Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

Our operations have expanded to include food and beveragesncluding fermented milk drinks, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and international businesses,with life science as our foundation. Food and Beverage Business In 1930, Dr. Minoru Shirota, the founder of Yakult, successfully strengthened and cultured a strain of lactic acid bacteria, and in 1935, Yakult, a beverage containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota,* was born. In 1963, the Yakult Lady home delivery system was launched throughout Japan to disseminate the value of Yakult. Products in the Food and Beverage Business include Yakult fermented milk drinks, Joie and other fermented milk products, as well as other beverages. International Business The expansion of Yakult’s business to overseas countries flowed naturally from a desire to fulfill Dr. Shirota’s wish to “help protect the health of people throughout the world.” In 1964, Yakult Taiwan Co., Ltd. commenced operations, marking the start of Yakult’s overseas business. Yakult is presently sold in 40 countries and regions (including Japan) spanning Asia and Oceania, the Americas and Europe. Pharmaceutical Business Since the founding of Yakult, Dr. Shirota focused not only on preventive medicine but also on therapeutic medicine. In 1956, the Company began researching enzymes and developing pharmaceutical products that utilize the characteristics of lactobacilli, and marketing enzymes as pharmaceutical ingredients in 1961. We now focus on prescription drugs such as anticancer agents, and have expanded our business into the field of quasi-drug products. Cosmetics Business Yakult’s Cosmetics Business began with the discovery of the cosmetic efficacy of a fermented lactic acid bacteria extract by Dr. Shirota. In 1955, Yakult launched a skin lotion and a moisturizing cream and introduced the Yakult Beauty Advisor delivery system in 1970. Based on the concept of preserving the health of the skin through life science, Yakult provides a variety of cosme