Amato wrote the history
of hemorrhoid medicines
Since our founding 200 years ago in Kyoto
as a traditional drug seller,
and through the establishment of
Amato Pharmaceutical Products
and the formulation of BORRAGINOL®
a century later,
we have put the life and health of customers
and patients above all else and dedicated ourselves
to product quality and information quality.
The history of Amato is one of changing
with the times while remaining close
to our customers and patients.
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What was Japan like back then?
200 years after the Edo Shogunate was established, Japan was ruled by Tokugawa Ieyoshi, the 12th shogun. His government introduced new economic policies throughout society. It was also around this time that foreign ships began appearing on Japan’s shores. It was indeed the beginning of a whole new era.1813(EDO era)
Founding of Amazuya Tosuke,
Amazuya Tosuke was a seller of miscellaneous goods located at the entrance to Moto Ise Shrine in northern Kyoto. The store’s founder determined that there was a demand for medicines after talking to shrine visitors about their desire to stay healthy. He thus opened Amato, a drugstore selling traditional Japanese and Chinese remedies.
seller of Japanese and Chinese medicines and sundries． -
Kinzo Ohtsuki (second row, left),
in the laboratory of Kyoto University Hospital1921(Taisho era)
Japan’s first ever hemorrhoid pharmaceutical
Kinzo Ohtsuki (the eighth proprietor of Amazuya Tosuke) heard concerns from many doctors about the absence of hemorrhoid medicine. Focusing his research on the essence of Lithospermum root, at the medical school's laboratory he successfully created Japan’s first ever Pharmaceutical for Hemorrhoids, the initial incarnation of today's BORRAGINOL®.
developed at Kyoto University HospitalOctober 11: Foundation Day marks the day we first shipped BORRAGINOL®
Five cases, each containing 1,000 BORRAGINOL suppositories, and five drums, each holding 10 pounds of ointment, were shipped to Chobei Takeda & Co. (now Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited) in Osaka.
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What was Japan like back then?
The previous year, 1932, saw the infamous May 15 Incident, when Japan's prime minister was assassinated in an attempted coup.
Japan was soon on the road to war.
Following Japan's surrender in World War II, the country embarked on a steady road to recovery.
Television broadcasts debuted in Japan in 1953.1933(SHOWA era)
BORRAGINOL® ointment,
When it became difficult to procure the raw materials that had been used as the base ingredients to make products, the company had to think outside the box. What was conceived was a fluid material, a cream. This was BORRAGINOL. It marked the birth of a product one could call the first incarnation of today’s infusion-type ointments.
a medicine ahead of its time
We also developed a range of new packaging, going beyond paper boxes to make canned products and prefilled disposable applicators.1955(SHOWA era)
Development begins on suppositories
To further improve BORRAGINOL®, we focused on base ingredients, the key to making suppositories. In collaboration with Kao Corporation, we developed a base ingredient that melts at body temperature.
anyone could easily use anywhereLogo and colors are familiar and easy to understand.
We introduced the instantly recognizable BORRAGINOL® logo and brand colors.
These were created to not just spell out the product, but also convey an image that would become familiar to everyone.
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1992(HEISEI era)
4 active ingredients selected
Four main ingredients were chosen: prednisolone acetate, lidocaine, allantoin, and vitamin E acetate.
for effectiveness and safety
The product continued to be improved and sold with safety and effectiveness.Building a brand
Price quotes were unified to ensure that prices were the same at all retailers. Separating sales from distribution stabilized sales prices and earned customers’ trust. This helped solidify the BORRAGINOL® brand and its reputation for always offering peace of mind.
by prioritizing customer trustFocus on quality information
When BORRAGINOL® was first sold, hemorrhoids was not generally recognized as a disease. Amato believed that besides just selling BORRAGINOL, it was important to spread recognition of hemorrhoids, promote greater public health awareness, and educate people on correct product usage. That is why we have been dedicated to effectiveness, safety, quality, information ever since our foundation.
to get hemorrhoids recognized as a disease
Along with our slogan "For hemorrhoids, there's BORRAGINOL®" we use TV commercials to let people know there's a medicine specifically for hemorrhoids. -
2018(HEISEI era)
New Sanda Plant
The Sanda Plant is our seventh production facility since our foundation. Designed based on the GMP (good manufacturing practice) global standards system, the plant complies fully with PIC/S and boasts advancements such as automated manufacture.
built on GMP standards
Sanda Plant (Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture)2021(REIWA era)
Becomes a group company of
In 2021, the year of our 100th anniversary, we became a member of the Roth Group.
Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Our commitment to contribute with sincerity and wholehearted devotion to patients and those who desire good health will never change.
Our efforts over the next century
are a continuation of
the beliefs we have built up
in the 200 years
since our foundation and the 100 years since company establishment.
Putting the life and health of customers and patients above all else,
we will go on creating new value for them, and for everyone who desires good health.
