History

“We need to keep growing, otherwise we will decline”
The history of Moriden based on the firm beliefs

Moriden, founded over 110 years ago, providing a variety of products
and solutions meeting customer needs.

Chronology

1910

Started in the Upholstery
Textile Business

Denzaburo Morita, our founder, came to Tokyo from his hometown Nagaokakyo, Kyoto in 1900 at the age of 15 and started working at a major kimono merchant.
Ten years later, he started his own interior decoration textile business in Shiba Atagoshita-cho which is present-day Shinbashi 3-chome.
He mainly dealt in carpets, rugs and supplied clothing to the Ministry of Railways.

1924
Opened Store
On July 1st in 1924, the year after the Great Kanto Earthquake, he officially put up the sign of Denzaburo Morita & Company.
1937
Established Denzaburo Morita & Company
In 1937, he was able to expand Denzaburo Morita & Company with capital of 195,000 yen. Creating a high reputation as a wholesaler for upholstery.
1953
Established Moriden Co., Ltd. by Dropping the Interior Decoration Department
1954
Exhibited Products at the 1st Tokyo Motor Show
1958
Opened Nagoya Sales Office
1961
Opened Osaka Sales Office
1969
Opened Kurashiki Sales Office
and Gunma Sales Office

1970

Opened Gunma Plant and Started Manufacturing

The opening of the Gunma plant marked a major turning point to expand manufacturering.
With great effort of shifting from wholesale sales to manufacturing, the Gunma plant has been expanded and became the main factory.

1971
Merged with Denzaburo Morita & Company

1979

Head Office Moved to Current Location.

1980
Built New Gunma Plant
1983
Opened Nagoya Plant
1985
Opened Hiroshima Sales Office

1989

First Overseas Expansion

Established an overseas subsidiary, Moriden America, Inc., in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

1990
Moriden America, Inc.
Relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
1998
Obtained ISO9001 Certification (Gunma)
2001
Obtained ISO14001 Certification (Gunma)
Obtained ISO9001 Certification (Nagoya)

2002

Established
Moriden Shanghai Co., Ltd.

2002
Obtained ISO14001 Certification (Nagoya)
2005
Obtained ISO/TS16949 Certification (Gunma)
Obtained ISO14001 Certification (Kurashiki)
2007
Obtained a Patent for HS-RIM,
a Thin and Highly Rigid Board
2008
Established Kurashiki Sewing Co., Ltd.
as a Joint Venture
2012
Established
Hunan Moriden Yantong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd.
in Hunan Province, China
2015
Moriden America, Inc. Relocated in
Carmel to expand production space
2018
Obtained IATF16949 Certification (Gunma)
2019
Closed
Hunan Moriden Yantong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd.
to consolidate business in China.
2023
Closed Nagoya Plant and outsourced the manufacturing division in the Nagoya area.

1910

Started in the Upholstery
Textile Business

Denzaburo Morita, our founder, came to Tokyo from his hometown Nagaokakyo, Kyoto in 1900 at the age of 15 and started working at a major kimono merchant.
Ten years later, he started his own interior decoration textile business in Shiba Atagoshita-cho which is present-day Shinbashi 3-chome.
He mainly dealt in carpets, rugs and supplied clothing to the Ministry of Railw ays.

1924
Opened Store
On July 1st in 1924, the year after the Great
Kanto Earthquake, he officially put up the
sign of Denzaburo Morita & Company.
1937
Established Denzaburo Morita & Company
In 1937, he was able to expand Denzaburo
Morita & Company with capital of 195,000
yen. Creating a high reputation as a
wholesaler for upholstery.

1953

Established Moriden
Co., Ltd. by Dropping
the Interior Decoration
Department

1954
Exhibited Products at the 1st Tokyo Motor Show
1958
Opened Nagoya Sales Office
1961
Opened Osaka Sales Office
1969
Opened Kurashiki Sales Office
and Gunma Sales Office

1970

Opened Gunma Plant and
Started Manufacturing

The opening of the Gunma plant marked a major
turning point to expand manufacturering.
With great effort of shifting from wholesale sales to
manufacturing, the Gunma plant has been
expanded and became the main factory.

1971
Merged with Denzaburo Morita & Company
1979
Head Office Moved to Current Location.
1980
Built New Gunma Plant
1983
Opened Nagoya Plant
1985
Opened Hiroshima Sales Office

1989

First Overseas Expansion

Established an overseas subsidiary,
Moriden America, Inc., in Detroit,
Michigan, USA.

1990
Moriden America, Inc.
Relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
1998
Obtained ISO9001 Certification (Gunma)
2001
Obtained ISO14001 Certification (Gunma)
Obtained ISO9001 Certification (Nagoya)

2002

Established
Moriden Shanghai Co., Ltd.

2002
Obtained ISO14001 Certification (Nagoya)
2005
Obtained ISO/TS16949 Certification (Gunma)
Obtained ISO14001 Certification (Kurashiki)
2007
Obtained a Patent for HS-RIM,
a Thin and Highly Rigid Board
2008
Established Kurashiki Sewing Co., Ltd.
as a Joint Venture
2012
Established
Hunan Moriden Yantong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd.
in Hunan Province, China

2015

Moriden America, Inc. Relocated
in Carmel to expand production
space

2018
Obtained IATF16949 Certification (Gunma)
2019
Closed
Hunan Moriden Yantong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd.
to consolidate business in China.
2023
Closed Nagoya Plant and outsourced the manufacturing division in the Nagoya area.