2024.08.22
Ideal Place for Kids’ Summer Vacation Research Project: Museum of Almost 350-year-old Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation located in Pharmaceutical District
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation was founded in 1678, early in the Edo period, making it the oldest R&D-driven pharmaceutical company in Japan and the second oldest in the world. Located at the second floor of its corporate headquarters, the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum offers an interesting way to learn about the company’s long history of almost 350 years. We talked with staff member Mika Okamura and director Tatsuya Izukawa about what visitors to the museum can expect to discover.
Rare signboard dating from the Edo period on display
The company’s history began when its founder, Tanabeya Gohei 1st, opened a store that produced and sold Tanabeya Decoction, which came in a small pouch and was designed to be decocted in boiled water. In 2007, Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation were merged to form Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.
The Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum opened in 2015. Showcasing the company’s
history from the Edo period to the present, it offers an extensive collection of exhibits,
including signboards from the earliest days of the company and traditional tools used for
grinding herbal medicines, as well as other attractions, such as a reproduction of Tanabeya
Gohei’s Store as it was during the Meiji period.
“The must-see item is the wooden signboard reading ‘Tanabeya Medicine,’ which is on display
in the Doshomachi District Zone and once hung under the eaves of the store,” says Okamura of
the museum’s highlights. “It was hung for years after the store was founded and is really
quite precious. I highly recommend taking a look and experiencing the history firsthand. The
Present and Future Zone offers fun learning experiences, including the Virtual Medical Book,
which explains the action of medicines and biology of the human body using 3D animation, and
the Touch & Try section, where visitors can enjoy quizzes using touch panels. By showcasing
the long and unparalleled history of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, the museum also educates
visitors about the development of Japan’s pharmaceutical industry. It also provides an
overview of the present and future of the company, including R&D on new drugs.”
Special exhibition explaining the company’s links with Japanese football
The museum’s first ever special exhibition, titled “History of Japanese Football and
Tanabeya Gohei XIV,” is being held until Friday, September 27, 2024. As it turns out, there
are close links between Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and Japanese football.
Gohei XIV (1908-1972) fell in love with football during the Taisho period and became
committed to promoting the sport in Japan. He worked on the establishment of the Kansai
Football Association, the operation of the Japan Football Association, the establishment of
youth club teams, and the development of women’s football and female referees. He also
formed the Tanabe Seiyaku Football Club, whose team won the national title six years in a
row from 1950 at the corporate football championships. In recognition of these
contributions, Gohei XIV was selected to be one of the first inductees into the Japan
Football Hall of Fame in 2005 by the Japan Football Association for his distinguished
service in developing Japanese football. The special exhibition showcases items related to
Gohei XIV and his football-related activities, including documents in his own handwriting.
“The documents include pages dedicated to his study of balls and uniform colors, featuring
his carefully drawn illustrations,” says Okamura. “Looking at them helps you understand how
his ideas have influenced some of the football gear used today. His collection of football
balls is also on display. Lots of football fans have visited the museum and given us
positive feedback, such as ‘I have learned a lot about the history of Japanese football’ and
‘It was very interesting to learn about things I’d never heard of before.’ I’m not going to
go into detail because I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the exhibition also shows you
why the Japanese national football team wears blue color uniforms and how the black and
white ball was introduced in Japan.”
With the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching, this summer is the perfect time to
reflect on Gohei’s effort to Japanese football in its early days. After visiting the
exhibition, you will enjoy watching football even more.
Doshomachi: Helping to raise the profile of the district
By the way, do you know the name of the district where Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s
headquarters is located? It is 道修町 (Doshomachi). Majority of Japanese people find it hard to
read this place name correctly when it is written in kanji characters. Since 2016,
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma has been conducting annual surveys to find out how well the name is
recognized. In the eighth survey conducted in 2023, a mere 29.1% of respondents were able to
read the name “Doshomachi” correctly. Even among those living in Osaka, where Doshomachi is
located and where recognition of it was the highest, the percentage of respondents giving
the correct answer was only 36.5%. “Recognition of Doshomachi is declining every year. As
the company with the longest history in the district, we are eager to take the initiative to
raise its public profile,” enthuses Izukawa.
Doshomachi has been known as a pharmaceutical district since the Edo period. During the
Meiji period, it was home to as many as 150 drug wholesalers. Even today, in addition to
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, there are almost 50 pharmaceutical-related companies operating
there, including the headquarters of domestic industry leaders such as Takeda Pharmaceutical
Co.,Ltd and Shionogi & Co.,Ltd. Moreover, along a mere 300-meter stretch of Doshomachi
Street are as many as six exhibition facilities related to the pharmaceutical industry: the
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum, Shionogi Gallery, History Gallery of Sumitomo
Pharma, Kyo-U Library of Takeda Science Foundation, Doshomachi Pharmaceutical and Historical
Museum, and the Former Konishi Family Residence.
As part of efforts toward local revitalization, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma has dubbed the area
“Doshomachi Museum Street” and rolls out publicity activities focused on Doshomachi’s
history and culture. “All these facilities have free admission. Everyone is invited to visit
and enjoy not just our facility but also the other unique museums,” stresses Okamura.
To attract more people, the museum has been hosting an event called “Tanamin Yose” twice a
year (in June and November) since 2017. Yose refers to the rakugo tradition of
comic
storytelling in Japan, and Tanamin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s corporate character, serves
as the symbol of the event.
“In 2016, Katsura Fukumaru, a professional rakugo storyteller, performed a creative rakugo story titled ‘Kusuriyaguruma’ to mark the first anniversary of the museum’s opening,” explains Izukawa. “Inspired by the performance, we started the Tanamin Yose event, which combines performances of Kamigata rakugo, a traditional entertainment in Osaka, with lectures on the history and culture of the society and social themes. We hope this gives people an opportunity to learn more about Osaka’s traditional culture and history in a fun and easy way.”
New projects planned for the 350th anniversary
The Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum is set to mark its 10th anniversary in 2025.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, meanwhile, will celebrate the 350th anniversary of its founding in
2028.
“The museum has been attracting a wide variety of visitors, including young and old, people
from abroad, and even newly hired staff members of other companies who come in as part of
their orientation programs,” says Okamura. “If requested, we can offer a customized guided
tour. Although our facilities are focused on history, we aim to develop projects that will
communicate new ideas and let visitors get a firsthand glimpse of the pharmaceutical
industry and culture of Doshomachi while also having fun. We also intend to raise the
profile of the district to the point where Doshomachi is instantly associated with
pharmaceuticals.”
“We have just begun developing ideas for projects to commemorate the 350th anniversary of
the founding as we organize over 8,000 collection items held by the museum,” Izukawa says.
“We owe it to the support of the community that we have been able to continue our business
in Doshomachi for so many years. This appreciation comes from ‘Sanpo Yoshi’ (benefiting all
three sides), a traditional philosophy held by the merchants of Doshomachi. We intend to
maintain our efforts to make the area more attractive and vibrant.”
The official website offers a virtual tour of the museum, letting you look at some of the
collection items with an audio guide. The museum may also be an ideal place for families to
visit to help children find a subject for their research project or to just enjoy a
memorable day over the summer vacation.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum
Second floor of the headquarters of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, 3-2-10 Doshomachi,
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Admission is by reservation only. Make a reservation in advance at the official
website.
Link to the website: https://www.mtpc-shiryokan.jp/en/
Outline of Special Exhibition “History of Japanese Football and Tanabeya Gohei”
Period: Thursday, March 14 to Friday, September 27, 2024
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and
company holidays)
INTERVIEWEES
MIKA OKAMURA
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum
TATSUYA IZUKAWA
Director of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
3-2-10 Doshomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Founded in 1678, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, the pharmaceutical division of the
Mitsubishi Chemical Group, is one of the world’s oldest pharmaceutical companies.
With a focus on the prescription drug business, the company is headquartered in
Doshomachi, Osaka, the birthplace of Japan’s pharmaceutical industry. As stated in
its mission, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is committed to “Creating hope for all facing
illness.” To make this a reality, the company is pursuing development in the areas
of oncology, the central nervous system, immuno-inflammation, and diabetes and
kidney disease. The company focuses on two approaches: precision medicine, for which
the best candidate patient groups in terms of both efficacy and safety are
identified to provide effective treatments that lead to higher patient satisfaction;
and pill solutions, which is a strategy to address specific patient concerns based
on therapeutic drugs, including prevention, pre-existing diseases, prevention of
disease progression, and prognosis.
https://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e/