Subsidiary of Umeken Japan & Bio Essentials International Group
About Us
HISTORY & BACKGROUND OF UMEKEN ® JAPAN &
UMEKEN ®ASIA (subsidiary of Bio Essentials International group)
History & Background
During the prime of the Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period (1615 – 1868) a young man in Toyama prefecture perfected the use of natural herbs & ingredients to produce “Medicine Balls” that was portable & greatly increased the quality & life span of his customers.
The Edo period was a time of relative peace & stability, following centuries of warfare & disruption. The merchant & artisan classes prospered during this period & Japan saw a great urban expansion. Not only do well-established cities such as Osaka & Kyoto thrive, but new castle towns that serve as the administrative center for provincial daimyo & their samurai retainers were built & flourished. It was a time where the arts & quality of health & longevity became popular amongst the upper
class.
Providing personal attention & highly trusted by their customers, a new marketing system of “Baiyaku-san” as they were called grew & expanded in the Toyama region as they brought the medicine balls throughout the country. Located at the valley of the Japanese Alps, Toyama region, till today, is considered the “Pharmacy Kingdom” of Japan; due mainly in part of the rich soil, abundance of organic produce, water & air quality. It was from the Edo period that the foundations of Japanese Traditional medicine were slowly perfected & guarded secretly within a few families.
The skills of making the “medicine ball” had been passed down through the centuries & a descendant of such a family, Mr. Inagaki
Shouichi, opened a small pharmaceutical company, Daido, in 1947. Holding steadfast to the century traditions of his forefathers in handpressing every ball & using only the best ingredients, the company grew steadily & in 1978, was incorporated as Umeken® Co. which in Japanese means “the Study of the Plum” signifying freshness, healthy benefits derived from all natural, organic ingredients.
Today, Umeken® sells over 200 tons & 1,000 million of its patented balls per year & boasts of two state-of-the art Manufacturing plants in Toyama, a raw ingredient plant in Itakura, Japan’s only Spirullina Farm in Okinawa & main offices in Osaka & Tokyo.
The supreme quality encompassed in their manufacture of these “medicine balls” led to Umeken® being presented with the highest Japanese award of achievement in 2001, honouring Umeken®
With its vast accolades and Umeken’s traditional processes ensuring only the highest efficacy and effectiveness in all their products, through decades, Umeken® has been a trusted name for many Japanese households and a consistent supplier to the household of the Imperial Family. A tradition and assurance that any product under the Umeken® name, signifies superior quality and comes with a mark of guarantee.
