Koho was established in 1971 through a joint capital investment by major secondary processor Miyazaki Seiko Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Nagoya; president: Kaoru Miyazaki) and Mitsubishi Corporation for the dedicated sale of cold finished steel bars. Cold finished steel bars, made by drawing steel bars or wire rods through a die and polishing the surface by acid washing or shot blasting, are extensively used in making automotive and industrial machine parts.

In its early phase, Koho intended to be a kind of "department store" that sells an extensive array of cold finished steel bars supplied by Miyazaki Seiko. More recently, however, it has steadily increased the breadth and depth of its business activities, becoming more like a "convenience store" that sells cold finished steel bars, to meet the need for small lots and quick deliveries.

President Tadashi Kawane, originally from Miyazaki Seiko, has held his present position since 1995 and is proud of Koho's unique business model, saying, "The demand for cold finished steel bars will not grow significantly, but we have built up a presence in the retail market in the Tokai region by providing high-value-added services that feature elaborate machining and adaptability and answer the need for small lot supply and quick delivery, something that major steelmakers are unable to offer."

Koho's greatest strength lies in its organizational ability to accept an order for as little as a single machined piece weighing only a few grams and deliver it. The company's sales force and production shop are connected by computer to each other at all times to ensure adequate response to urgent delivery needs. To meet such a need for small lot supply and quick delivery, the company has successively launched sales offices since the 1990s in key locations throughout the Tokai region, including Numazu, Yokkaichi, Komaki, and Okazaki, in pursuit of developing a regionally established clientele.