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Otsuka Podcast

The latest news from Otsuka's global team of professionals working to create new products for better health worldwide.
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Now displaying: October, 2014

Welcome to Otsuka Podcast, featuring stories of change from Otsuka Pharmaceutical's global team.

Please visit us at www.otsuka.co.jp for more stories and to see the photos and videos that accompany these episodes.

Oct 14, 2014

Read the full story with photos at:

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/1014_01.html

 

The Brazilian Health Food Company

On August 29, 2014, leading Brazilian health food company Jasmine joined the Otsuka Pharmaceutical group of companies. Jasmine’s head office and main plant are located in Curitiba, a city of three million people in Southern Brazil.

In 1990, Mr. Christophe Allain and his wife Rosa established Jasmine which today has become the leading health food company in Brazil.

But who is Christophe and why did he create Jasmine?

Christophe is the son of European immigrants who arrived in Brazil in the sixties when he was 10 years old. After having worked as a teacher, carpenter and in some multinational companies, Christophe, then 19 years old started his journey studying and practicing macrobiotics and oriental medicine principles, as a student of the great leader and philosopher Mr. Kikuchi Tomio, learning how food has so much influence in every one’s health. Ever since, Christophe continues to practice the principles of macrobiotics, and he still eats brown rice, miso soup and tofu at home, showing his example of healthy living.

The beginning of the business happened in an unpretentious way in the 70’s, when Christophe and his wife Rosa started to cook their own macrobiotic food at home and soon were surround by friends who enjoyed having such a delicious and healthy diet. This eventually led to the initiative of opening one of the first macrobiotic restaurants in Brazil, in Campinas near São Paulo.

Later on, in 1990 Mr. Christophe decided to start a new business, Jasmine , where he could be consistent with his philosophy of healthy food as a nutritional catalyst in transforming people´s life quality, and offer healthy food to the larger community.

Beginning with products such as brown rice, subsequently the company expanded to include many other items such as biscuits and granolas, producing and supplying a wide range of whole grain and organic products to suit the Brazilian consumers.

Twenty-five years later, Jasmine has become a reference for the health, organic and functional food industry in Brazil.

Jasmine’s main principle is to share the seeds of healthy eating habits, as we believe that eating well is living well. Thus the moto: “Coma bem, viva bem” means exactly this: “Eat well, live well”.

More than just healthy food, in addition to the functional benefits, Jasmine wants to motivate a life style change. That is why it seeks to offer products totally focused on providing health, pleasure, beauty and well-being. Therefore, you can say, Jasmine’s values reflect the philosophy and values of the company founder Christophe, who will continue to head the company’s management team.

The new partnership with Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, will help Jasmine share the philosophy and benefits of healthy and functional products for a greater number of people in Brazil and abroad.

 

Oct 14, 2014

Read the full story with photos at:

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/1014_02.html

 

Japanese experts were invited to address key industry issues of Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) and the developmental trend of biomedicine to provide Korean pharmaceutical companies with helpful information on chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) in drug development.

This is the 5th time Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and Otsuka Pharmaceutical have sponsored “Korea Drug Research Academy-OTSUKA CMC ACADEMY”. Each year about 100 trainees attend this program.

This year, Mr. Kunio Kawamura, advisor of Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical, emphasized that the mission of PIC/S was to establish the harmonized global standard in the inspection field work.

He said, “All of the partnered countries would follow uniform guidelines in giving approval, so that they can maintain a high quality of monitoring.”

Companies definitely benefit by joining PIC/S as they reduce duplicated inspection when exporting to multiple countries such as the US and Japan, and, thus, save on related costs.

Mr. Kawamura said, “Member countries should cooperate in order to minimize duplicated inspections. And more countries should join PIC/S, develop information sharing systems and communicate more actively to facilitate imports and exports.”

Oct 9, 2014

Read the full story with photos at:

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/1009_01.html

Why was Otsuka awarded the Nakai Prize?

The tablet printing device developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. was considered a revolutionary innovation because it made it possible to print clearly on uncoated tablets, including orally disintegrating tablets, which have been difficult to print on using conventional techniques.

The dramatic improvement in tablet identification made possible by this printing technology has satisfied a considerable unmet need of medical professionals and patients, and has contributed greatly to improved treatment adherence.

What is Nakai Prize?

In 2001, the Japan Society of Pharmaceutical Machinery and Engineering established the Nakai Prize, which is named after Yoshinobu Nakai, the first chairperson of the JSPME, in order to honor the achievements of individuals or groups who have made considerable contributions to the development of pharmaceutical machinery technology.

The Nakai Prize is awarded for achievements in either software or hardware that are judged to contribute greatly to the development and advancement of pharmaceutical machinery technology.

 

Oct 2, 2014

Read the full story with photos at:

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/1002_01.html

On October 2nd, the Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Mrs. Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar, visited Kejayan Plant that manufactures POCARI SWEAT to observe Rumah Belajar (Learning Centre) Satu Hati Cerdaskan Bangsa.

Up to date, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has over 2,500 employees in Indonesia and has been actively promoting children’s education as well as empowering female employees such as by providing a lactation room where mothers can pump and save their breast milk to bring home to their babies and daycare programs.

Employing people from diverse cultural background and providing a lactation room really touched the minister’s heart. She also praised the work done for children’s education at the plant. The learning center in the factory features a Satu Hati School that is held once a week, where employees take turns providing after-school tutoring in Math and English.

“Getting a proper education and be able to enjoy their childhood without exploitation by adults is the right of every child. In addition, it is important for us to pay attention to the process of development of the child.

Families have the greatest role in shaping the character of children”, said Minister Gumelar at the Diversity Hall of Kejayan Factory, Pasuruan, Indonesia.

Oct 1, 2014

Read the full story with photos at:

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/1001_01.html

Women’s International Networking (WIN)

A team of 13 delegates from Otsuka Europe attended the Women’s International Networking (WIN) Conference in Berlin from the 1st – 4th October. The Otsuka team joined 750 people from several leading organizations around the world, helping us to imagine what it would be like to work in an environment without diversity and inclusion and asking the question: ‘would this be a place that you would like to work?’

It’s not just about women, it’s about all employees looking at why you come to work every day

WIN was set up to empower and connect both female and male leaders from around the world and to listen to and reflect the desires of the modern workforce and companies of the future. It provides a platform and an environment aimed to help individuals and organizations move forward, realize their potential and focus on each person’s contribution.

Diversity will be part of Otsuka Europe’s agenda in 2015

With this in mind Otsuka has sponsored this year’s event, which has given us an opportunity to raise our brand awareness in Europe and enable us to use it as a platform for a range of initiatives next year. Hundreds of delegates visited the Otsuka stand, which featured a branded pull-up banner, a TV screen showing the Otsuka ‘Globalization’ animation, and 750 EU Business Overview brochures were included in the delegate packs.

Ms. Tracey Upton, VP of Human Resources says, “Otsuka is keen to increase its presence in the wellness and diversity arena and saw WIN as an opportunity to gain insight into what other companies are doing.”

Otsuka delegates were selected from across the European organization and tasked with speaking to a number of companies to find out how they are embracing diversity within their own business and bring ideas back to Otsuka for debate.

“Otsuka has a culture of inclusion, employing people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Opportunities are given to capable people regardless of their gender, it is how you tackle the challenges that counts. Giving employees the chance to attend an event like WIN reinforces the company’s commitment to diversity and key learnings can be cascaded through the organization,” says Ms. Ali Ross Head of EU Communications.

Ms. Heidi McNeill, Marketing Manager - CNS shares, “This is an amazing opportunity to engage with inspiring people from different countries and different industries.”

During the three day event, delegates had the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars and networking events. Besides Otsuka, exhibitors included brands such as Coca-Cola, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Shell, Unilever and Volvo. Everyone left Berlin feeling energized and ready to develop a plan that will enable us to continue our own journey to remain a company that celebrates diversity.

 

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