Ichijiku Pharmaceutical

What Ichijiku Pharmaceutical does

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a privately held Japanese over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical company founded in 1925 and headquartered in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. The company specializes exclusively in a single product category: glycerin-based enema products sold under the flagship 'Ichijiku Enema' brand, classified as Class 2 OTC drugs in Japan. Its product portfolio consists of seven SKUs differentiated by dose (10g, 20g, 30g, 40g), nozzle type (standard, extended 'E' series for deeper reach), and packaging design (the 'Jabara' accordion-style variant for easier squeezing), targeted at four distinct age-segmented consumer verticals: infants and young children (0-5 years), school-age children (6-11), adults (12+), and elderly users in care settings.

The business model is straightforward product sales through three channels: wholesale distribution to Japanese pharmacies and drugstore chains, the company's direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop at ichijiku.co.jp/shop, and content-driven demand generation. The GTM motion is content-led: the company maintains an unusually deep content ecosystem for an OTC manufacturer, including a constipation self-check tool, nutritionist-supervised recipe libraries, baby and child constipation portals, and educational outreach to nursing care facilities. Brand-building is anchored by a century of operating history (celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025), a registered commemorative day (Ichijiku Enema Day, January 19), and the Kan-chan mascot character with LINE stamps, merchandise, and event appearances.

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical is independently owned (likely founder- or family-controlled) with no disclosed institutional shareholders, no subsidiaries, no M&A history, and no funding rounds. It operates exclusively within Japan with no international distribution footprint, though its product information site offers English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese localizations. The company employs no disclosed headcount, generates no publicly reported revenue, and shows no AI/ML capabilities in its product or operations. Recent strategic activity is incremental: the most recent significant product launches are the Jabara design (2013) and 20-pack bulk variants (2019), supplemented by continuous marketing campaigns and content publishing through 2026.

Name

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical

Legal name

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Website

https://ichijiku.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical is a privately held Japanese OTC pharmaceutical company founded in 1925 that specializes exclusively in glycerin-based enema products across seven age-segmented SKUs, sold through Japanese pharmacies, drugstores, and its own e-commerce shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

OTC Pharmaceuticals (Enema Products)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric OTC Medicines (HLAIADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digestive Health OTC (Antacids, Laxatives, Anti-diarrheals, Probiotics OTC) (CRADAMAE)

Keywords

• OTC enema products
• Constipation relief medication
• Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer
• Pediatric constipation remedies
• Adult bowel care products

Headquarters

HQ city

Sumida

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. OTC Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Revenue is generated from the manufacture and sale of OTC enema products (イチジク浣腸10, 20, 30, 40, 30E, 40E, ジャバラ) sold through pharmacies, retail stores, and the company's own e-commerce shop. These are classified as Category 2 OTC drugs (第2類医薬品) in Japan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical manufactures and sells a focused line of OTC enema products (Class 2 OTC drugs) under the Ichijiku Enema brand, with seven variants distinguished by age-appropriate dosage (10g for infants, 20g for children, 30g/40g for adults) and nozzle type (standard, extended E-series, Jabara accordion). Products are sold to Japanese consumers through pharmacy/drugstore channels and a direct online shop, supplemented by educational content on constipation management and a corporate mascot character (Kan-chan).

Product overview

Ichijiku Pharmaceutical is a Japanese pharmaceutical company specializing in OTC enema products under the Ichijiku Enema (イチジク浣腸) brand. The core product portfolio consists of seven enema formulations differentiated by dosage amount (10g, 20g, 30g, 40g) and nozzle types (standard, long-nozzle E series, and Jabara accordion-style). Products target distinct age groups: babies/infants up to 5 years (10g), children 6-11 years (20g), and adults 12+ (30g/40g, with E-series variants for deeper reach). The company supplements its pharmaceutical products with complementary digital services including an online constipation self-assessment tool, constipation-relief recipe content supervised by nutritionists, and specialized infant constipation information portals. The company also maintains a corporate mascot 'Kan-chan' who serves as goodwill ambassador and appears at promotional events and on merchandise including LINE stamps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kan-chan (かんちゃん): Corporate goodwill ambassador mascot character of Ichijiku Pharmaceutical. Kan-chan is a female character who promotes digestive health and the company's enema products. She has her own official website, LINE stamp, merchandise, and appears at various promotional events.

Products and services

• Ichijiku Enema 10 (イチジク浣腸10) Enema product containing 10g of formulation, specifically designed for infants and young children from birth to 5 years old. Classified as a Class 2 OTC pharmaceutical product in Japan.
• Ichijiku Enema 20 (イチジク浣腸20) Enema product containing 20g of formulation, designed for children aged 6 to 11 years. Classified as a Class 2 OTC pharmaceutical product in Japan.
• Ichijiku Enema 30 (イチジク浣腸30) Adult enema product containing 30g of formulation for users 12 years and older, designed for those needing immediate constipation relief. Classified as a Class 2 OTC pharmaceutical product in Japan.
• Ichijiku Enema 40 (イチジク浣腸40) Higher-strength adult enema product containing 40g of formulation for users who require a stronger effect. Classified as a Class 2 OTC pharmaceutical product in Japan.
• Ichijiku Enema 30E (イチジク浣腸30E) Adult enema product containing 30g of formulation with an extended/long nozzle and Jabara accordion design. The extended nozzle allows the liquid to reach deeper into the rectum for more effective relief.
• Ichijiku Enema 40E (イチジク浣腸40E) Higher-strength adult enema product containing 40g of formulation with an extended/long nozzle and Jabara accordion design. The extended nozzle allows the liquid to reach deeper for stronger relief.
• Ichijiku Enema Jabara (イチジク浣腸ジャバラ) Enema product featuring an accordion (Jabara) design that makes it easier to squeeze and reduces liquid residue. Self-standing design for improved hygiene. Designed for first-time enema users.
• Ichijiku Enema 30g and 40g 20-Pack (イチジク浣腸30g・40g 20コ入) Bulk-pack versions of the Ichijiku Enema 30g and 40g adult products, providing 20 enemas per pack for family or repeat-use scenarios.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100th anniversary in 2025 (company founded 1925), establishing century-long brand heritage
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• 日本ベビーサイン協会 (Japanese Baby Sign Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2016The Japanese Baby Sign Association (一般社团法人日本ベビーサイン協会) is the organizing body for baby sign language classes. Ichijiku Pharmaceutical co-sponsored baby sign language classes held in Aichi and Gifu prefectures from September–October 2016, as part of the company's educational outreach to parents of young children.
• キャンパスラボ (Campus Lab)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2015Campus Lab is a project team composed of university 'miss' contest winners who collaborate with companies on product development and marketing/promotion research projects. Ichijiku Pharmaceutical partnered with Campus Lab for the 'カラダの中からキレイラボ' (Internal Beauty Lab) awareness campaign to promote digestive and internal beauty health. Campus Lab members published experience reports and activity updates on the company's Facebook page.
• 特別養護老人ホーム 尚和園 (Showaen Nursing Care Facility)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2015Ichijiku Pharmaceutical conducted an educational study session on elderly constipation and proper enema use for care staff at Showaen, a special nursing home operated by the Saitama Prefecture Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association (社会福祉法人埼玉県共育会) in Saitama City.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Taiko Pharmaceutical: Taiko Pharmaceutical (大幸薬品) is a Japanese OTC pharmaceutical company anchored by the Seirogan digestive brand. It competes in the same OTC digestive-health shelf space in Japanese pharmacies and shares the profile of a Japanese OTC specialist with concentrated category leadership.
• Zeria Pharmaceutical: Zeria Pharmaceutical (ゼリア新薬工業) is a Japanese pharmaceutical company with a meaningful OTC digestive-health portfolio (laxatives, gastrointestinal remedies) alongside ethical pharmaceuticals. It competes for the same constipation-relief shelf at Japanese drugstores that Ichijiku occupies with its enema line.
• Kenei Pharmaceutical: Kenei Pharmaceutical (健栄製薬) is a Japanese OTC pharmaceutical manufacturer best known for glycerin enema products (e.g., Kenei Icicles) and disinfection solutions. It is the closest direct competitor to Ichijiku in the Japanese OTC enema category, with overlapping age-segmented SKUs and pharmacy/drugstore distribution.

Others

• Mochida Pharmaceutical: Mochida Pharmaceutical (持田製薬) is a Japanese pharmaceutical company with OTC and ethical products in dermatology and gastroenterology. It is an adjacent industry peer — relevant for understanding the Japanese OTC digestive landscape Ichijiku operates in, though it does not directly compete in OTC enemas.

Broad incumbents

• Taisho Pharmaceutical: Taisho Pharmaceutical (大正製薬) is one of Japan's largest OTC pharmaceutical companies (Lipovitan D, etc.) with an extensive consumer health portfolio. It competes for the same Japanese OTC consumer wallet but with a much broader product range than Ichijiku's enema-only lineup.
• Sato Pharmaceutical: Sato Pharmaceutical (佐藤製薬) is a long-established Japanese OTC pharmaceutical company with consumer health brands across skincare, oral care, and digestive remedies. It shares Ichijiku's profile of a heritage Japanese OTC specialist with multi-category presence and domestic focus.
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Otsuka Pharmaceutical (大塚製薬) is a large Japanese pharmaceutical and OTC company with consumer health brands spanning nutrition, digestive, and personal care. It competes with Ichijiku for Japanese consumer health shelf space and OTC digestive demand, but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Rohto Pharmaceutical: Rohto Pharmaceutical (ロート製薬) is a major Japanese OTC incumbent with broad portfolios across eye care, skincare, and digestive health. It overlaps with Ichijiku in OTC digestive products and shares Japanese pharmacy distribution, but as a multi-category giant rather than a niche specialist.
• Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare: Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare is the OTC consumer health arm of Daiichi Sankyo, marketing well-known Japanese OTC brands across digestive, cold, and pain categories. It overlaps with Ichijiku in Japanese OTC digestive remedies and pharmacy distribution.

Emerging players

• ASKA Pharmaceutical: ASKA Pharmaceutical (あすか製薬) is a Japanese pharma company with both ethical and OTC products in women's health and gastroenterology. It intersects with Ichijiku's pediatric/elderly digestive-health care continuum in Japanese OTC pharmacy channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ichijikuseiyaku
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ichijikuseiyaku
• Facebookfacebook.com/ichijiku.co.jp
• Instagraminstagram.com/ichijikuseiyaku

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ichijiku Pharmaceutical