ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER Corporation (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & Chief Executive Officer: Tsutomu Miyazaki; hereinafter referred to as “ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER”) has reached an agreement with Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Executive Officer: Hirohiko Ejiri; hereinafter referred to as “Kurita Water Industries”), the 100% parent company of Kurita Creation Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President: Shinsuke Watanabe; hereinafter referred to as “Kurita Creation”), a manufacturer and seller of water purifiers, water softeners, and pure water systems in the daily-use water sector, to acquire an 80% stake in Kurita Creation and make it a subsidiary.

Daily-use water encompasses the water used in households and for commercial purposes by restaurants, hotels, and department stores, as well as in public facilities and for disaster relief. Water is the foundation of human life and has a vast range of uses. This is precisely why ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER believes that by adding value to water, we can make people’s lives more convenient and fulfilling.

In recent years, demand for purified, softened, and pure water has been increasing even more in Japan, notably in the commercial water market, against the backdrop of the resumption of economic activities and the recovery of inbound tourism demand following the easing of the restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, water pollution caused by organofluorine compounds (PFAS) has become a social issue both in Japan and internationally. Consequently, interest in and demand for securing safe drinking water are growing rapidly.

Leveraging its technical and product development capabilities cultivated over the years in the daily use water sector, Kurita Creation has provided a wide range of products and services, primarily for households and commercial uses. The company’s strengths lie in its ability to plan and develop products that reflect customer feedback as well as its meticulous sales and maintenance systems. By meeting a wide range of needs, it has earned a high degree of trust.

In recent years, the company has also leveraged its established industry expertise and technical capabilities to develop new products and technologies as well as to positively engage in the development of new markets. The compact pure water system, which the company began to sell in 2024, prevents water spots by using purified water for cleansing. This improves the finish after washing, reduces the time needed for wiping, and enhances the effectiveness of the treatment before coating. The system is already being adopted by car dealerships, rental car companies, and gas stations where car washing and parts cleaning are regularly conducted.

ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER has been expanding its business globally to support the foundation of daily life. By taking over Kurita Creation’s business, the company will focus on creating value in Japan’s and international daily use water sector. By combining ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER’s extensive networks and Kurita Creation’s technologies, we will promote the development of new products and services that accurately capture the changes in environmental conditions and the diversifying social needs as well as the sustainable use of water.

To achieve both the resolution of social issues and sustainable growth, ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER will continue to innovate in the field of water, which is the foundation of human life, and is committed to contributing to the realization of a more prosperous and fulfilling society.