The three brothers behind Kose have been named among Japan’s 50 Richest in Forbes’ annual ranking. The Kobayashi brothers were placed 19th, with a combined wealth of US$2.1 billion, after shares in the Japanese cosmetics giant rose more than 50 percent in the past year.

Forbes Asia has attributed this meteoric rise to strong sales of whitening range Sekkisei, as well as steady sales growth from skin care brand Cosme Decorte and make-up line Jill Stuart.

Another newcomer thanks to the cosmetics dollar is drugstore entrepreneur Masateru Uno, President of Cosmos Pharmaceutical Co.

Meanwhile, Pola Orbis CEO Satoshi Suzuki saw his fortune rise 69 percent over 2015, thanks to the brand’s popularity with local and Chinese shoppers alike, ranking him among the billionaires for the first time.