Medicine manufacturing in Toyama traces back to the late 17th century when the lord of Toyama-han (a Japanese feudal domain of the Edo period), Masatoshi Maeda, ordered pills known as "Hangontan" to be made. Below are photographs of the famous herbal medicine shop I visited in Toyama.
"Ecchu-hangontan" written on the sign is said to be a miracle medicine that reinvigorates one's body.
Medicines manufactured in Toyama were spread by medicine peddlers called "Baiyaku-san". In the photograph you can see that the peddlers transported medicines in a box on their back. The medicine peddlers would leave the box at a customer's house, and later, the customer only paid for medicines consumed.
For 63,000 Yen ($680 US dollars) you can get 3-grams of medicine containing bear gallbladder to cure stomach aliments.
Traditional hand operated pill making machine.
As the hand lever is pulled down the drug paste is pushed through small holes (like Play-Doh). A long metal spatula is used to cut the paste as it is pushed out.
The drug paste is then transfered to a flat working surface via the use of the spatula.
A press is used to swirl the drug paste into small balls; too much pressure can ruin the shape.
I did an okay job manufacturing drugs in Toyama!
2 comments:
Very interesting way of making tea pills I have always thought that it was done with a cement mixer like contraption...
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