About JSIF

about BOKEN

Updated 2011.04.01

The ＢＯＫＥＮＱＵＡＬＩＴＹＥＶＡＬＵＡＴＩＯＮＩＮＳＴＩＴＵＴＥ (Boken) was established in 1948 to promote the export of textile products and improvements in quality. We obtained authorization from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
We are Japan’s leading general testing and inspection organization, a neutral and fair organization that conducts inspection, testing and research with a focus on textiles. We test and inspect products from natural and chemical fibers to all types of finished textiles.
Boken is registered as an investigative organization for claims under the Product Liability Law.
We also offer technical consultation concerning the safety of consumer goods, environmental and pollution measurement and other services.
Boken has forged business and technical links with testing organizations around the world, and with our world-class knowledge and technology, we are steadily expanding our operations as a trusted testing and inspection organization.

Contribute to improving and stabilizing product quality to improve life and culture.
Provide useful, timely information to customers, with a priority on trust.

ISO9001
JQA-QM3464

●Name:	ＢＯＫＥＮＱＵＡＬＩＴＹＥＶＡＬＵＡＴＩＯＮＩＮＳＴＩＴＵＴＥ（aka: Boken）
●Established:	December 6, 1948
●Representative:	Hayato Horiba, Chief Executive Officer
●Staff:	About 400
●Main Services:	＜Material and product performance evaluation＞ Fiber mixture ratio, Dimensional change, Physical property, Color fastness, Washing resistance ＜Safety evaluation＞ Formaldehyde, Flammability ＜Evaluation of functional products＞ Moisture absorption and heat generation, Solar heat storage, Sweat absorbent and quick drying, Moisture permeable waterproof, Absorption and desorption, Antibacterial, Odor resistance, Photocatalyst, Antifouling, Mold-proof, Mite-proof, Ultraviolet ray blocking, Pollen-proof, Anti-electric, Electromagnetic shield, Flame-proof, Configuration stability, Durable water repellency, Mirror function curtains ＜Chemical analysis and Instrumental analysis＞＜Investigation of returned items＞＜Inspection, fabric inspection and mend of secondary products＞＜Testing of interior lifestyle goods＞＜Testing of fashion articles＞＜Measurement of working and indoor environments＞
●Products Handled:	<Woven and knit fabrics ranging from staple fibers to final products> Cotton, Fiber, Feather/Down, Yarn, Woven and Knit fabrics <Interior and lifestyle goods> Furniture, Fashion articles, Ornaments, Bedclothes, Geotextiles <Harmful substances> Building materials, Metal products, Wood products, Resin

●1948	Established as a juridical foundation.
●1958	Designated by government as testing organization under the Export Inspection Law.
●1962	Registered as testing organization for arbitration of micronaire readings.
●1969	Developed BOKENSTAIN (textile identification agent).
●1970	Established name as“ BOKEN”. Started Boken exhibitions.
●1976	Designated as testing organization for Q mark inspection.
●1977	Registered as testing organization under the Working Environment Measurement Law. Registered as testing organization under the Measurement Law.
●1989	Initiated technical and business cooperation with SGS Hong Kong Ltd. Established Tokyo Testing Center. Designated as testing organization for SEK mark inspection. Designated as testing organization by International Down and Feather Bureau.
●1990	Designated as testing organization for carpets by Japan Fire Retardant Association. Started Boken seminars.
●1992	Initiated technical and business cooperation with China Textile Institute in Taiwan.
●1993	Initiated technical and business cooperation with SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.
●1995	Established Shanghai Testing Center. Changed structure to branch system. Registered as investigative organization under the Product Liability Law. Established approval testing center for lifestyle goods. Established new testing center of Tobu (Tokyo) Head Office.
●1996	Initiated technical and business cooperation with Korea Woven Fabrics Testing Institute (Renamed as FITI Testing & Research Institute). Established a website.
●1997	Started introduction to textiles seminars.
●1999	Obtained ISO 9002 certification.
●2000	Obtained JNLA (Japan National Laboratory Accreditation) certification.
●2002	Established Changzhou Testing Center. Established Qingdao Testing Center. Obtained ASNITE (Accreditation System of National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) certification (Tobu, Kinki, Chubu, Seibu). Started quality control seminars.
●2003	Renewed ISO 9001 registration. Registered as an accredited business under the international MRA (Tobu, Kinki, Chubu, Seibu). Established Life Environment Testing Center. Established Kinki CITYLAB Honmachi. Designated as a designated performance evaluation organization of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
●2004	Established Life Environment Testing Center Tokyo Laboratory. Initiated technical and business cooperation with SGS Taiwan Ltd.
●2005	Initiated technical and business cooperation with SGS Guangzhou Ltd. Established Shanghai Second Testing Center. Designated as testing organization of CCMI (Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute).
●2006	Renewed ISO 9001 registration. Initiated technical and business cooperation with SGS Hangzhou Ltd. Established Tobu Nihonbashi VIVOLAB.
●2007	Established Lifestyle Goods Testing Center.
●2009	Held the first overseas Boken Exhibition.