ZENOAQ [ZENYAKU MUSEUM]

1941 to 1962

Founder: Sadakazu Fukui
Being directed to establish Koriyama Military Hospital, Fukui proceeded to Koriyama as medicine officer. For him, this was the first visit to this place, and resulted in the first step for incorporating a company in Koriyama after the war.


	With a capital of 180,000 yen, the company was established under the corporate name of "Asahi Yakuhin Co., Ltd." Production started at 15, Miyata, Koriyama City. [Company Building of the former Tohoku Shinko Aluminum that had been rented as plant after incorporation]	[Calcium chloride injection solution] Product manufactured and sold for human body at the initial stage after incorporation
	Production start of veterinary pharmaceuticals The company started production and sales of medical supplies, though the products had been gradually sold but their quantities were limited. Under such a circumstance, an unexpected order of Ringer's solution for horses was placed by Livestock Industry Section of Fukushima Prefectural Government. This led the company to go to the business of veterinary pharmaceuticals.	[OSM and High Strength OSM] The medicine for horse osteomalacia developed and sold as the first new medicine of veterinary pharmaceuticals.
	The company name changed to Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.
	Research for a liver fluke parasiticide was performed at Sadogashima. Its success led to commercialization of this product. Giving way to Fukui's persistent persuasion, he cooperated for the clinic test for a new medicine. Since then, he became the most reliable benefactor and guardian to Fukui. [Shinkou Yoshida (General Manager of Hokuriku Branch Office, National Institute of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, later, Professor of Azabu University )]	[Neo Hexaron] Thanks to cooperation extended by Dr. Yoshida and others, its development was succeeded. The photo shows the released liver fluke parasiticide for cattle.
	Production start of antibiotic formulations Fukui encountered Prof. Usui through introduction of Dr. Yoshida. Prof. Usui made efforts for solidification of salt and extended good offices for Fukui's visit to the U.S. in 1961.< [Kazuya Usui (Professor of the University of Tokyo, later, Vice President of our company)]
	Research start for solidification of salt
	Moved to 1-chome, Showa, Koriyama City to set up an additional plant. [Plant at Showa-machi]
	The solidified salt was given a name of "KOEN (Mineral Salt)." The application was made to the then Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for production approval, and the approval was obtained in September. Dr. Sugi, he was the director of the laboratory of Monopoly Public Corporation , later, the Professor of the University of Tokyo, supported Fukui's technical research for salt solidification and the efforts to obtain production approval for KOEN. [Dr. Jiro Sugi and Fukui]
	A plant was established to produce KOEN, and the production started there. There had been various problems relating to salt solidification technology and the Government Monopoly in Salt Act. But, after some two years, the first shipment of KOEN was attained at last. The photo shows Fukui and the then employees seeing off the first shipment of KOEN. [First Shipment of KOEN]	KOEN (Mineral Salt) [Illustration of KOEN Boy] Mr. Hiroshi Ohba, a comic artist, was requested to produce the illustration. The Boy was depicted extensively on the Mineral Salt wrapping paper, posters and advertising vans making tours across the nation.
	Sadakazu Fukui, the company founder, visited the U.S. to inspect the conditions of livestock industry and veterinary pharmaceuticals in the U.S. Through the visit, he reached the management idea that the very development of livestock industry would lead to growth of veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturers. Returning to Japan, he established the company motto. [Tablet of Company Motto] In this inspection tour, he visited veterinarian facilities, universities and pharmaceutical companies. The tour took some one month and covered more than 5,600 km. [Fukui and a local cowboy at the time of the visit to the U.S.]
	Production start of vial products In those days, Agricultural Basic Law was enforced. About that time, livestock industry had been specialized rapidly, and the era that demands professional technical development arrived. Fukui, who had been thinking that development of livestock industry would lead to growth of veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturers, attempted to produce a number of varieties to satisfy the needs of veterinarians and livestock industry. He started to release a new product one after another.	[Vial product in the initial days] Since they are contained in glass bottles, they are packed in wooden boxes for shipment.

Next >