Ajinomoto was founded in 1909 in Tokyo, Japan, by entrepreneur Saburosuke Suzuki II after chemist Kikunae Ikeda discovered umami — the fifth basic taste — and patented a method to isolate monosodium glutamate (MSG) from seaweed broth.
The company now generates approximately ¥1.4 trillion ($9.5 billion USD) in annual revenue, supplying seasonings, processed foods, frozen meals, and amino acid-based pharmaceuticals to customers across more than 130 countries.
Headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Ajinomoto trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 2802 today.
About Ajinomoto
| Sector | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Seasonings, Food & Amino Acids |
| CEO | Taro Fujie |
| Website | ajinomoto.com |
| Headquarters | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Status | Public (TSE: 2802) |
Ajinomoto Founders
Kikunae Ikeda
Scientist and inventor; discovered the fifth taste (umami) in 1908 and patented the MSG extraction process that became the foundation of Ajinomoto's product
Saburosuke Suzuki II
Business founder; commercialized Ikeda's discovery by establishing the Suzuki Pharmaceutical Store in Tokyo in 1909 to produce and sell the seasoning, which he named "Ajinomoto" (meaning "essence of taste")
Ajinomoto History
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1909
Saburosuke Suzuki II launches commercial production of MSG in Tokyo, selling it under the Ajinomoto brand — one of the first mass-produced flavor enhancers in the world.
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1956
Ajinomoto begins large-scale fermentation-based production of MSG, replacing seaweed extraction and dramatically cutting costs, enabling the company to expand into international markets across Southeast Asia.
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1970
Ajinomoto enters the US market and establishes its first North American operations, beginning the global expansion that eventually places its products in more than 130 countries.
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1973
Ajinomoto and Nestlé form a joint venture in Japan, creating Nestlé Japan Ltd. and giving Ajinomoto access to Nestlé's product formulations for instant coffee and other processed food products.
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2020
Ajinomoto sells its frozen food operations in North America to focus on its higher-margin amino acid and bioscience businesses, accelerating its transformation into a specialty food and health science company.
FAQs
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Is Ajinomoto an American company?
No. Ajinomoto is a Japanese company founded in 1909 in Tokyo and headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Ajinomoto North America is its US subsidiary; the parent is Japanese-owned and Japanese-listed. -
When did Ajinomoto come out?
Ajinomoto was founded in 1909 in Tokyo by Saburosuke Suzuki II, based on the MSG discovery by chemist Kikunae Ikeda in 1908. It has been publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 1949. -
Who owns Ajinomoto?
Ajinomoto is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Japan Trustee Services Bank and the Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan are its largest shareholders. No single entity holds a controlling stake. -
Who made the Ajinomoto logo?
Ajinomoto's logo — featuring the company name in both Japanese and Latin characters alongside a red circular emblem — was developed in-house and has been updated over several decades to reflect its evolution from a seasoning company to a global food and health sciences group.