——Interview with Shinnosuke Waki, CEO and CEO of WAKI Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
◆ Jiang Feng, chief writer of "Japanese Overseas Chinese Daily".
Founded in the 25th year of the Meiji era (1882), WAKI Pharmaceutical has been deeply engaged in the field of biopharmaceuticals and has been focusing on the research and sales of earthworms for more than 70 years, and is the first company in the world to successfully extract the digestive enzyme secreted by earthworms (i.e., earthworm plasmin, also known as vermikinase) into nutrients.
However, with the expiration of patents and the entry of imitators, WAKI Pharmaceutical's market advantage was significantly impacted, and it even encountered operational difficulties for a time. The fifth president, Shinnosuke Wakimoto, not only helped WAKI Pharmaceutical get out of its predicament by developing a new technology for dried earthworms, but also expanded its turnover and number of employees to 10 times that of the company when he first joined the company.
A few days ago, Shinnosuke Waki visited the editorial office of the People's Daily Overseas Edition and the editorial office of the Japanese Overseas Chinese Daily, and had an in-depth discussion with the reporter on the business philosophy, development characteristics, product advantages and promotion of WAKI Pharmaceutical's business in China.
The first company in the world to successfully extract vermikinase
"Overseas Chinese Daily": "When it comes to earthworms, they must be called WAKI", which has become a common label for your company in the industry. As a long-established pharmaceutical manufacturer that has been in business for 142 years, what are the advantages or practical effects of your company's earthworm series of drugs and health products?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: We at WAKI Pharmaceutical are a pharmaceutical manufacturer that produces drugs for the treatment of rhinitis, colds, gastrointestinal problems, and vitamins. Among them, the most proud is the vermikinase independently developed by WAKI Pharmaceutical. You can find our products in drugstores all over Japan.
The wisdom of dried, ground and medicated earthworms comes from China. Earthworms, known as "earth dragons" in ancient times, have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and preventing stroke. "Earth dragon" actually refers to the body of an earthworm without internal organs, and WAKI Pharmaceutical has creatively discovered the special effects of earthworm internal organs. The internal organs of earthworms contain many important enzymes that are not known to the public, and the extraction of vermikinase from them and the making of them into medical and health products is the unique advantage of WAKI Pharmaceutical.
I don't know if you have noticed that the dried earthworms are shriveled and crunchy. In fact, under natural conditions, earthworms are converted into a liquid after death, which can be dissolved in water. My grandfather noticed this natural phenomenon and became intrigued, and he guessed that there must be some special substance in the earthworm's body, or rather, some kind of digestive enzyme. After more in-depth research on earthworms, it was found that vermikinase has a certain preventive effect on cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, dementia, etc.
Overseas Chinese Daily: Are the raw materials used in the production process produced in Japan or imported from overseas?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: As a Japanese manufacturer of traditional medicines, WAKI Pharmaceutical's raw materials are all produced in Japan. From earthworm rearing, production and processing, to packaging and delivery, everything is done in Japan.
It is true that some manufacturers buy raw materials from other sources, dry them into powder, and then process and sell them. It is no exaggeration to say that we are the only company in the world that breeds and processes earthworms from the source. This is what we at WAKI Pharma are proud of.
Overseas Chinese Daily: In Japan, there are many popular Kampo medicines. Are the raw materials of those popular Kampo medicines also produced in Japan?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: The vast majority of Kampo medicines are imported from China. Let's put it this way, more than 80% of the raw materials are produced in China.
Overseas Chinese Daily: What will happen if there is a special situation and China suspends the export of raw materials to Japan?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: If China stops exporting Kampo raw materials, not only Japan, but the whole world will be severely affected. At present, Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturers not only need to import raw materials for various types of Chinese patent medicines from China, but also rely on imports for the production of vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes. Once the export circuit breaker is triggered, it will trigger a major chaos in Japan's pharmaceutical industry. In the face of global challenges, China and Japan need to work together.
I hope that Chinese consumers will understand and like WAKI Pharmaceutical
Overseas Chinese Daily: In September 2016, WAKI Pharmaceutical appeared at the International Health Food and Nutrition Exhibition held in China. In November 2023, it successfully participated in the 6th China International Import Expo held in Shanghai. Can you tell us about your understanding of the Chinese market and what is the current scale of WAKI Pharmaceutical's development in China?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: There is no doubt that China is one of the important engines driving the development of the world economy. I personally have a great impression of China's comprehensive national strength and national spirit, and the objective conditions of Chinese's large population base and large population also mean that this market contains huge consumption potential. Therefore, it is also a crucial step for WAKI Pharmaceutical to let Chinese consumers understand and love WAKI Pharmaceutical's products to the world.
Based on the above considerations, we have launched a series of promotional activities for the Chinese market and are actively promoting the plan to set up a point of sale in China. As for myself, I've been to Beijing, Shanghai, and Changchun twice.
The most memorable trip to Changchun was the trip. During my visit to Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I observed a variety of animal and plant specimens that can be used for medicine, and even specimens of tigers.
At present, the only products we can export directly to the Chinese mainland market are vermikinase. Other general drugs also need to use Taiwan and Hong Kong as transit points to enter the Chinese market. The Chinese market has huge potential, and we will strengthen our sales strategy to China and expand the Chinese market step by step.
The cooperation between Japan and China in the biomedical industry will contribute to the development of the world
Overseas Chinese Daily: Today, China has formed the world's second largest pharmaceutical and health products market after the United States. How will WAKI Pharma define the Chinese market?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: In recent years, my biggest impression is that China's pharmaceutical biotechnology access and export market is very active, and it has been closely connecting and cooperating with the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and has made continuous efforts to promote the healthy development of all mankind. China's research results can be sold to pharmaceutical companies or bioventure companies in other countries to complete the R&D relay. In turn, overseas research results such as the United States and Germany can also be acquired by Chinese pharmaceutical companies or bioventure companies, and further research and development, implementation and output. All of these are of great progressive significance.
In my opinion, China must lead the development of medical technology in the world in the future. Looking back at history, ancient civilizations such as China and India have long been at the center of the world economy, while Western countries such as Europe and the United States have been able to dominate the world stage only in the last few hundred years. In the future, the focus of the world's development will return to China and India, two countries with a long history, and in the field of AI technology that will lead the future development of the world, Chinese and Indians have shown sufficient talent advantages and become the focus of global attention.
Based on this, WAKI Pharmaceutical is willing to work hand in hand with Chinese enterprises for win-win cooperation and jointly develop the future Chinese market. There is bound to be competition among peers, but I believe that communication and dialogue are more important, and WAKI Pharma attaches great importance to building a platform and mechanism for cooperation.
The advancement of medicine and technology is the gospel of human society. If Japanese and Chinese counterparts in the biomedical industry can form a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, it will have a positive effect on the development of the whole world.
Overseas Chinese News: There is a saying that Chinese medicine, or Kampo medicine, has completely different effects in the Eastern and Western worlds. Do you agree?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: I don't think so. Western medicine is good at finding the cause of the disease according to the symptoms and taking treatment methods that directly act on the symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may focus more on the body's circulation, and more on the coordination and improvement of overall health. Perhaps, this is the debate between the micro and macro of the medical world.
The more convenient the society, the more important it should be to invest in health
"Overseas Chinese Daily": "Make full use of the power of earthworms to deal with global health challenges" is the concept you proposed, how does WAKI Pharmaceutical practice this concept?
Shinnosuke Wakimoto: In today's world, information technology and artificial intelligence have become the two major driving forces for economic development. The development of science and technology has brought many conveniences to human beings, but at the same time, it has also brought many negative impacts to the flesh and blood that carries life. For example, the transportation is more convenient, people have fewer opportunities to walk, the waist and legs are not exercised enough, and smartphones and computers are more popular, but using these devices for a long time will also cause some damage to our eyes and brains. Therefore, the next time humanity will face an era that requires special attention to health investment.
In developed countries, there are many patients who are affected by high-tech products, but in developing countries, the number of people suffering from various diseases is increasing year by year due to the impact of the environment and food, and the number of people suffering from various diseases due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. It is not sensational that in the not-too-distant future, the global healthcare system will be overloaded and humanity will face a shortage of medicines.
There are still many special components in earthworms that have not been mastered by humans, not to mention more than 200 kinds. Of course, among the more than 200 ingredients, there are those that have been discovered by humans but have not been able to be used, and there are those that are completely unknown to mankind. It is believed that in the future, WAKI Pharmaceutical's multi-year research around earthworms will play its due role.
Among the many special components in earthworms, vermikinase, which was first discovered and utilized by WAKI Pharmaceutical, has a certain effect on the prevention and treatment of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cognitive impairment caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. The valuable effects contained in the earthworm are worthy of people's understanding, attention, and even more worthy of being recognized by consumers all over the world.