The Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Group values its connections with people in the communities where it does business. As a member of various local communities, we are deepening exchanges with local communities through the sponsorship of regional events and other initiatives, and we are taking steps to contribute to the development of regional society by conducting historical and cultural activities and regional activation initiatives.
In May 2015, the Company opened the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum on the second floor of its headquarters in Doshomachi, Osaka, which is known as the pharmaceutical district. Visitors can learn about the history of the Company, which was founded in 1678, and the history and culture of Doshomachi. In addition, using 3D images and touch panels, visitors can learn about such topics as the structure of the human body and how pharmaceuticals work. In the ten years since its opening, about 45,000 people have visited the museum.
The museum’s website features Virtual Tour videos that introduce certain exhibits using audio guides. (https://www.mtpc-shiryokan.jp/en/vtour/)
Additionally, from March to September of 2024, the Company held a special exhibition showcasing the history of the efforts made by the Company’s former president and chairman to promote Japanese soccer, and offering those who are unfamiliar with the pharmaceutical industry or Doshomachi a chance to visit the museum.
Furthermore, for a limited time from June to September of 2025 we held a special tenth-anniversary exhibition titled “The Origins of Medicine in Doshomachi,” along with other related events. This exhibition used panels and videos to show visitors Tanabeya Medicine, where the Company’s journey began, and to illustrate the history of pharmaceuticals by showing the path from herbal medicines to the creation of modern drugs.
This historical museum is not only cooperating by providing exhibition materials, it is also cooperating with local events and contributing to the education of the next generation, such as with off-campus school learning activities.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Historical Museum
Website: https://www.mtpc-shiryokan.jp/en/
Certified by This is MECENAT 2025, the Association for Corporate Support of the Arts
In July 2025, the operation of this museum was certified under the This is MECENAT 2025 certification system for MECENAT activities (promoting social creativity through arts and culture) implemented by corporations and corporate foundations under the Association for Corporate Support of the Arts. This is the sixth consecutive year of certification since 2020.
Note: This is MECENAT is a system for promoting social creativity through arts and culture by certifying various MECENAT activities and shining light on each of them.
The Namboku Jizo Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) is enshrined in a temple in a public space on the grounds of our head offices. On August 23, 2024, we held a Namboku Jizoson Jizobon* in the public space outside the first floor of the building. Jizobon is a traditional event at which we pray for the health of children, and this marked the third time we had held one since the summer of 2022. For this occasion, we encouraged people from throughout the Company to participate, and some employees attended with their children.
On the day of the event, we arranged for some entertainment for local residents to take place after priests had chanted some Sutras, and prayed for our children to grow up strong and healthy. The children in attendance received Tanamin fans and gifts of sweets, and enjoyed games such as ring toss, yo-yo fishing, and boccia. There were a wide variety of activities on offer, including photo opportunities with Tanamin and bubble blowing with the staff. Boccia in particular caused quite a stir, with children who had tried the game in elementary school defeating the adults.
Despite the heat, the cheerful children and the local residents who came to pray to the Jizo Bosatsu all took part, bringing a fun summer atmosphere to our headquarters.
- Jizobon: Refers to the festival days for Jizo Bosatsu, which occur around the 23rd and 24th of August. Jizobon is a traditional event that is primarily a feature in the Kansai region. People pray to the Jizo Bosatsu, who is said to be guardian deity of children, in the hope that their children will be happy and healthy. They offer gifts to the Jizo Bosatsu and enjoy playing games and eating sweet treats together.
Namboku Jizo Bosatsu
This stone Jizo was dug out of the earth at a point to the south-west of the current headquarters building in 1825 (the original site of the storehouse belonging to the third generation Kihei Konishi) and given to Tanabe Pharmaceuticals by the Konishi family in 1947. It has been worshipped as the Namboku Jizo Bosatsu ever since Namboku Mizuno (1760-1834), a renowned physiognomist, designated the excavated statue a Jizo. In 1957, it was moved to the Osaka factory (Kajima office) when the Company headquarters was renovated, and then moved back when the Kajima office closed in October 2021.
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- A temple in a public space
The Company is contributing to regional revitalization through the Historical Museum and the sponsorship of events in cooperation with regional organizations.
In Doshomachi, where the Company has its headquarters, the Shinno Festival (a pharmaceutical festival) is held each year on November 22 and 23. The festival is operated and implemented by YAKUSOKO, an organization mainly established by pharmaceutical companies in Doshomachi. The Company has contributed to the festival as a member of YAKUSOKO for many years.
Since fiscal 2017, we have hosted the Tanamin Storytelling Theater twice a year, named after the Company’s character Tanamin. Through rakugo, which is a traditional form of entertainment that is highly popular in Osaka, and lectures about the culture of the time, we are providing opportunities for people to become familiar with the history and culture of Osaka, and these initiatives have been well received.
The fall session was held in conjunction with the Shinno Festival on November 23, 2024, with the theme, “Tales that become ‘Medicine.’” This was 140 days prior to the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (EXPO2025), and so MYAKU-MYAKU, the official Expo mascot, made an appearance with Tanamin, and was welcomed by cheers and applause.
（Doshomachi Tanamin Storytelling Theater https://www.tanamin-yose.net/）(Japanese language only)
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- The talk after the Rakugo performance, “Medicine and Rakugo”
As an everyday initiative, in cooperation with other Doshomachi exhibition facilities related to pharmaceuticals, we are rolling out a publicity activity under the name Doshomachi Museum Street (Japanese language only). The community will work to provide information to encourage large numbers of people to visit Doshomachi, which is the birthplace of Japan’s pharmaceutical industry.
The Company will continue to contribute more and more to local communities
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- Doshomachi Museum Street Map
The Yoshitomi Office (Fukuoka Prefecture) held the Yoshitomi Summer Festival on the plant premises on August 24, 2024, marking the 50th time that we have held this annual community event. On the day of the festival, we welcomed around 2,000 people, including local residents, guests, employees, and their families to the venue. Onstage, the program included local high school brass bands, Yoshitomi Kagura performances, and a lucky draw-style lottery. There were also many food stalls present, adding to the lively, bustling atmosphere. As with other years, the fireworks display brought exclamations and applause. This event has grown to become a major festival, and is now a historic event that symbolizes the town of Yoshitomi. Going forward, we will continue to value the bonds that we create with the local community through the summer festival, and will treasure the relationships that we build with them.
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- The Yoshitomi summer festival
In June 2024, as a part of our corporate citizenship activities, we donated OTC medicines and other items to Kodomo-no-kuni (Children’s Land) in Yokohama City. Kodomo-no-kuni is a natural amusement park that utilizes a thickly wooded area of approximately 100 hectares in the Tama Hills area of Yokohama City. It was opened in 1965 in commemoration of the marriage of His Imperial Highness (now Emperor Emeritus) in 1959. Since 1971, for more than 50 consecutive years, the Company has contributed OTC medicines and made other contributions to Kodomo-no-kuni.
On the day of the presentation ceremony, Deputy Director Akiho of Kodomo-no-Kuni commented, “The park opened in 1965, and we began receiving pharmaceutical supplies six years later in 1971, which makes a total of more than 50 years. We are very grateful for this cooperation. Given the rich natural environment surrounding us, injuries are unavoidable, and so this assistance has been invaluable.”
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Kodomo-no-Kuni, the Company donated the home of bird characters Juru and Chichi, which has become a favorite spot for visitors to take commemorative photographs.
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- Donation of OTC medicines
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- “Juru & Chichi’s House,” donated by our company, has become a popular photo spot
In September 2015, a Doshomachi development association known as the Doshomachi Club was established. The Company serves as the executive office of the association. The Doshomachi Development Association is engaged in a variety of initiatives aimed at achieving the SDGs. The objectives of this organization are to maintain and develop the cityscape, centered on the Doshomachi Street, to conduct activities to foster trust and mutual cooperation among the people who live and work in the area, and to build a dynamic community that brings together people who are interested in health. On that basis, the organization seeks to link the history and traditions of the Doshomachi pharmaceutical district to the future.
The Doshomachi Street Revitalization Project seeks to create attractive and people-friendly towns through public-private partnerships, and is working on a utility pole removal and road maintenance project in an area of Doshomachi that meets the demands of local landowners and relevant parties. A sidewalk was created in May 2022, creating an all-new nighttime view. By 2027, we plan to complete the removal of the utility poles along with moving power lines underground.
Osaka City approved the Doshomachi Landscape Agreement system in June 2022, and we will work to enhance the attractiveness of the town based on rules formulated together with the landowners along Doshomachi 2- and 3-chome.
In May 2024, the Doshomachi development association received the 2024 Town Planning Award from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website (Japanese language only)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/toshi05_hh_000451.html
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- Road Maintenance from the Doshomachi Street Revitalization Project
In an effort to conduct activities that foster trust and mutual cooperation among the people who live and work in the area, we are promoting a rooftop greening project based on potted grape cultivation, which is also an environmental measure, with a great deal of wine being made.
We also focus on offering information on the region, offering the history of Doshomachi and its buildings through a website, and introducing events through social networking services (Instagram).
Doshomachi development association (known as the Doshomachi Club)
(https://doshomachi-club.org/) (Japanese language only)
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/doshomachi_club/?hl=ja
We will continue to cooperate in activities to create dynamic towns that meet local needs.
Also, we have joined the Semba Club, the Sankyubashisuji Trade Association, and other organizations, and participated and cooperated in various local revitalization activities.
A variety of industries have long prospered in the Senba area, including pharmaceuticals in Doshomachi, finance in Kitahama, and textiles in Honmachi, and there are many historic buildings. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma also takes part in Living Architecture Museum Festival Osaka (Ikefes Osaka), which is held every fall. (https://ikenchiku.jp/) (Japanese language only)
In November 2024, two employees from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Korea participated in Volunteer Kimchi-Making, an event held by the Korea Japan Pharmaceutical Association (KJPA). This activity allowed Japanese expatriates and their families to experience the traditional Korean cultural practice of kimchi making, with the kimchi made (approximately 4,000 kg) donated to 600 households of elderly and socially vulnerable people in the local community. This was a valuable experience that offered participants a greater understanding of traditional Korean culture and deepened ties with local people.
Note: Information on this page pertains to activities and results for fiscal 2024.