Innovation Timeline

Since our inception in Japan in 1921 our passion and vision has led to the world’s most innovative hairdressing furniture and equipment.

We have redefined the expectations of salon and barbershop owners, and their clients, by transforming everyday products into multi-functional service experiences. As a result, Takara Belmont is revered globally for iconic design, matchless quality, sublime comfort and precision technology.

Our appetite for invention and the application of pioneering technologies has transformed salon services, hairdressing outcomes and customer experiences. As the world’s first company to introduce motorised barber chairs and automated shampoo systems, and apply infrared and ultrasonic technologies to processing equipment, we have set new benchmarks that are often imitated, yet never equalled.

With the customer always in mind, we have modernised and advanced the salon industry by going beyond what our customers’ imagined was possible and by anticipating the future.

Journey with us through almost a Century of innovation.

Chair development process
1921
1921 progress

1921

Our founder Hidenobu Yoshikawa formed Takara Chuzo Ltd. to manufacture cast metals

1932
1932 progress
1932 progress

1932

Production of first Barber's chair begun

1950
1950 progress
1950 progress

1950

The manual hydraulic barber chair was developed

1956
1956 progress

1956

The Takara Company N.Y. Inc. was incorporated in New York as the first subsidiary outside of Japan. This is now Takara Belmont USA Inc.

1959
1959 progress
1959 progress

1959

Belmont Chairs London Ltd., now Takara Belmont (UK) Ltd., saw the company's fast expansion into Europe with a new office in London

1960
1960 progress
1960 progress

1960-1969

1961 The first iteration of what is now the iconic Apollo 2 barber chair was unveiled as Model No. 125

1962 Takara Belmont successfully introduced the world's first motorised barber chair

1963 The predecessor of today's Salon Console was launched to introduce the world's first foldaway basin concept

1966-1967 and 1969 Global expansion continues with the opening of HQs in Toronto (Canada), Paris (France) and Frankfurt (Germany)

1970
1970 progress
1970 progress

1970-1972

1970 A brand new era begins with the introduction of hairdressing chairs in the form of Model Nos. 116 and 119

1792 The newly launched Takara Belmont Para America Do Sul sees the company established in Brazil

1973
1973 progress
1973 progress

1973-1977

1973 Famous collaborations with famous designers Michel Quennessen, Charles Pollock and Pierre Cardin elevate the cachet of Takara Belmont styling chairs and increase global sales.
Most notably Model No. 191A, launched as the Kenesen, established the foundations of today's Adria II, a design that has changed little since it was originated.

1975 A liaison branch was opened in Singapore to cover South East Asia

1977 Takara Belmont created its brand of hair cosmetics with the launch of Lebel Cosmetics

1988
1988 progress
1988 progress

1988-1989

1988 Presence Paris S.P.A was established as a joint venture with Maletti

1989 The world's first infrared processor, the Rollerball, introduced a groundbreaking innovation to accelerate colour, treatment and chemical processing services and transform results

1990
1990 progress
1990 progress

1990-1997

1990 Technical innovation continues with the launch of the world's first fully automated shampoo system, developed for the Asian market.

1996 TS Belmont (Taiwan) Co. Ltd. was established as a joint venture with Tin Sing Trading Co. Ltd.

1997 Takara Belmont enters the nail business with the opening of the Takara International Nail College. The company acquires ISO 9001 accreditation

1998
1998 progress
1998 progress

1998-1999

1998 A joint venture is established in Seoul between Daewoong Belmont Co. Ltd and Daewoong Medical Inc.

1999 To mark the company's global reach and outlook, the Takara World Beauty & Barber Congress (TWBC) opens and showcases the new Kita and D.Series.
In this decade, innovation gathers momentum with the Oasis mobile shampoo system, along with collaborations with designers Satoshi Yagioka, Pierre Cardin and Toshiyuki Kita.

2000
2000 progress
2000 progress

2000-2004

2001 The Takara World Business Congress (TWBC) is held in Tokyo

2002 Takara Belmont (Taiwan) Corp. is established in Taipei

2003 2003 Processing innovation advances with the new Micromist processor

2004 The Takara World Business Congress (TWBC) is held in Tokyo

2006
2006 progress
2006 progress

2006-2007

2006 European expansion sees the opening of new showrooms in Manchester and Frankfurt.
The Takara World Business Congress (TWBC) is held in Tokyo

2007 A new showroom is opened in London to showcase a wealth of equipment innovation

2009
2009 progress
2009 progress

2009

Luxury re-imagined. Takara Belmont embodies luxury, technical innovation and nine decades of expertise in the transformative Yume shampoo system

Processing innovation becomes more compact and mobile with the launch of the Spa Mist

Styling chairs continue to evolve and draw upon the influence of designer Toshiyuki Kita with the new Rotondo styling chair

Technical precision results in the SPX grooming chair, an evolutionary motorised barber chair that is set to transform everyday salon experiences

2011
2011 progress
2011 progress

2011

The Legacy 90 reinvents past innovation to mark the company's 90th Anniversary. A barber chair inspired by an original 1940s design

The G90 styling chair collection reflects on 90 years of innovation and the company's hairdressing heritage

Spa Mist advances and improves processing outcomes with the Spa Mist II

Inova EX marks yet another milestone in chair innovation with advanced electronics at its heart

The transformative RollerBall takes an evolutionary step with refined technology and enhanced results as the all new Roller Ball F is released