our visions

In 1950, 19-year old Kyoichi Tanaka was employed at Tamamizuya optical shop and first heard of contact lenses from the wife of a U.S. Army officer.

From this encounter, through his own research, he developed the first corneal contact lens in Japan in 1951.

A commemorative plaque has been erected at Tamamizuya (Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya) to mark the birth of this medical device that has earned a place in the history of the twentieth century.(Tamamizuya was closed in 2017.)

The Birth of Menicon

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Founder : Kyoichi Tanaka

As an employee at the Tamamizuya optical shop in Nagoya, Kyoichi Tanaka first heard about contact lenses in 1950 from the wife of a U.S. army officer.

From this encounter, through his own research, he developed the first corneal contact lens in Japan in 1951.

Even after retiring from the front lines, he continued to offer thought-provoking advice to employees.

He passed away on March 10, 2024.

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Honorary  Chairman : Hidenari Tanaka

Born in Kyoto in 1959, Hidenari Tanaka is the son of Kyoichi Tanaka, the founder of Menicon, who developed Japan’s first corneal contact lenses.

After graduating from medical school, he joined Menicon. Faced with a challenging business environment and declining business performance, he developed the world’s first subscription-based membership sales system, "MELS Plan," within the industry. To facilitate the launch of this system, he became the company’s president in 2000 at the age of 40. Then, through bold management reforms, he achieved a remarkable turnaround, leading to a V-shaped recovery and the simultaneous listing of Menicon on both the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Nagoya Stock Exchange’s First Section. He also championed the development of products with a strong focus on end-user needs.

In April 2025, he stepped down from the front lines and assumed the role of honorary chairman. Now retired from active management, he is dedicated to contributing to the community, supporting the arts and culture, and mentoring the next generation.

1950 - 1969 / Starting from Zero

1951

Founder Kyoichi Tanaka developed the first practical corneal contact lenses in Japan.

1952

Nippon Contact Lens Research Institute founded.

1953

M.T. Contact Lens released (the first commercial product).

1957

Nippon Contact Lens Co., Ltd. the predecessor to Menicon founded.

1958

K.T. Contact Lens released.

1965

Company name changed to Toyo Contact Lens Co., Ltd.

1967

“Menicon” registered as a trademark.

1970 - 1989 / Soaring Creativity

1970

Menicon 8 released.

1973

Menicon Soft released.

1975

Intraocular lens developed.

1977

Menicon Europe S.A. established in France.

International Research Conference held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the company's founding.

Menicon O₂ announced.

04 Menicon Seki Factory
1979

Menicon O₂ and Menicon O₂ Care released.

1981

Progent released.

1982

International Research Conference held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the company's founding.

Menicon Co., Ltd. established.

The manufacturing and sales arms are separated, and Toyo Contact Lens Co., Ltd. continues as a manufaturing company.

1984

Seki Plant established as main manufaturing site in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture.

04 Menicon Seki Factory-1
1985

The first Japanese approval for manufaturing intraocular lenses obtained.

Cataract-related business launched.

1986

Menicon EX released.

1987

Toyo Contact Lens Co., Ltd. and Menicon Co., Ltd. merged to become new Menicon Co., Ltd.

Menicon O₂ -32 released.

Menicon GmbH established in Germany.

1988

Menicon Soft MA released.

1990 - 1999 / The Quality Challenge

1991

Menicon Super EX released.

International symposium held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the company's founding.

Sponsorship for Menicon Super Concert series starts.

1992

Menicon Soft 72 released.

Menicon Pharma SAS established in France.

1993

Menicon Pharma manufacturing plant established.

1994

Signed official supply agreement with the Japan Professional Football League (J.League)

The Menicon Gallery Menio opened at the former Mainichi Building.

Menicon Soft S released.

Colored IOL (intraocular lenses) Menicon Single Piece NV released.

1995

New headquarter building completed.

Sponsorship for Menicon Cup (the East vs. West Game for Japan Club Youth <U-15> Football) started.

A new Menicon R&D Centre established in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture.

05 Menicon R&D Center
1996

A fund for the Menicon Professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) established.

Team Menicon SARD formed to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Suzuka 1,000km races.

Menicon was certified to ISO9001, and received CE Mark certification, which certifies that products meet the safety requirements for export to EU member countries.

Menicon’s first website "MENICON SEE EYELAND" launched.

1997

Menicon Z released.

Meni-One Lens, Japan's first intraocular lens for dogs, released.

Intraocular lens Meni Flex released.

1998

Ophthalmic Medical Products released.

1999

Initiated new business "Bringing Light to Guide Dogs with Cataracts"

2000 - 2009 / Innovation to the World

2000

Installed a commemorative plaque at birthplace of contact lenses (Tamamizuya).

Menifocal Z and Menifocal Soft S released.

Hidenari Tanaka appointed as President, and Kyoichi Tanaka appointed as Chairman.

2001

Menicon España S.L. (now Menicon Iberia S.L.) established in Spain.

Menicon America, Inc. established in the U.S.

MELS Plan flat-rate membership system launched.

International symposium held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company's founding.

2002

A new Menicon Techno Station completed in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture.

Month Wear and Menicon O2 CARE NEO released.

Therapeutic contact lens for animals Meni-One Therapeutic Contact Lens released.

Menicon Z Night released.

06 Menicon Techno Station
2003

Meni-One Co., Ltd. established as independent company.

Menicon Holdings Europe established in France.

2004

New PROTEOFF released.

Menicon UK established in England.

2005

Epica Heat System, Menicon 1Day, Menicon O² Care Milpha Fresh, Month Wear Toric, and Epica Clear released.

Privacy Mark acquired.

2006

Epica Cold released.

Menicon Holdings B.V. (now Menicon B.V.) in the Netherlands acquired.

Foldable intraocular lens Avansee released.

2007

Menicon Tinu released.

2008

2WEEK Menicon PremiO and Menicon Selest released.

Rose K acquired.

2009

Epica Cold Aqua More, 2WEEK Menicon PremiO Toric, and 2WEEK Menicon DUO released.

Equity stakes in David Thomas Contact Lenses Ltd. (now Menicon Ltd.) in the United Kingdom acquired.

2010 - 2019 / Toward a Global Corporation

2010

Equity stakes in Tomey Co., Ltd. acquired.

Company name changed from Tomey to Menicon Nect.

Management structure changed to a committee-based comapny.

Menicon China established.

2011

Singapore Plant established.

2WEEK Menicon Bifocal and Magic released.

Ceremony held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the company's founding.

Magic released.

Menicon Holdings Europe renamed to Menicon SAS.

2012

Equity stakes in W.I. System Co., Ltd. acquired.

2WEEK Menicon Attention released.

Gallery Menio and HITOMI Hall opened.

Antibacterial O² Care Milpha released.

2013

O² Care Amino Sora released.

The total number of MELS Plan members exceeded one million.

Menicon Contact Lens School opened.

Miru 1day Menicon Flat Pack released.

The opera Ashita no Hitomi (Vision for Tomorrow): Mo Hitotsu no Mirai (An Alternative Future) premiered.

Equity stakes in Menicon Pty Ltd. acquired and Menicon Australia Pty Ltd. established in Australia.

Menicon Singapore Sales Pte. Ltd. established in Singapore.

2014

Netherlands Plant established.

2WEEK Menicon Rei released.

Menicon Business Park established.

Menicon Korea Co., Ltd. established in Korea.

2015

Kakamigahara Plant established as a manufacturting plant for daily disposable contact lenses.

Menicon listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the First Section of the Nagoya Stock Exchange.

2WEEK Menicon Rei Toric released.

Equity stakes in Fuji Contact Co., Ltd. acquired.

2WEEK Menicon PremiO Bifocal released.

2016

Equity stakes in Alpha Corporation Inc. and AIP Co., Ltd. acquired.

Anti-smoking Promotion Business added to the Articles of Incorporation.

Ceremony held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the company's founding.

1DAY Menicon PremiO released.

2017

Menicon Rose K keratoconus lens released.

The Smart Creation work style reform launched.

2018

Celebrated Menicon France's 40th anniversary and established new headquarters "TOKI."

Menicon Contact Lens Training Center opened at Yangon Eye Hospital in Myanmar.

1DAY Menicon PremiO Toric, Four Seasons, and 2WEEK Menicon PremiO Bifocal Toric released.

2019

The total number of MELS Plan members exceeded 1.3 million.

Miru 1day UpSide released.

Menicon Ortho-K orthokeratology lenses released.

The Menicon Group's sales chain shops unified under the Miru brand.

Menicon Bloom Night orthokeratology lenses acquire the CE Mark certification.

Menicon Bloom™ Myopia Control Management System released.

Equity stakes in SOLEKO S.p.A. in Italy acquired.

Fundus AI veterinary ophthalmic examination support services launched.

Four Seasons Bifocal released.

Menicon Z Night approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Magic 90-packs released.

Meni-Supplement Bilberry released.

2020 - The Future / New Vision of Miru for the World

2020

Meni-One X, an intraocular lens for dogs, released.

Magic Toric released.

Equity stakes in Wenzhou FocuSee Vision Care Technologies Co., Ltd. in China acquired.

1DAY Fruttie released in Japan and China.

Equity stakes in Hamano Contact Co., Ltd. acquired.

Kakamigahara Plant expanded.

European Distribution Center expanded and relocated.

A business tie-up agreement concluded with China's Wenzhou Medical University.

Miru 1day UpSide multifocal released.

ALPHA (WUXI) Co., Ltd. established in China.

2021

Equity stakes in Itabashi Trading Co., Ltd. acquired.

70th anniversary of the company's founding.

Meni-One China Co., Ltd. established.

New &D service launched to support the life of dogs.

ClickMiru online contact lens ordering system launched.

2022

1DAY Menicon PremiO Multifocal released.

Miru Online Consultation Service introduced.

XC and XC Bifocal released.

New &HAUS facility opened for dogs requiring lifelong or temporary care.

Menicon Z Night orthokeratology lenses approved as a medical device in China.

2023

2WEEK Menicon Rei Multifocal released.

Shifted to a new management system with two representative executive officers.

Menicon Theater Aoi Building opened.

Miru 3C PLAN flat-rate service launched.

epica Smart clean released.

ALPHA (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. (China) started production of orthokeratology lenses.

1MONTH Menicon MelsME and 1MONTH Menicon MelsME toric released.

メニコン本社ビル
2024

Menicon × Tohoku University Co-creation Research Center for Miru Mirai established.

Founder Kyoichi Tanaka passed away on March 10.

Equity stakes in SA Laboratoires Dencott in France acquired.

Menicon SC GmbH in Germany established.

Global Logistics Center established.

Shares and ownership of three distributors in Southeast Asia of Oculus Pte Ltd aquired.