日本語

+81-3-5902-3202

View our inquiry form

About Tobe-Shoji

Message from the President

Working with the community to achieve
a sustainable recycling society one step at a time.

Tobe-Shoji's roots go all the way back to 1893. Our company's founder, Hatsugoro Tobe, noticed that the demand for bottles was increasing due to the start of sales of domestic beer, and he started our company as a bottle seller that recovered, washed, and resold used bottles.

Tobe-Shoji's concept was to "find ways to use things longer instead of simply trashing them." The word "recycling" is familiar to everyone now, but Tobe-Shoji was a pioneer in this field, and recycling remains central to our company's business.
Later on, Tobe-Shoji grew as a company, eventually starting to conduct business in various eco-related fields, including not only bottle washing but also can and plastic-bottle recycling as well as resource and waste treatment and transportation.

The UN proposed various SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) to achieve by 2030, and the whole world has finally changed direction in order to achieve a recycling society that does not rely on mass production and mass disposal. This goal can only be achieved as a result of the small, accumulated steps of individuals and individual companies. In a few years, Tobe-Shoji will celebrate its 130th anniversary as a company. As the world dramatically changes, our company is evolving with the times as we remain rooted in the community, and we are striving to achieve a recycling society one step at a time.

戸部昇

Total environmental company
Tobe-Shoji's business policy

Collective power

Instead of simply focusing on recycling, Tobe-Shoji is developing multifaced business to contribute to the creation of a recycling society. We strive to recycle as much waste as possible while providing consulting services and pursuing equipment research and development. Our employees fully utilize their knowledge to eliminate waste and send resources back out into society.

Taking on challenges

Tobe-Shoji plans to apply its past hundred years of experience to the next hundred years. By taking full advantage of our cultivated experience and knowledge, we propose solutions that are not bound by old customs. We also actively promote the introduction of the latest equipment and vehicles, which boast greater environmental-protection effects.

Human power

To help counter the environmental problems caused by mass production and mass consumption, Tobe-Shoji fully utilizes human power. By having people use their hands for sorting and their eyes for checking during our machine processes, we have considerably improved accuracy. This is the power to create peace of mind.

Normalization

Many employees with disabilities work at Tobe-Shoji. We also cooperate with schools and centers offering job assistance in each region. We gain an understanding of the aptitude of each employee through on-the-job training and then assign them to the most suitable position. At our company, all our employees are responsible for handling their own work as opposed to merely supporting people without disabilities.

Coexistence with the community

Tobe-Shoji's activities are made possible by the support of members of the community. Therefore, we take the utmost care in protecting the surrounding environment. In addition—in order to interact with the members of the community and express our gratitude to them—we actively participate in community events from our base in Iriya, Adachi Ward in particular.

Company overview

Company name
Tobe-Shoji Co., Ltd
Founded in
1893
Capital
5,000,000 yen
Representative
Chairperson Noboru Tobe
President Tomofumi Tobe
Description of business
  • Recycling-system consulting
  • Recycling processing: plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, polystyrene foam, and waste plastics
  • Returnable-bottle washing
  • Collection and transportation of general waste
  • Collection and transportation of industrial waste
  • Industrial waste disposal business (intermediate processing)
Our banks
  • MUFG Bank, Ltd Oji Branch
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Oji Branch
  • Johoku Shinkin Bank Iriyatoneri Branch
Location
  • Head office
    5-10-1, Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 114-0002, Japan
    Tel. +81-3-5902-3202 Fax. +81-3-5390-3298
  • Adachi Branch
    8-10-29, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
    Tel. +81-3-3897-1156 Fax. +81-3-3853-1619
  • 2nd Factory
    8-13-1, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
  • 3rd Factory
    3-11-12, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
  • 4th Factory
    8-6-7, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
  • 5th Factory
    8-12-4, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
  • 7th Factory
    3-11-8, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
  • 8th Factory
    9-4-5, Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0836, Japan
History
1893Hatsugoro Tobe went to Tokyo from Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture and founded Tobe-Shoten as an empty-bottle recovery and selling business.
September 1948Shogo Tobe reorganized the business as a corporation and established it as the limited partnership Tobe-Shoji.
August 1964Introduced a bottle washing machine with a daily output of 4,000 bottles to handle increasing demand for recovered bottles.
April 1966Established a bottle washing factory with a daily output of 20,000 bottles in Itami, Hyogo and made it the company's business base for the Kansai region. (The functions of this factory are currently part of the Adachi office's work.)
August 1968Established an office in Iriya, Adachi Ward due to the increasing demand for recovered bottles.
March 1976Introduced a bottle washing machine with a daily output of 25,000 bottles at the Adachi office. Expanded the bottle recycling business.
April 1980Got commissioned to handle Kawaguchi's empty-bottle recovery business. Established the Adachi office's second factory to handle sorting work.
November 1982Got commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Public Cleaning as the company to handle Adachi Ward's bottle-recovery model district.
August 1983Introduced a large, special bottle washing machine to handle the increasing recycling demand. The company's production system reached a daily output of 40,000 bottles.
June 1984Introduced incineration processing equipment for plastic containers. Started up recycling processing that recovered waste-heat energy and used it as a heat source for bottle washing machines.
February 1988Introduced a multi-purpose bottle washing machine. This made it possible to wash all types of recovered bottles and increased the company's daily output to a capacity of 80,000 bottles.
December 1991Got commissioned to handle Kawaguchi's empty-can sorting business and started the work.
April 1992Started up the recycled-resource handling business due to the expansion of the recycling business.
December of the same yearReceived certification as a registered waste-recycling business.
April 1993Got commissioned to handle the Fire and Disaster Management Agency's recycling business.
July of the same yearGot commissioned to handle the bottle and can recovery and recycling processing business of 120 Teito underground railway stations.
December of the same yearStarted recovering the bottles and plastics from the Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku.
March 1994Got commissioned to handle the recycling processing of Ueno Onshi Park during the cherry blossom season, which was the first time a Tokyo-based business did this. The company successfully recovered and recycled empty cans and empty bottles during the cherry blossom season.
April 1996Got commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association to handle the recyclable-garbage recovery processing business related to Yahashira Cemetery and other municipal cemeteries.
February 1997Received certification from The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association as a recycler in compliance with the sorting standards for fiscal year 1997 in terms of plastic bottles.
April of the same yearGot commissioned by Chuo Ward to handle the recovery business related to 36 facilities in the ward, including schools and citizen's public halls.
January 1999Obtained certification for complying with the ISO 14001 international environmental standards. * Booklet: February
December 2007Reorganized the company and changed its name to Tobe-Shoji Co., Ltd.
November 2008Relocated the sales, general affairs, and accounting business to the Oji head office.
Awards
October 1984Hatsugoro Tobe received an award from the Governor of Tokyo as a distinguished resident of Tokyo.
February 1985Received an award from the mayor of Adachi Ward, Tokyo for the company's contributions to the employment of persons with mental or physical disabilities.
March of the same yearReceived a Chairman's Award from Clean Japan for the company's contributions to recycling.
September 1990Received an award from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare for being an outstanding office that employs persons with disabilities.
February 1991Received an award from the Minister of Justice for the company's cooperation with rehabilitation efforts.
March 1993Received a letter of thanks from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Public Cleaning for the company's handling of recycling.
September 1995Received an award from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare for being an outstanding office that employs persons with disabilities.
October 1996Eiji Tobe received an award from the Minister of International Trade and Industry for his distinguished services related to the promotion of recycling in fiscal year 1996.
June 2003Received a letter of thanks from the Takenotsuka police chief of the Metropolitan Police Department for the company's efforts related to the promotion of traffic safety measures and proper vehicle management.
December 2006Received a letter of thanks from the mayor of Itabashi Ward, Tokyo for the company's dedication to promoting the employment of persons with disabilities.
November 2012Received a letter of thanks from the head of the Traffic Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department for the company's efforts related to the promotion of traffic safety measures and proper vehicle management.
October 2015Noboru Tobe received a Governor's Award from the Governor of Tokyo for his distinguished services related to industrial development.
October 2018Received a letter of thanks from the Itabashi Ward Silver Jinzai (Senior Human Resources) Center for the company's dedication to promoting the employment of the elderly.
January 2019Received a letter of thanks from a neighborhood association president for contributing to one of the association's events in Iriya, Adachi Ward.
Main clients
Chiyoda City
Shinjuku City
Bunkyo City
Nakano City
Toshima City
Kita City
Itabashi City
Adachi City
Kawaguchi City
Imperial Household Agency
Imperial Guard Headquarters
National Stadium
Yoyogi Gymnasium
Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC)
JAPAN SPORT COUNCIL
Japan Racing Association Nakayama Racecourse
FV Japan Co.,Ltd.
J&T Recycling Corporation
AEON RETAIL Co.,Ltd.
PS BEVERAGE Ltd.
Public Vending Service
FamilyMart Co.,Ltd.
Coca-Cola BOTTLERS JAPAN INC.
Suntory Beverage Service Limited
Starbucks Coffee Company
DyDo Beverage Service, Inc.
McDonald's Company (Japan), Ltd.
POKKA SAPPORO Food & Beverage Ltd. 
RETAILSYSTEMSERVICE Co., Ltd.
Watami Co., Ltd.
ECOSS Co. ,Ltd.
FP Corporation
Gaeadream Corp.
Kiznax Managiment co.,ltd.
Sunshine City Corporation
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.
SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN CO.,LTD.
famima Retail Service Co,, Ltd.
Odakyu Department Store Company Limited
TOKYO DOME FACILITIES CORPORATION.
Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd.
NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE EAST CORPORATION
Palsystem Consumers' Co-operative Union
Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union
Kikkoman Corporation
TAKARA SHUZO CO.,LTD.
Brewing Society of Japan
* Note that our main clients are listed in no particular order.