Japan is an advanced nation in terms of medical technology. However, given the graying of Japanese society, countermeasures are necessary to confront the ever-growing burden of national medical expenditures. For this reason, the concept of "self-medication" has come to the fore. The concept is based on individual management of personal health maintenance and the home treatment of minor ailments.

OTC drugs are central to this concept even the phrase "over the counter" conjures images of discussions with the local pharmacist regarding appropriate treatment. At Taisho, we are contributing to the shift to OTC products. Adhering to strict safety standards, we are working to develop more-effective nonprescription medicines. While endeavoring to enhance the efficacy of OTC drugs and delivery systems, we are extremely selective regarding the production and treatment of the ingredients of our products and constantly alert to identify the mechanisms that make them effective. We believe that we can help pharmacies and drugstores across the nation fulfill their role as centers for self-medication.