Meiji & Taisho Period
Dawn of a New Age
The Meiji government promulgated a health care system in 1874 and approved guidelines regarding the establishment of medical education based on Western medicine, the establishment of a modern pharmacist system, and the preparation of a medical system with separate pharmacy and clinic functions.
In terms of pharmaceuticals, the government regulated commercial drugs sold without verification of any special effects, and produced the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, which became the accepted standard for drug formulation. In 1889, the Drug Sales and Drug Handling Regulations established the basis for a modern pharmaceutical system, which regulated pharmacists, druggists, drug manufacturers, and drug handlers.
Drug Production and World War I
The distribution of Western drugs based on accurate medical knowledge was essential to the development of Western medicine, and during this period, many companies that started out as pharmacists and druggists established the foundations of business that are today’s pharmaceutical wholesalers(Oroshi).
The drug manufacturing industry became established in Japan with the Japan’s entry into the First World War. With the participation in the war, Western medicine supply imports from Germany were halted, and this had a severe impact on drug supplies. To ensure its own supply of Western medicines, the government established a temporary drug manufacturing department, disclosed manufacturing methods, issued subsidies to private companies, and nullified German-owned patent rights, thereby greatly promoting the nationalization of new drugs.
Meiji & Taisho Periods Timeline
1868
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
New government announces acceptance of Western medicine
Society
First year of the Meiji period
1869
Society
Transfer of capital to Tokyo
1871
Society
Abolition of feudal domains, establishment of prefectures
1872
Society
School system promulgation, opening of Japan's first railway
1873
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
The Department of Medicine is established at Tokyo Medical School
1874
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Establishment of a shiyakujo (national medical and pharmaceutical products test laboratory organization) in Tokyo
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Medical system promulgation
1877
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Publication of drug sales regulations
1880
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan is established
1885
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Nagayoshi Nagai discovers ephedrine
Society
Hirobumi Ito appointed to serve as the first prime minister
1886
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Publication of the first version of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia
1889
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Publication of the Drug Sales and Drug Handling Regulations
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Enactment of the pharmacist examination regulations
Society
Promulgation of the Meiji Constitution
1890
Society
First general election
1893
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Japan Pharmaceutical Association is established
1894
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Jokichi Takamine discovers Taka‐Diastase
Society
Sino-Japanese War (1894–95)
1896
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Founding of the Osaka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1898
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Merger of Osaka Pharmaceutical and Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1904
Society
Russo-Japanese War (1904–05)
1910
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Umetaro Suzuki discovers oryzanin (Vitamin B1)
1914
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Drug imports are disrupted, exports are prohibited Temporary drug manufacturing
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
departments are established in Tokyo and Osaka
Society
World War I (1914–18)
1915
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Promulgation of a law promoting dye and drug manufacturing
1918
Society
Rice riots due to the rising cost of rice
1920
Society
Launch of the League of Nations, start of the postwar depression
1922
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Promulgation of the Health Insurance Act
1923
Society
Great Kanto Earthquake
- Reference materials: Doshomachi, a Town of Drugs (Doshomachi Resource Preservation Society)
- 55 Years of the Drug Wholesaling Industry (Federation of Japan Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association)
- History of Clinical Drugs (Hiroshi Amano, Yakuji Nippo)
- History of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Japan (Japanese Society of History of Pharmacy, Ed.; Yakuji Nippo)
- Company histories of companies mentioned