About us

ISE KUSURI HONPO

Ise Kusuri Honpo has its roots in Kato Enjuken, which was founded in 1570.
In the Bunka and Bunsei period (late Edo period), as a pharmaceutical factory of the Kanpaku Nijo family, mainly, we have been manufacturing pills made by rolling medicinal herbs.
Utilizing the wisdom and techniques of traditional medicine to support the health of modern people,we are making new traditional medicine here in Ise

History of ISE KUSURI HONPO

The history of ISE KUSURI HONPO is quite long, founded more than 450 years ago in 1570 during the Muromachi Era at the current plant location. In Tokugawa Era it was appointed as the royal pharmacy by Regent Nijo and was known by the name of Kato Enjuken (Longevity Pharmacy) in both the court and throughout Japan, supplying Japanese and Chinese Medicine and folk medicine of special recipes.

In Edo Era the original recipe of Hyakudoku-Kudashi (now Oharai-gan) is said to be invented. Then, it was improved in early Meiji Era (1868-1912) by Jun Matsumoto, the first Sergeant General of the Japanese Military and became widely known and used throughout Japan as the medicine to clean the blood and the entire body.

“Hyakudoku” stands for a hundred of toxin and “Kudashi” means release. Known as a drug effective to all and every kind of disease, Hyakudoku-Kudashi was widely used by people in old days. For example, Hyakudoku-Kudashi was said to be effective to sexual disease like syphilis and gonorrhea at that time.

In 1920 Kato family was converted from a private company into a joint-stock corporation in order to modernize the management system as well as the manufacturing facility.

Starting as a royal pharmacy house based on herbal medicine products more than 450 years ago, through untiring and continuous efforts of research and development, the company has grown to a very modernized pharmaceutical company producing and supplying wide range of the pharmaceutical products including ethical drugs, while maintaining the product Man-kin-tan and Oharai-gan.

Taking advantage of good combination of the company’s deep knowledge about traditional folk medicines and cutting-edge scientific technology. ISE KUSURI HONPO has been contributing to human’s health through the company’s quality production, stable supply and state- of-the-art research and development of pharmaceutical products.

MAN KIN TAN

Mankintan is one of the most famous medicines and preferentially chosen as a souvenir of the pilgrim in the Edo era (1603 – 1868)

The pilgrimage to Ise spread among the common people during the Edo period, and customs such as “Ise-ko,” from all over the villages and towns of Japan send out representatives once a year. The pilgrims used medicines that were not burdensome and had practical benefits. As a result, the representatives of pilgrimage chose Mankintan as souvenirs for visiting the shrine and brought back to their villages and towns.

Samurai used to hang Mankintan in a pillbox on a waist while it became a representative of the pocket medicine. Mankintan was considered to be a cure-all to have always ready in the journey of the trip in the Edo era. Mankintan has been popular, especially among people who prefer natural remedy.

“Noma Mankintan” was once known as “Reiho Mankintan”, and according to the legend of the Noma family, the ancestor, Sosuke Noma, brought it from his hometown of Noma, Owari Province, during the Oei period (1394-1427) during the Muromachi period. It is said that Mankintan was the one who accompanied Buddhist Zen master and moved to Kongosho-ji Temple.

In the Edo period, Mankintan was considered to be a panacea to keep on hand while traveling. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as nausea, heartburn, heavy stomach, and nausea (stomach upset, hangover, hangover, nausea).

The day may soon come when old-fashioned traditional medicines will attract attention in new forms.