboratories Ltd (as SEED’s subsidiary). Launched "SEED 1dayPure moisture Flex", the daily disposable soft contact lenses. Launched "Wantact", the bandage contact lenses for dogs’ corneal protection. Launched "JILL Stuart 1day UV", the daily disposable color contact lenses. Launched "SEED Eye coffret 1day UV M", the daily disposable circle contact lenses with moisturizing agent added. Launched “Triggerfish® System”, the medical smart contact lens with a built-in sensor.
2019	Launched "SEED Eye coffret 1day UV M Toric", the daily disposable circle contact lenses for astigmatism. Launched “Nyantact", the bandage contact lenses for cats’ corneal protection. Launched "SEED 1dayFine UV plus" and "SEED 2weekFine UV plus", the disposable soft contact lenses with moisturizing agent added. Launched “SEED 2weekFine UV plus TORIC” and “SEED MonthlyFine UV plus”, the soft contact lenses with moisturizing agent added. Launched “SEED 1dayPure EDOF”, the first ever Japan-made Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) daily disposable contact lens.
2021	Launched “SEED 1dayPure View Support”, the daily disposable contact lenses. Launched “SEED Eye coffret 1day UV M View Support”, the daily disposable color contact lenses. Launched “SEED MonthlyPure moisture”, the monthly disposable contact lenses.
2022	Launched "Belleme", the daily disposable color contact lenses. Withdrew from the eyewear business. Transferred to the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market. Launched "SEED 1daySilfa", the Japanese-made daily silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses. Launched "SEED AirGrade 1day UV W-Moisture", the high oxygen-permeable daily silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses. Celebration of the 65th anniversary of foundation.
2024	Launched "SEED AirGrade 2week UV W-Moisture", the high oxygen-permeable bi-weekly silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses. Completion of the Annex building of SEED Konosu Research Institute 2nd Building. Completion of the new SEED headquarters building.