FROM THE EDITOR
Introduction
Welcome to the latest edition of The Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine, where we celebrate KOSÉ Group’s milestone 80th anniversary.
This special edition reflects on a company that has, over eight decades, consistently balanced heritage with forward-thinking ambition. Guided by its enduring philosophy, ‘Creating Beauty in a Sustainable World’, KOSÉ Holdings Corporation continues to define what modern beauty leadership looks like as a company grounded in purpose, yet evolving in step with a rapidly changing global landscape.
At the heart of this journey is a clear strategic direction. Through its Vision for Lifelong Beauty Partner – Milestone 2030, KOSÉ is setting out to strengthen its foundations, accelerate international expansion and further establish itself as a truly global organisation. It is a vision that moves beyond product to embrace culture, connection and long-term value creation.
This edition also honours the company’s origins by looking back at its rich history. Founded in 1946 by Kozaburo Kobayashi, KOSÉ was built on an unwavering commitment to quality, trust and human connection. That founding spirit, captured in the philosophy ‘Mind to Follow the Right Path’, continues to inform the Group’s decision-making today, underpinning its emphasis on craftsmanship, innovation and responsible growth.
From its origins in Japan to its steadily expanding global footprint, KOSÉ’s evolution has been most visibly, and compellingly, expressed through the travel retail channel.
What began with a modest presence at Narita International Airport in 2003 has grown into a dynamic, multi-market business spanning Asia and Europe.
We explore that journey in depth, alongside a wide-ranging interview with KOSÉ Travel Retail President & CEO Hiroto Kitaki. He outlines how the ‘Vision for Lifelong Beauty Partner’ philosophy is being brought to life across the channel through the 3E pillars, ‘Exclusive, Experience and Environment’. He also discusses how this framework can transform travel retail beyond the transactional and into a space of meaningful engagement.
We spotlight KOSÉ’s strength in experiential retail, from immersive pop-ups in Hainan to digitally integrated campaigns that connect with travellers before, during and after their journeys. These activations exemplify a broader ambition: to create what the company describes as “ultimate beauty entertainment”, where product discovery becomes both personal and memorable.
Sustainability remains a defining thread throughout. Initiatives such as SEKKISEI’s ‘SAVE the BLUE’ programme demonstrate how KOSÉ is linking beauty with environmental stewardship, reinforcing the belief that caring for people and planet must go hand in hand.
Across these pages, we showcase the breadth of the KOSÉ portfolio from DECORTÉ to SEKKISEI, JILL STUART, ADDICTION and beyond. We highlight how each brand contributes its own distinct expression of beauty while aligning with a shared vision. We also feature a special message from Vorravit Siripark, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of PAÑPURI, a Thai wellness brand acquired by KOSÉ in 2024.
As KOSÉ enters its ninth decade, the message is both clear and compelling: growth must be purposeful and partnerships must be collaborative and experiences must resonate long after the journey ends.
We hope you enjoy this special edition.
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The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Director Hannah Tan
Spotlight Series – May 2026