Japanese OCT Drugs

In Japan, Over The Counter drugs are not available in normal retail stores. No, you cannot buy Asprin in a Seven-Eleven! A consumer needs to go to the pharmacies (yakkyoku) or the special stores (yakushu-shou) to obtain OTC medications approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Much of OTC sales comes from selling "DORINKU-ZAI", a vitamin/sugar/caffeine/ethanol mixture, and other vitamin products.

A word of caution: Acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) is not generally available as OTC in Japan. There are some children's Asprin substitutes (e.g. Shouni-you Bufferin C-II).

To be continued . . .

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