[2023.10.18] "Towa Quality" Special Discussion: Yuzuru Hanyu × Itsuro Yoshida

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

"Towa Quality" Special Discussion

Yuzuru Hanyu (Professional figure skater) × Itsuro Yoshida (President and CEO of Towa Pharmaceuticals)

 

In the summer of 2023, professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu visited the Towa Pharmaceutical Yamagata Factory. Not only did he learn about the ease of taking the medication, but he also explored the factory's strict 'Towa Quality'—including the quality control and safety of the manufacturing process. Hanyu-san and Towa Pharmaceutical’s CEO, Itsuro Yoshida, who guided the tour, had a conversation. Despite being from different fields, they resonated with each other’s values. Please enjoy this special dialogue.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

2023.10.18

 

Source: https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview01/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250113104537/https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview01/

Info: https://x.com/towa_yakuhin/status/1714492132298576022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWd4M8tW1pI

 

 

 

#01 Work on the basics

 

The first theme was "basics." What did Hanyu-san, who had just finished the factory tour, feel about the 'basics' of making medicine?

 

Spoiler

Hanyu:
"Thank you for having me."

Yoshida:
"Thank you for being here."

Hanyu:
"(Regarding the factory tour) First of all, thank you very much for showing me around."

Yoshida:
"You're very welcome. The 'basics' of medicine, as we at Towa Pharmaceutical see it, are creating medications that patients can trust and feel safe taking. The foundation of that is 'manufacturing management' and 'quality control.' Ensuring these are done properly is fundamental. Speaking of the basics, in figure skating, where do you find the 'basics' in your performance, Hanyu-san?"

Hanyu:
"When watching skating, the most fundamental aspect is whether or not you’re skating properly. You can’t just be standing still. That said, stopping is also a very difficult technique. What’s important to me is how beautifully I can skate, how smoothly and gracefully I can glide. That’s the basic I value the most."

Yoshida:
"I see."

Hanyu:
"While touring the factory and speaking with the president, I started wondering how medicines were made in the past. Nowadays, automation in the factory is advancing, and there are processes done by machines, not humans, to maintain quality. It’s amazing to see such cutting-edge practices.

It seems that automation is also progressing to ensure the safety of the people working here. I can only imagine how much harder it must have been in the past. It really makes me appreciate that there are ways of making medicine now that are only possible in this era."

Yoshida:
"It has been 27 years since I became president, and when I compare then and now, the manufacturing site is completely different. 27 years ago, this Yamagata factory didn’t exist. We had a factory in a different location, and back then, a lot of the manufacturing was done using 'manpower tactics.'

Earlier, you saw the manufacturing site for ampoule preparations. Back then, all inspections for the ampoules were done by human eyes. Even when moving the inspected items to the next stage, it was done by hand. Manufacturing management and quality control were also handled by people, but over time, we gradually automated and mechanized the process. With the introduction of robots, the system evolved to ensure that errors wouldn’t occur.

Even so, there are still places in the manufacturing process where human intervention is needed. As you mentioned, the work environment has evolved with a focus on the safety of the workers, and facilities and protective measures for safety have been continually improved. Along with the evolution of manufacturing, the working environment for people has evolved, leading to the present day. Pharmaceuticals are such that even healthy people can suffer from side effects if they come in contact with them."

Hanyu:
"For example, high-potency drugs, like those used for cancer treatment (high pharmacological activity drugs)."

Yoshida:
"Exactly. The production of such medicines has increased in recent years, so we’ve changed the facilities to ensure a safe working environment."

Hanyu:
"When making medicine, of course, the goal is to ensure that those who take the medicine can do so with peace of mind. However, it's equally important to create an environment where the people working at this factory can also work safely and with confidence. Before I visited this factory, I had never really thought about that aspect.

Certainly, I understand that some people might feel a bit uneasy about robots being involved in the production of medicine. But, it’s precisely because of the use of robots and machines that there’s a positive cycle, where the people working at this factory can also feel secure, and safety is ensured."

Yoshida:
"As you mentioned, I understand that some people might feel uneasy about the machines being involved in the production process. As you saw in the factory, the manufacturing of medicine involves various steps such as weighing, granulation, and tablet pressing. At each of these stages, specific quality standards for the product are defined.

To ensure that there are no issues with data fabrication or mistakes, data analysis is done by machines. The analysis results are then combined with human judgment to determine whether the product is safe and meets the standards before moving to the next step. In other words, the use of machines and robots helps ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, while humans conduct a final check to make the ultimate decision on quality control."

Hanyu:
"So, while the basic manufacturing methods haven't changed since the past, the work that requires data analysis is managed by robots, and humans manage the data itself, correct?"

Yoshida:
"In the unlikely event that a machine breaks down, it’s corrected by hand, and when we restart, we also confirm the data to ensure there are no issues—again, that’s done by humans. So, the nature of human work has changed, and I believe it will continue to evolve further."

Hanyu:
"That might be true. It’s the ‘peace of mind’ that comes from human checks, which ensures that everything is safe and secure."

Yoshida:
"That's right. Specifically, how manufacturing methods and quality control should be conducted, and how quality and safety should be ensured, are properly defined by GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), which are the standards set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. We strictly follow those regulations.

In addition to adhering to the basics of GMP, we are shifting more and more towards working with machinery, robots, and eventually AI, to thoroughly focus on the quality and safety of every product we manufacture."

 

[yuzurujenn]

2023.11.01

 

Source: https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview02/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250113105827/https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview02/

Info: https://x.com/towa_yakuhin/status/1719534740636852461

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weH98imHZig

 

 

 

#02 Aiming for new heights and taking on new challenges

 

Hanyu continues to take on various challenges as a professional figure skater. In this second installment, he will exchange opinions with President Yoshida about the themes of "basics" and "challenges" from the previous interview.

 

Spoiler

Hanyu:
"Earlier, I think you spoke about the fundamentals of medicine manufacturing. From that foundation, I would like to hear about the future prospects unique to Towa Pharmaceutical."

Yoshida:
"In the commercials featuring you, we use the phrase 'Towa Quality.' The core of this concept is our dedication to medicine. We base our manufacturing on laws and rules like the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law (which ensures the quality, effectiveness, and safety of medicines and medical devices) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). As long as we follow these, we can bring products to market. However, at our company, we want to go further. We are committed to making medicines that doctors can confidently prescribe, pharmacists can safely dispense, and patients can easily take.

A simple example is how no one likes bitter medicines, especially children. They take them because they work, but are bitter. Generic medicines come after new drugs, so we are thinking about how to make these bitter medicines just as effective but less bitter.

Additionally, we consider how to make medicines even easier to take. For instance, large pills are hard to swallow. So we think, ‘If we make them smaller, wouldn’t that make them easier to swallow?’ We are also focusing on developing OD (Orally Disintegrating) tablets for elderly patients who may have difficulty swallowing. These tablets dissolve in the mouth and deliver the active ingredients to the stomach. We have already released OD tablets as a product, but there are still improvements we aim for. Many medicines are bitter, so we want to keep striving to perfect them."

Hanyu:
"That's right."

Yoshida:
"To mask the bitterness, as you saw in the coating process earlier, there are two methods. One is coating the entire tablet with a sugar coating or similar, and the other is coating the active pharmaceutical ingredient itself, which is responsible for the bitterness.

Medications need to dissolve in the stomach and be absorbed, but if we make the coating too thick to mask the bitterness, it may not dissolve completely in the stomach and could fail to be absorbed. Finding the right balance is very challenging. The level of bitterness can vary depending on the active ingredient, and there are also differences in how easily the ingredient dissolves. At Towa Pharmaceutical, we are conducting research to establish the appropriate manufacturing methods for each medicine, taking these factors into account."

Yoshida:
"Actually, medications that are already available in the market are usually sufficient. However, we strive to pursue what makes medicines easier for patients to take. We aim to create products using the latest technology, manufacturing machines, and equipment available at the time. Even so, there are still things that aren't perfect, and we can't say that we've achieved completeness yet.

So, how do we create something perfect? At Towa Pharmaceutical, we have a dedicated department that specializes in researching the 'fundamental technologies' for drug formulation. We're currently researching new technologies that make what was once impossible possible, and once new technology is developed, we challenge ourselves to improve the formulations further. Here, we are always challenging ourselves."

Yoshida:
"The price of medicine (drug costs) is determined by the government, so investing in technologies and equipment for research typically incurs high costs, and companies usually don't invest heavily in these areas. However, at Towa Pharmaceutical, we have a strong commitment. After all, when we say 'Towa quality,' our primary goal is to provide medicines that are easy for patients to take, and we are constantly researching how to make such formulations.

Moreover, to improve those formulations, the crystal form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) has a significant impact. So, we focus on creating the ideal crystal form for the formulation. We also standardize the particle size and take other measures to achieve this. To support this, Towa Pharmaceutical's group company, Daichi Kasei, synthesizes 'active pharmaceutical ingredients for Towa Pharmaceutical's formulations.'"

Yoshida:
"With this kind of commitment, our goal is to provide the best possible formulations to the world, which is why we emphasize 'Towa quality' and aim for 'No.1 comprehensive product strength.' We always have an ideal formulation in mind, and no matter how difficult the path may be, we are determined to face the challenge. Using the best technologies and know-how available at any given time, we strive to move closer to our ideal. If there is still a gap, we ask ourselves: how do we address it? Do we improve the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the formulation technology, or the machinery and equipment? We are committed to tackling every challenge.

Towa Pharmaceutical’s philosophy is that, even when we deliver necessary medicines to the world, we always want to make further improvements and refinements. We are always aiming for the ideal, striving to reach higher and higher goals in everything we do."

Hanyu:
"This ties into what we were talking about earlier, but right now, as I challenge myself with various aspects of figure skating, the most important thing I focus on is 'how can I communicate with everyone in a new way?' — the 'form.' Until now, I’ve been very focused on scores, which are essentially data points, numbers that quantify performance, especially within competitions. The main focus was always whether I could surpass the benchmark of achieving 1st place, constantly intertwining that with my skating.

However, now, I place great importance on how easily my performance can be understood by everyone, and how much of my feelings are conveyed. That means that the basics of figure skating that I have cultivated until now to get scores are not enough. I thought that I had to build a foundation for a new "figure skating that can be conveyed" and a new "figure skating that is more expressive."

Hanyu:
"One thing I found really interesting while listening to the President’s story is the idea of 'challenging the creation of a foundation.' A 'foundation' is something that already exists, right? As a figure skater, I’ve been skating since I was 4 years old, and over the years, I’ve been constantly building that foundation in skating.

In the case of medicine, in order to create a new formulation, we want to take on this challenge, but to do that, we must first address the previous stages. There are earlier steps that need to be taken, and even earlier ones before those... It’s a process of digging deeper and constantly renewing the 'foundation' and 'basics,' which I find both paradoxical and fascinating."

Hanyu:
"The 'foundation' already exists, so I had the image that applications would simply build on top of it. However, the idea of digging deeper and even renewing the foundation itself in order to apply it is a very interesting approach."

Yoshida:
"Well, from a technical perspective, there’s the idea of using existing technology as a base and adding layers on top of it, but as you mentioned, Hanyu-san, there is also the concept of strengthening and expanding that foundation itself, and there’s plenty of room to do that.

The reason we do this is, in the case of medicine, the current foundation alone doesn't allow us to create medicines that children can take without experiencing discomfort. For example, the masking of bitterness, as I explained earlier, isn't fully achievable with the existing foundation. Furthermore, bitterness is perceived differently by each person."

Hanyu:
"That's right, everyone's perception of bitterness is different."

Yoshida:
"Even in figure skating, even if you get a high score, that score from the judges may differ if another judge were to evaluate it."

Hanyu:
"Exactly."

Yoshida:
"When it comes to bitterness, when it's turned into data, we refer to a certain value as the 'threshold'. If it's below that value, we may think it's not a problem, but for some people, it can still feel bitter."

Hanyu:
"It's the same as with food. People have different likes and dislikes—some might say they really like this taste, while others might find it unpleasant even if there's just a hint of it."

Yoshida:
"Exactly. So we dig deeper into those things that vary from person to person and are difficult to quantify. Right now, in our company's 'Taste Research Department', we're focusing on taste studies as part of the foundation for our medicine-making. We're looking at what numerical value bitterness has, how much the threshold for people's taste perception can vary, and so on. While researching what degree of 'bitterness' feels acceptable to as many people as possible, we're committed to the idea of pursuing that level of precision technically."

"Since it differs from person to person, it's quite challenging. There's no one 'correct' answer. That's why we aim to create something that as many people as possible can agree is acceptable."

 

[yuzurujenn]

2023.11.15

 

Source: https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview03/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250113111051/https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview03/

Info: https://x.com/towa_yakuhin/status/1724609449757937674

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hbeGNfKQ3M

 

 

 

#03 What we value and what we have in common

 

As a figure skater. As the president of a pharmaceutical company. What do they share in common, even though what they deliver to spectators and patients is different? The conversation between Hanyu and President Yoshida gets more and more exciting.

 

Spoiler

Hanyu:

I also really value the idea of being particular about figure skating. In a sense, figure skating is just gliding on the ice, jumping, spinning... There are many elements to it, but it's about doing each element one by one.

But in my case, right now, I'm thinking about how there are movements in figure skating that haven't been done before, or how figure skating can incorporate movements that are unexpected. It's not just about being able to do these movements, but I want to skate in a way that, when people from other fields, or even those who don't know figure skating, watch, they think, 'Oh, this is interesting,' or 'This is really good.' That's my commitment.

In terms of being particular, how do you plan to approach the challenges in creating a new foundation, like what you mentioned earlier, and in your commitment as a pharmaceutical company?

Yoshida:

As a company, sales and profit are incredibly important, but... we want to focus on "what is the purpose of this company?" In today's business thinking, it’s all about sales and profit. It's often about making profits no matter what. But my thinking is a bit different.

As a pharmaceutical manufacturer, we want to create medicine that patients can take and say, "I was able to take this medicine I used to struggle with" or "I couldn’t take it before because it was too difficult, but with this, I think I can keep taking it." Medicine is meant to treat illness, so it doesn't have to be bitter, and we want to create medicine that the person taking it doesn't have to dislike. We want patients to say, "I was able to take this because of this medicine from Towa Pharmaceutical." As a company, that's the kind of medicine we want to make.

Yoshida:

As a result, being evaluated positively and leading to sales and profits is the ideal outcome. If we only focus on what to do for sales and profit from the very beginning, we will end up with the wrong answers. Legally and therapeutically, if we make and sell medicine within the allowed and approved range, while keeping costs extremely low, sales and profits will indeed come, but then, what is the profit for?

Recently, there have been examples in the pharmaceutical industry where prioritizing efficiency led to neglecting quality control, and this resulted in mistakes. When the purpose of a company becomes completely misaligned, that’s when things go wrong. We don't want to do that in the Towa Pharmaceutical Group.

Yoshida:

Why do we insist on this? It’s because by providing medicine, we want patients to regain their health. To help them become healthier, we need to make the medicine as easy to take as possible. If taking medicine can make someone healthy, they will be motivated to take it properly, thus encouraging proactive behavior in their treatment.

This is called "medication adherence," but for that, the medicine must be easy to take. If the medicine is bitter, no matter how much the patient understands its benefits, they’ll likely feel reluctant to take it. That won’t lead to adherence, so for the sake of the patient, and to help them get healthy, we must strive to make medicine that is easy to take. We want to provide easy-to-take medicine. With this in mind, we aim to continue facing the challenge of creating better medicine.

Hanyu:

Medicines are not only given to people who are in good health, but also to those who take them because they are necessary. However, some people are accustomed to taking medicine, while others are not. This includes not only young children but also elderly individuals whose ability to swallow may have weakened.

Hanyu:

Figure skating is really, really difficult. People who are used to watching figure skating know about the techniques and can somehow recognize that a certain move is difficult. But to be honest, there aren’t many people who haven't been watching figure skating for long who can look at a performance and instantly say, 'That's good.' I think this is similar to the 'ease of taking medicine.' For us, it might be about how easy it is to understand or how easy it is to watch, but I want to aim for something that the general public can see and think, 'I don’t really understand figure skating, but somehow this performance is interesting,' or 'This skating is good, I felt something.' I felt that in a sense, I had something in common with Towa Pharmaceutical.

 

 

What is RACTAB technology , which represents Towa quality?

OD tablets, which can be taken without water , are the epitome of Towa Pharmaceutical's commitment to making medicines easier to take. This time, we asked Hanyu to conduct an experiment to see how easily OD tablets dissolve .

 

 

Yoshida:
There are some medications that are extremely bitter or have astringent, almost numbing bitterness, especially in OD tablets. These are hard to mask the bitterness. However, using Toa Pharmaceutical's unique RACTAB technology, we focus on making the tablet dissolve easily in the mouth, while cleverly masking the unwanted bitterness that you don't want to taste.

One of the representative examples of the attention we put into our products is these OD tablets. At first glance, OD tablets and regular tablets might look the same, but the key difference is that OD tablets dissolve in the mouth. Hanyu, would you like to try an experiment to compare how they dissolve?

Hanyu:
The white one here is the regular tablet. The yellow one here is the OD tablet made with RACTAB technology.
(Placing the tablets in separate containers with water, gently shaking them)
Oh, the OD tablet has already dissolved. Hmm, that's interesting. It dissolves quite a bit. But the regular tablet is still solid. So, this is what happens in your mouth—it dissolves on its own.

Yoshida:
And ideally, if you don't feel the bitterness in your mouth, that's the best outcome.

Hanyu:
That's right.

Yoshida:
For some medications, we still haven't completely masked the bitterness, and there's still a lot of room for research and improvement.

 

[yuzurujenn]

2023.11.29

 

Source: https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview04/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250113112409/https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview04/

Info: https://x.com/towa_yakuhin/status/1729681598579179667

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrbnzaaO-ag

 

 

 

#04 What I'm thinking, What I want to convey

 

The theme of the fourth episode is about how to "communicate" the feelings and thoughts you want to convey. You can see Hanyu's particular thoughts and feelings about delivering and communicating.

 

Spoiler

Yoshida:
When I watch Hanyu-san skate, I truly think it's incredible. From his technical skills to his efforts in refining various aspects, it's a crystallization of the thoughts and efforts he's dedicated his life to. When you realize that he's showcasing the culmination of everything he's worked for up until now, it’s truly moving for the audience.

Even if you just see something with impressive technical skill, it doesn’t have the same impact. If it were just about technique, we could build a high-performance robot that could easily do a 10-revolution jump. But that wouldn’t move people. What moves us is knowing that a human being has dedicated their entire life to their efforts, and that the results of those efforts are what we’re witnessing now. When someone is at a higher level compared to others, it's remarkable. It’s the emotion and the life behind it that really shines through. Hanyu-san, in particular, conveys a great deal of his humanity.

Hanyu:
Thank you.

Yoshida:
And I think Hanyu-san has a unique ability to convey these feelings, even to people who aren't familiar with figure skating. The emotions come across clearly, no matter who is watching.

Hanyu:
The concept of "Towa quality" also seems to be strongly aligned with being considerate of humans, in a sense. As you mentioned earlier, when we look at data such as bitterness or sourness, there are certain thresholds beyond which people may find it difficult to drink the medicine. However, these are judgments made by machines based on numerical values.

If we consider human feelings, we realize that there are actually many people who find it difficult to drink certain medicines. For example, even if the bitterness or sourness hasn't reached the threshold, the balance of these flavors could still make it very unpleasant for some people. This is something we’ve never really thought about before, but moving forward, we might find ourselves thinking about these aspects and considering them when we look at medicines.

Yoshida:
It's not just about the taste of the medicine, but also its size. For example, people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis may find their fingers and hands bent, making it difficult to grasp objects. In such cases, small, flat tablets can be hard to hold.

So, we consider what kind of tablet shape would be better for these individuals. For rheumatoid arthritis medications, would this shape be better? Or would another shape work better? We’re working on this research while gathering feedback from doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Hanyu:

That's interesting. So, if we think from an ergonomic perspective, the reason we want to provide this kind of assistance is because in certain situations, people may not be able to use the function of grasping. However, while grasping may be necessary for certain functions, it may not be needed when it comes to taking medicine. I think this is a very interesting topic.

Yoshida:
We are always researching how to create formulations that are easier for patients to take. There is plenty of room for research on ease of ingestion. Since there are so many people, if we get carried away and think that a medicine is "really great" when it's praised, there may be others who think, "Well, actually, that's not quite right..." So, we need to listen to various opinions and carefully determine the best approach.

Hanyu:
I see. For medicines that contain active ingredients for patients with difficult-to-treat diseases, there may be an ideal shape or taste from an ergonomic perspective. But that could also be applied to medicines for allergies or everyday medications, and gradually become more useful in those cases as well.

Yoshida:
Yes, that's right. This is also one of our research challenges, but the number of dementia patients will likely increase in the future. In such cases, even if the medication is easy to take, patients might forget to take it.

Even if there's a great medication, if they forget to take it, there's nothing we can do. At Towa Pharmaceutical, we think about ways to address such issues.

For example, if we made it a patch, it would be easier to know if the medication has been taken, or that the patient is currently undergoing treatment. However, with patches, we need to ensure the active ingredients can penetrate the skin. Our skin is designed to prevent things from entering, so the medication often has a hard time getting through. We will need to research the technological aspects that can make this possible, but it's an approach worth considering. A medication like this might be more suitable for dementia patients.

Hanyu:
However, that might end up causing a burden on the body, so we need to think about the balance and make sure it's right.

Yoshida:
That's right. There are still many areas to research, such as the issue of skin irritation. That's why we always have to be researching the best form of medication for different people. This way of thinking isn't something that many other companies, even new drug manufacturers, are pursuing with much enthusiasm. New drug manufacturers focus on quickly bringing new drugs with new effects to the market, which is extremely necessary in itself.

However, the generic medicines we provide aren't just about making the same drug and selling it cheaply. Generics often get perceived this way, but that's not our approach. We want to make the best possible medicine by considering the people who will take it—this is what Towa Pharmaceutical's "Towa Quality" is all about.

Hanyu:
Creating something better.

Yoshida:
Exactly, creating something better. When doing so, we use the best technology and equipment available to create the best formulation. When a drug is improved and modified this way, we have to reapply for approval as a pharmaceutical product, which can be as costly as developing a completely new drug.

Hanyu:
I see.

Yoshida:
Even so, if that product is truly needed in society, we’re willing to go that far. I don’t think many companies think this way, but Towa Pharmaceutical considers this a core part of our "monozukuri" (the art of manufacturing).

Hanyu:
Indeed, even in figure skating, when performing the same technique, you might try to convey a different texture or feeling. And each person's values are absolute in their own way, but that doesn't mean they exist on the same standard. For example, if you order a jump that matches this person's values, you get this kind of jump, but if you order a jump that matches the next person's values, you get a completely different kind of jump...and so on.

But it's true that the same technique, or the same active ingredient, can be turned into something different. Making it something that can be delivered in a way that's more accessible to everyone, more understandable, more communicative—that's something I think a lot about as well. When you already have a certain established shape or form from the same starting point, improving upon it is really difficult. But in some ways, that might be the most essential task.

Yoshida:
I think what you're thinking about is exactly that—communicating your thoughts and emotions, using your skating technique to express those feelings. Whether or not that emotion can be conveyed is probably what you're aiming for. In that sense, the performance you produced, "GIFT," was a perfect example of how your emotions were communicated.

Hanyu:
Thank you. That brings back memories (laughs).

Yoshida:
I'm sure you have some theme or thoughts, and your aspirations for the future, so I think it would be great if these could be conveyed.

Hanyu:

Figure skating is a form of physical expression, so it's not as easily interpreted as words are. It's the same with ballet—honestly, there are a lot of times when people don't understand what's going on.

As I work on creating various programs and expressing myself, I often think about things like, "What is this music trying to convey?" or "What does this choreography mean?" And I realize that it's not always clear to everyone, and sometimes, I don't even fully understand it myself. As I reflect on each of those things, I think very carefully about what I can do to make it easier to understand and how to make it more expressive of my own feelings.

Hanyu: Also, by using visuals, I hope it will make it easier for everyone to imagine and understand, and to serve as a guideline for the themes I want to convey. In a sense, it's like the coating for medicine. If it's in this form, you can take it, or if it tastes good, you'll take it. But for those who would spit it out if it doesn't taste good, I think the visuals act like a coating.

Yoshida:

There is also the question of how much of those "feelings" can be expressed through performance, but for example, what about writing your thoughts in a book, Hanyu-san?

Hanyu:

Hahahaha (laughs).

Yoshida:

No, no, just an example (laughs). It doesn't quite fit to say "book," but for us, in order for people to understand that we create our medicines with this kind of thought, we need to create brochures or materials that convey the brand of Towa Pharmaceutical, and how we develop medicines with these kinds of intentions. Without that, people won’t understand.

So, instead of a book, we’ll use brochures to communicate our thoughts. Hanyu-san, if you also consider using a different medium and release it alongside your performance, you might be able to express what you've been thinking.

Hanyu:
As I’ve been listening to President Yoshida’s talk, I’ve honestly learned for the first time how much thought and ingenuity go into the making of medicine, and it’s really interesting. Also, the manufacturing process behind it, which is still quite primitive and hasn’t changed much over time, is quite fascinating. The new innovations that are added to that process to create today’s formulations is really interesting. I don’t think the general public like us really understands that part.

Hanyu:
We don’t really think about medicine, do we? For example, with cooking, you might think, "This tastes like this, it has these ingredients, and it's made this way to make it delicious," and then you eat it! But with medicine, there’s no such explanation.

Yoshida:
That's right.

Hanyu:
There’s no mention like, "This has this active ingredient, and it’s designed this way." Just getting a glimpse of that process, I realized that while we simply take medicine without much thought, there’s so much thought and care put into it.

Yoshida:
With medicine, there are rules in place, so we can’t really promote those aspects openly. We do provide information about the active ingredients and the innovations behind it to healthcare professionals. However, we can’t say things like, "We do this and others don’t" or "We are doing this." We can’t write that.

Hanyu:
That's true. Especially for patients who need medicine for life-threatening illnesses, even if you explain the thoughts and efforts behind creating the medicine, it’s hard for them to really understand or appreciate it.

 

[yuzurujenn]

2023.12.13

 

Source: https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview05/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250113120517/https://www.towayakuhin.co.jp/special/2023/interview05/

Info: https://x.com/towa_yakuhin/status/1734757808082768273

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCMsJZsdc-k

 

 

 

#05 Future dreams and visions

 

The conversation gets lively and the topic turns to dreams and visions for the future. What is Hanyu's vision for the future as he continues to expand the scope of his activities? What does the future hold for Towa Pharmaceutical?

 

Spoiler

Hanyu:

I want to take the figure skating I'm doing right now and transform it into something that goes beyond just the framework of figure skating—into an expression or art in a new form called "Yuzuru Hanyu."

With the advancements in video technology, and the shift from media like paper and tapes, which degrade quickly, to the internet, as well as improvements in disc media, it's becoming much easier to preserve clear images. In the future, perhaps not only in color but also in 3D, there may be devices that allow people to experience the atmosphere and feel it more vividly.

Thinking about these things, I hope that the performances, expressions, and various other things that I want to create from now on will remain for future generations, and ultimately, when people in the future see the performance of the person known as "Yuzuru Hanyu," I want them to think, "Wow, there was a really interesting person." Someday, even if it's 50 years from now or 100 years from now, I would be happy if people could think that way. Lately, I've been feeling this strongly.

Towa Pharmaceutical, what kind of plans or philosophies do you have for the future?

 

Yoshida:

In 2021, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of our founding, and as we look to the future of Towa Pharmaceutical, we are working to clarify the vision of what Towa Pharmaceutical should be. The ultimate goal, which aligns with our company’s philosophy, is for the "smiles from the heart" of people. Our definition of the "smiles from the heart" is a genuine smile that comes from the depths of the heart, and to achieve this, we aim to expand our business as Towa Pharmaceutical.

Until now, we have contributed by helping people regain their health through medicine when they became ill. Moving forward, however, we are considering how we can help those who may appear healthy but are on the verge of illness—what we call the "pre-disease" or "sub-health" state. We want to offer something to prevent further deterioration.

For example, the concept of preventive medicine involves clearly defining the health status of people in the "pre-disease" state with data, and using this data to prevent further worsening. This is closely related to the future of healthcare, and there are general practitioners who play the role of managing individual health. Towa Pharmaceutical would like to become involved in such areas as well.

 

Yoshida:

And one more thing. We want to offer ways for healthy people to maintain their health. This is about "extending healthy life expectancy"—helping healthy individuals maintain their health and live longer. We want to continue making medicines as we have discussed, and focus on developing products in this area.

At the same time, we want to expand into other areas as well. Ultimately, everything we do is for the purpose of realizing people’s "smiles from the heart." We need to think about what Towa Pharmaceutical should do. This is the direction we want to pursue with our business development.

 

Hanyu:

I also want to do my best to contribute to the "smiles from the heart" of many people.

 

Yoshida:

I hope we can both continue working hard with the same kind of feelings moving forward.