10-07-2025
Kao releases antiperspirant for Indonesian women in hijab
Kao Corp. President Yoshihiro Hasebe at an event in Jakarta on June 10 (Kota Kawano)
JAKARTA--Cosmetics maker Kao Corp. has developed an antiperspirant to provide comfort for Muslim women who wear hijab in hot and humid Indonesia.
Nearly 90 percent of the country's population of about 280 million are Muslims.
Many Indonesian women wear hijab when they go out, but they feel discomfort due to sweating under the traditional head covering.
Located on the equator, the Southeast Asian country has sweltering weather throughout the year.
Kao President Yoshihiro Hasebe revealed the new antiperspirant at an event on June 10 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the company's subsidiary in Jakarta.
The product contains new technology that accelerates the drying of perspiration, according to Kao.
The company began developing the product after its hijab-wearing local employees said they were troubled by sweating. Kao also conducted a survey on hijab wearers in their 20s and 30s before releasing the product.
The company has set up factories and a research center in Indonesia. Its face-wash and other skincare products offered under the flagship Biore brand are popular in the country.
'Indonesia has a large volume of customers and is an important region for our global operations,' Hasebe said, adding that Kao intends to expand sales in the country.
According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), about 2,100 Japanese companies were operating in Indonesia in 2022.
