History of the Japan Hair Color Industry Association (JHCIA)

History of the oxidative hair dye industry

Modern oxidative hair dyes first appeared in the late Meiji period, but their ingredients became difficult to import due to the First and Second World Wars. In the early Showa period, it became necessary for the industry as a whole to act in unison.
Under the State General Mobilization Law enacted in April 1938, manufacturer and distributor of hair dyes faced a string of difficult policies, including (1) a 10% excise tax on hair dyes, (2) regulations on the distribution of ingredients, and (3) formation of and compulsory participation in trade associations.
In 1941, preparations were made to establish an industry association to comply with the State General Mobilization Law, and in February 1942, permission was granted for the establishment of the Japan Hair Dye Industry Association. Trade associations and controlled associations, whose organization was compulsory under the State General Mobilization Law and the Commerce and Industry Controlling Union Act, lost their raison d’être after the war in 1945. Starting in April 1946, they were renamed, dissolved, and restarted.
In 1947, the Controlling Association for Quasi-Pharmaceutical Products was dissolved and immediately reorganized into the Japan Hair Dye Industry Association. This organization distributed ingredients for hair dyes, which were still difficult to obtain at the time, to members of the association. However, as doing so could violate the newly enacted Trade Organization Law, the organization was dissolved only two years later in 1949, when it was reorganized as the Hair Dye Forum.
In 1953, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a Notification of the Director General of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau (Pharmaceutical Notification No. 76, February 28, 1953), making hair dyes treated as pharmaceuticals.
The Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (Law No. 145 of 1960, the current Pharmaceutical Affairs Act) was promulgated on August 10, 1960, and was enforced together with relevant government and ministerial ordinances on February 1, 1961. Petitions from the industry, such as the Hair Dye Forum held around the enactment of the new Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, bore fruit. Hair dyes were designated as quasi-drugs under the new Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 378, November 1, 1961).

 

Beginning/A New Dawn 1960–1988

Under Chair Arimi Tao (Arimino Chemical, now Arimino)

When the details of the current Pharmaceutical Affairs Act were being debated in 1959 and 1960, Arimi Tao strongly felt the need to bring together hair color manufacturers in the form of a beauty industry group. Tao called on former colleagues from before the establishment of the Japan Hair Dye Industry Association, and on October 3, 1960, he held a general meeting for the establishment of the association at Ginza Safety Shokai. The Japan Hair Dye Industry Association worked on the promotion of hair coloring products by the industry as a whole. This included conducting activities such as sponsorship and joint campaigns for activities by beauty industry organizations, holding hair coloring contests, and selecting and proposing color trends.

 

Under Chair Kiyoo Yamamoto (Yamahatsu Sangyo, now Henkel Japan)

In 1970, a newspaper featured an article on the the safety of hair dyes, which attracted public interest. In response to this, the Japan Hair Dye Industry Association began considering safety-related matters such as ingredient standards and patch tests for hair dyes, as well as began preparing Warnings When Using for consumers. The results of these efforts bore results with the Ministry of Health and Welfare Pharmaceutical and Medical Safety Bureau Notification No. 376, April 21, 1970 (Warnings When Using Hair Dyes).
In 1975, Ames’ paper revealed safety concerns that could undermine the foundation of the industry. Information began to be exchanged on safety, not only in Japan but also with hair dye manufacturers in Europe and the United States.

 

Development and Progress, 1989–2013

Under Chair Kimpei Mizuno (Hoyu)

With the enforcement of the Product Liability Act in Japan, our organization published a brochure and launched a website on hair coloring for the purpose of educating consumers. And we have set various standards of our own to strengthen consumer awareness. We continued to conduct research and discussions on safety with hair dye manufacturers from Europe and the United States. and in 2003, we held an international conference in Yokohama.
In 2002, the secretariat within the chair’s company was relocated to Tokyo and opened as an independent office. In addition, a new supporting membership system was introduced to broaden the base of our association.

 

Under Chair Shimpei Mizuno (Hoyu)

For 27 years, JHCIA conducted a joint epidemiological study with Aichi Medical University and published the results, entitled Cancer Deaths in a Cohort of Japanese Barbers in Aichi Prefecture. The epidemiological study examined the relationship between hair dyes and cancer, but no association with various cancers was found.
As part of our efforts to raise awareness about how to prevent rashes caused by hair dyes, we promoted the introduction of a “patch test awareness mark” that can be included on individual product packaging and revised the “Hair Coloring ABCs”. In addition, we have begun to revise our website to make information on hair coloring easier to understand.
In June 2011, a 50th anniversary ceremony was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa.

 

Transition, 2013

Since around the appointment of Chair Makio Mizuno (Hoyu), JHCIA has been working to further revitalize its safety initiatives. In October 2015, the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission released a report on “skin disorders due to hair dyes”, further accelerating these activities. We have restructured the organization within the association and are cooperating with external organizations in order to implement numerous measures.

 

Timeline of the JHCIA

1938

Japan Hair Dye Industry Association establishment general meeting
– Representative founder: Yoshitaro Yamamoto (Kimigayo)
– Founders: Senkichi Takuma (Kurokocho), Yoshitaro Yamamoto (Ruriha), Shinichiro Nagao (Manryo), Masujiro Mizuno (Genroku)

1941

National distribution of p-Phenylenediamine after conducting an average production survey of association members in 1938 to1940

1942

Permission is granted for the establishment of the Japan Hair Dye Industry Association

1944

Dissolution of the Japan Hair Dye Industry Union (measures accompanying the reorganization of union organizations based on the Controlling Union Act)

1947

The Controlling Association for Quasi-Pharmaceutical Products is dissolved and reorganized into the Japan Hair Dye Industry Association (in response to the enforcement of the Commercial and Industrial Cooperatives Act)

1948

Pharmaceutical Affairs Act enacted with the enactment of the Constitution of Japan

1949

Japan Hair Dye Industry Association is dissolved and reorganized into the Hair Dye Forum (dissolved in 2008)

1953

Hair dyes are designated as pharmaceuticals

1961

Hair dyes are designated as quasi-drugs due to appeals from the Hair Dye Forum and other industries.

1960

The Japan Hair Dye Industry Association is established. Arimi Tao (Arimino Chemical) is appointed chair.
Eight member companies: Arimino Chemical, Paon Honpo, Isokaken, Crown Sangyo, Safety Shokai, Futaba Chemical, Nihon Pharmaceutical, TVZ Industry

1961

The Japan Hair Dye Industry Association is established.
The Japanese name of the organization is changed to reflect changes in notational style.

1968

Kiyoo Yamamoto (Yamamoto Sangyo) is appointed chair.
In order to widely discuss issues such as standards and criteria related to the hair dye industry, the conditions for membership are changed by 1969, and the manufacturers of hair dyes for general become able to join starting in November 1969.

1970

Renamed to Japan Hair Color Industry Association; the Technology Committee is established.

1970

Bureau Notification (Warnings When Using Hair Dyes) (Warnings When Using Based on Our Own Criteria)

1974

Hair dye ingredient standards are published

1975

Information Committee and PR Committee are established (in response to Ames’ paper in 1975)

1978

Application guidelines for approval of hair dye manufacturing are published

1987

Kimpei Mizuno (Hoyu) is appointed chair

1994

Our voluntary standard are established for Precausions for use? Instruction for Use? Causion? , Warnings Indicated on Packaging

1994

“Hair Coloring ABCs” is published (for general consumers)

1999

Our voluntary standards are established for “advertising and labeling standard for advertisement of hair coloring products”

2000

Management Council is established

2001

“Hair Coloring Agents”” is published (for professionals)

2001

In response to the deregulation of cosmetics, our ”voluntary standards for pigments/colorants combined with hair dyes (cosmetics)” are established.

2002

Japan Hair Color Industry Association website launched

2003

Supporting member system is introduced

2003

1st International Hair Color Conference is held

2004

Secretariat is relocated from Nagoya to Horidomecho, Tokyo

2006

Our voluntary standards are established for “Warnings to be Stated in Advertisements”

2009

Shimpei Mizuno (Hoyu) is appointed chair

2013

Makio Mizuno (Hoyu) is appointed chair

2015

Safety Committee is established (enhancing of safety measures)

2016

Secretariat is relocated to Ningyocho, Tokyo

2017

“Hair Coloring Handbook” is published for hairstylists

2019

Hairstylist Education Committee is established