History of Modern Pharmaceutical Packaging in Japan--Introduction--

Abstract

The Meiji Restoration was highly significant, and brought a big change for medical and pharmaceutical products. During the Edo period, for a long time, drug production and sales were neglected under the institution of the law. However, the new Meiji government intensified a crackdown on drug production and sales to ensure drug safety and dignity. Furthermore, the government investigated the actual sales conditions of drugs with the aim of a tax on drug sales. Medicine as well as drugs rapidly switched from Chinese medicine into Western medicine. In the Edo period, although drug packaging was wrapped in paper and indicated the brand name, dosage and manufacturer, in the new era, drug packaging had various purposes ; namely, for protection of the contents, convenience of use and to create product individuality.