ITOH KANPO

What ITOH KANPO does

ITOH KANPO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (井藤漢方製薬株式会社) is a privately held Japanese consumer health company founded in 1970 and headquartered in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka. The company manufactures and distributes Kampo (traditional Chinese medicine) formulations, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, health supplements, functional foods, and cosmetics/hygiene products through eight product categories, including flagship lines such as the Maca MAX series, Tabetemo diet supplements, Shijimi Oyster Ukon (a No.1 drugstore-category brand), Clear Sist deodorants, and Obako Diet fiber products. Production spans tablets, capsules, powders, drinks, topical formats, and second-class OTC Kampo medicines such as Kakkon-to, Goshajokigan, and Tsurilack, with regulatory compliance under Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act and Foods with Function Claims system, supported by a patented Clear Sist deodorizing formula.

The company operates a product-led, direct-to-consumer go-to-market model with multi-channel distribution. Products are sold via the company's own e-commerce website, the three dominant Japanese marketplaces (Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping), and physical drugstores/pharmacies nationwide, supplemented by localized storefronts in 11 international markets (Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Indonesia, Singapore, US, UK, Germany, Switzerland). Customer engagement is reinforced through the ZUTTO Journal content magazine, an active YouTube channel, and brand presence across seven social platforms including Weibo and Xiaohongshu for the Chinese market.

Revenue derives from unit-priced one-time purchases of consumer health products across price tiers (entry-level items like Dento Fresh denture cleaners to premium Maca MAX 55,000), plus an OEM/ODM B2B services arm that monetizes formulation and contract manufacturing capabilities to corporate clients via a dedicated portal. Customer segments are horizontal: health-conscious consumers, traditional medicine seekers, women and families, and age-specific needs cohorts. Self-reported satisfaction metrics range from 81% to 96% across flagship SKUs, and the company holds SBT-certified sustainability credentials.

Name

ITOH KANPO

Legal name

井藤果物製薬株式会社

Website

https://itohkampo.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ITOH KANPO Pharmaceutical is a Japanese manufacturer founded in 1970 that sells Kampo medicines, OTC pharmaceuticals, health supplements, functional foods, and hygiene products directly to consumers across Japan and 11 international markets via its own website, major marketplaces, and drugstores.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Kampo Traditional Medicine & Health Supplements

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold, Flu, Cough & Allergy Remedies (Decongestants, Antihistamines, Cough Syrups, Lozenges) (CRADAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

OTC & Consumer Health Distributors (HLAIAJAC)

Keywords

• Kampo medicine
• Health supplements
• Functional foods
• OTC pharmaceuticals
• Herbal medicine manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Health Supplements: ITOH KANPO generates primary revenue from health supplements including Maca drinks, dietary products, beauty supplements, and nutritional products sold through retail and e-commerce channels.
2. Kampo Medicines: The company manufactures and sells over-the-counter Kampo (traditional Chinese medicine) products including Kakkon-to extract granules, Tsurilack for muscle cramps, Senna tablets for constipation, and Gosha-shinkisan tablets for urinary issues.
3. Functional Foods: Revenue from functional food products with approved health claims under Japan's Functional Food System, including Meta Pro Aojiru, DHA1000S, and various probiotic products.
4. Cosmetics and Hygiene Products: Sales of personal care products including Clear Sist foot odor powder, horse oil skincare products, and dental care products (Dento Fresh denture cleaners).
5. OEM/ODM Services: The company offers OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) and ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) services for corporate clients seeking custom health product formulations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ITOH KANPO manufactures and sells Kampo traditional medicines, OTC pharmaceuticals, health supplements, functional foods, cosmetics, and hygiene products (including the Tabetemo diet series, Maca MAX energy drinks, Shijimi Oyster Ukon supplements, Clear Cist deodorizers, and Dent Wash denture cleaners). The company distributes through its own e-commerce sites, Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, and drugstores/pharmacies across Japan, with localized international websites for 11 markets. It also offers OEM/ODM contract manufacturing services for corporate clients via a dedicated portal.

Product overview

ITOH KANPO (井藤中国語製薬) is a Japanese pharmaceutical and health supplement company with over 50 years of history. The company operates a broad multi-brand portfolio organized into product categories: 减肥＆ビューティ (Diet & Beauty) including Obako Diet, Tabetemo Diet series, and Short-Term Style Diet Shake; 健康 (Health) encompassing maca-based energy drinks (Maca MAX series from 4,400 to 55,000 maca concentration), probiotic supplements (lactic acid bacteria, oligosaccharide products), DHA/eye health supplements, joint care (glucosamine, chondroitin), and metabolic support (MetaPro series); pharmaceuticals (医薬品) including Kampo medicines like Kakkon-to, Goshajokigan, and Senna tablets; 化妆品・衛生用品 (Cosmetics & Hygiene) featuring foot care products (Clear Cist series), denture cleaners (Dent Wash series), and pure horse oil; 健康茶 (Health Tea) including black oolong tea, black bean tea, and diet teas; and 功能性表示食品 (Functional Food) with products like DHA1000S, MetaPro Aojiru, and NAFCIDOWN targeting specific health functions. The company sells primarily through pharmacies, drug stores, and e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Rakuten, Yahoo). The Maca MAX and Shijimi Oyster Ukon series are flagship brands driving significant revenue, with the company emphasizing traditional Japanese Kampo medicine expertise combined with modern supplement science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• マカMAX (MACA MAX): Maca-based energy drink series including Maca4400, Maca6600, Maca11000, Maca22000, Maca33000, and Maca55000 products
• 食べてもシリーズ (Tabetemo Series)
• オオバコダイエット (Obako Diet)
• 短期スタイル (Tansk Style)
• しじみの入った牡蠣ウコン (Shijimi no Haitta Kaki Ukon)
• クリアシスト (Kurea Shisuto)

Quantifiable outcome

• Tabetemo series shipped 3,000,000+ bags since 2014
• +6 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FC大阪 (FC Osaka)minorOthersITOH KANPO sponsors FC Osaka football club as part of their corporate social responsibility and brand visibility initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rohto Pharmaceutical: Diversified Japanese OTC and consumer healthcare company spanning eye care, skin care, and supplements with broad drugstore distribution — a comparable broad-portfolio incumbent.
• Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare: OTC division of Daiichi Sankyo, producing a wide range of consumer pharmaceuticals and Kampo/Chinese-medicine products in Japan — overlaps in OTC and Kampo categories.
• Lion Corporation: Japanese household and personal-care conglomerate with OTC and hygiene lines (denture cleaners, oral care) sold in drugstores — comparable in distribution channels and personal-care/hygiene SKUs like Dent Wash and Clear Sist.
• Taisho Pharmaceutical: Major Japanese OTC pharmaceutical company with flagship health brands (Lipovitan, etc.) and broad international presence via Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings — competes across OTC and supplement categories.

Direct peers

• FANCL Corporation: Pure-play Japanese supplements and functional-foods company with strong direct-to-consumer and drugstore presence; highly comparable business model and customer base to ITOH KANPO.
• Kobayashi Pharmaceutical: Japan's leading OTC and household healthcare brand company, with deep drugstore distribution and broad portfolio of supplements, OTC medicines, and hygiene products — directly comparable to ITOH KANPO's core channels and product mix.
• DHC Corporation: Direct-to-consumer Japanese supplements, vitamins, and health foods brand with strong mail-order/online presence — overlaps directly with ITOH KANPO's OTC supplements and e-commerce GTM.
• Taiko Pharmaceutical: Specializes in OTC gastrointestinal and Kampo-style medicines sold through drugstores and pharmacies in Japan — a close comp on product category and retail channel even if smaller in scope.

Emerging players

• Asahi Group Foods: Food and supplement arm of Asahi Group Holdings producing functional beverages and health foods in Japan — overlapping functional-food positioning and beverage-format products like Maca MAX.

Others

• Morinaga Milk Industry: Strategic ingredient partner to ITOH KANPO (supplies the Shield Lactobacillus strain) and a Japanese dairy/health-food major; comparable as a probiotic/functional-dairy peer and as an enabling supplier.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/itohkampo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChFeDAFawRIIdVAA8L9TJtQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/itohkampo.official
• Instagraminstagram.com/itohkampo.official
• TikToktiktok.com/@itohkampo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/itoh-kanpo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ITOH KANPO