Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Corporate
April 1, 2026
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Recognized as a "Food and Nutrition Education Practice Excellent Corporation 2026" by the MAFF
Leveraging Proprietary Expertise and Services to Promote Health through Nutrition
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) has been certified under the newly established "Food and Nutrition Education Practice Excellent Corporation 2026" program by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). This recognition reflects the company's initiatives in employee-focused food and nutrition education as well as health promotion, including the utilization of its proprietary expertise and the nutrition tracking service "Vivoo*," which contributed significantly to the evaluation.
In recent years, decline in dietary habits among adults has become increasingly apparent, highlighting a growing need to promote "adult food and nutrition education," particularly for younger generations who will play a key role in shaping the future of society.Promoting food and nutrition education in the workplace is essential to fostering healthy eating habits. To address this need and to enhance corporate vitality while encouraging the broader adoption of exemplary initiatives, the MAFF has launched the "Food and Nutrition Education Practice Excellent Corporation Award Program." Under this program, corporations that implement initiatives contributing to the improvement of employees' dietary habits are certified as "Food and Nutrition Education Practice Excellent Corporations."
With the belief that every employee should be able to work in a healthy and vibrant manner, Otsuka engages in a variety of initiatives aimed at helping employees deepen their understanding of health and actively participate in disease prevention and health maintenance. These efforts include offering health seminars, exercise programs, and other wellness‑related activities. The following initiatives related to "promoting health through nutrition" were recognized under this program, leading to the company's certification as a "Food and Nutrition Education Practice Excellent Corporation 2026."
Nutrition Tracking Service "Vivoo"
■Improving Dietary Habits Starting with "Visualization"
While Otsuka has long conducted initiatives such as expert‑led nutrition seminars to support employees in improving their dietary habits, a recurring challenge had been that information dissemination alone does not easily lead to behavioral change. To address this, the company developed a dietary habit improvement program utilizing its nutrition tracking service "Vivoo." By reviewing measurement results at the start and conclusion of the program, and by providing nutrition seminars, dietary improvement advice, and health information throughout the implementation period, the program successfully facilitated positive behavioral change and heightened awareness regarding employees' eating habits.
Employees of "Heartful Kawauchi" Who Cultivate Tomatoes
■Supporting "Employee Health," "DE&I," and "Community Contribution" through Food
At Otsuka's employee cafeteria, in‑house registered dietitians develop healthy menu options and provide calorie and nutritional information to support employees' well‑being. In addition, the cafeteria contributes to global and local communities through various initiatives, including offering TABLE FOR TWO program menu items that help fund meals in developing countries, incorporating locally sourced ingredients, and using tomatoes grown by employees at Heartful Kawauchi Co., Ltd., a special subsidiary of the company. These efforts not only enhance employees' health awareness but also promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by supporting the active participation of employees with diverse backgrounds.
Based on the corporate philosophy of 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide,' Otsuka Pharmaceutical continues to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world.
- *With Vivoo service, users can perform an at-home urine strip test. The strip is scanned with the "Vivoo app", which deliver real-time nutritional data. The service provides personalized dietary and lifestyle advice supervised by nutritionists tailored to the test results.
https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/sustainability/employees-health/
Based on the corporate philosophy, Otsuka works to address social issues through its business activities, aiming to achieve sustainable growth and contribute to a healthy and sustainable society.
Among the four material issues identified by the company, "Develop Human Capital to Fulfill Our Corporate Philosophy at Good Working Environment" highlights health management as one of the key themes. Under the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Declaration on Health, the company seeks to promote employee health by leveraging its diverse health-related information and assets, while also fostering a safe and engaging workplace environment where every individual can fully demonstrate their abilities.
The company's initiatives to support employee health have been recognized with Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations (White 500) , awarded by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Otsuka has been certified for ten consecutive years since 2015.
About Otsuka
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a total healthcare company that focuses on each individual's potential to enhance their well-being. Our medical-related business provides treatments and diagnostics for both physical and mental health. Our nutraceutical business supports daily health maintenance and improvement. Otsuka's unique products and services are based on scientific evidence, under the guidance of our corporate philosophy: Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide. For further information, please visit www.otsuka.co.jp/en/
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