Shanghai's Vice-mayor Zong Ming recently attended an event to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Japan's Shiseido Co Ltd, whose Chinese operations are based in the city in East China.

The Shiseido group – which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cosmetics, toiletries, personal care products, barber and beauty products – was founded in Tokyo in 1872 as the first western-style pharmacy in Japan.

Zong presented a commemorative plaque to the group. Its headquarters in China is located in Shanghai's Pudong New Area and the company now has three research and development centers in the country.

At the event, Japan's consul-general in Shanghai, Shuichi Akamatsu, gave a speech and Anri Nakahara, Shiseido's vice-president of China region external affairs, delivered a letter of thanks to Zong Ming for the support the group had received from the Shanghai municipal government.

Since its founding, Shiseido has reputedly continued to innovate, providing consumers with advanced technology and aesthetics. These days, the group owns many top-flight cosmetics brands including Shiseido, CPB, NARS and IPSA – with the company operating in over 120 countries and regions.

In 1981, the group entered the Chinese market and since 2017 China had become Shiseido's top overseas market. At the event, Shiseido released a new growth plan in China. Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce attended and gave a speech.