Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has 100 years of history since its founding.

One hundred years ago, when the business was inaugurated in Nagoya as Kobayashi Seidaido, it had been only 20 years since Japan liberated itself from more than 300 years of international isolation, its economic and social base was fragile, and it did not occupy a high position in international society.

Even the medical supply industry, in an environment in which traditional home medicines were being produced in detail in all parts of the country, was completely immature.Together with western medicine, the industry depended on the so-called new drugs that were all being imported from Western Europe.

We have now come 100 years.During those 100 years, Japan was afflicted by a great natural disaster, its cities were burned in the fires of war, people suffered from disease, and atrophy and gluttony were insolent temptations on society.But even though all this, Japan was revived by making full use of firm stability and a surprising will to work.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s first century will go down in history as one abundance with ups and downs.The small wholesale house in Nagoya known as Kobayashi Seidaido progressed to Osaka’s Doshomachi, the center of Japan’s medical supply wholesale industry, changed its name to Kobayashi Daiyakubo, demonstrated excellent foresight in the confusion during the war, and stood at the top position of the industry.And we took an unwavering standpoint of building the company not only as a wholesaler but also as a one-of-a-kind manufacturer.

On second examination, the past 100 years have been like a dream.Still, being able to look back on the these 100 years in this way is the result of the dedicated support and sacrifices of heart and soul by Kobayashi’s many managers and employees.

On such a foundation, we must build prosperity at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical from this point forward.There is no guarantee that the coming 100 years will be any easier than the past 100 years.There are still omens of severe rumblings in Japanese society.

One hundred years of history should not be soiled.Rather I believe that we must continue to put forth effort and assemble all our collective wisdom in order to more fully realize prosperity at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.

For this reason, I want to make it clear that we are pulling all of our energy together for business development.Furthermore, the indications that I and all employees at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical will lead the company to prosperity are specified here anew …

(Continued in Chapter 14 / From an interview with Kazumasa Kobayashi)