Publication of Otsuka Health Comic Library “What are Medicines for?” Celebrating 35 years of helping to boost child health literacy
March 13, 2025
Otsuka Health Comic Library Vol. 12 Kusuri no Ohanashi (Let’s get healthy together! What are Medicines For?) is the latest book published by Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President and Representative Director, CEO Makoto Inoue), which has been distributed free of charge to elementary schools throughout Japan. Otsuka Holdings has been releasing books in the Otsuka Health Comic Library series annually since 1989* as a contribution to promoting children’s health. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the program.
Produced under the supervision of the Japan Medical Association and the Japan Society of School Health and endorsed by the Japan Pediatric Association, Otsuka Health Comic Library is published every year and distributed free of charge to public and private elementary schools, special support schools and public libraries throughout Japan as well as Japanese schools overseas, as part of a social contribution program at the Otsuka group. Each book addresses a different topic related to general themes around health, nutrition and the human body. The content is produced by a panel of medical professionals, schoolteachers and other subject experts, and features engaging illustrations by leading comic artists. In 35 years since the first edition, the Otsuka Health Comic Library has involved some 196 subject experts and 37 comic artists, and around 1.3 million books have been distributed.
The latest volume, “Let’s get healthy together! What are Medicines For?” looks at the role of medicines and how they work in the body, and explains the correct way to take medicines. The highly original story has been created by six comic artists, with language pitched specifically at children along with engaging and informative illustrations. At the end of each chapter is a quiz plus a version of the popular Japanese board game sugoroku, which test the children’s understanding of the content and show how the information presented in the chapter is relevant to them in everyday life. Every year, children are invited to submit drawings for inclusion in each chapter of the book. Their contributions form an important part of the book and enliven the content significantly.
The Otsuka Health Comic Library website has around 120 chapters taken from the previous 35 volumes. The website makes it easy for children to search for comics that match their interests, and aims to deepen their interest in and knowledge about health by recommending particular comics according to season and health status. A page for educators shows how the Otsuka Health Comic Library content aligns with the primary school curriculum and how the books can be used in conjunction with health education and other course content. The page also provides details on how students can submit their own artworks for consideration, as well as reports from a study group on incorporating health learning activities aimed at facilitating exchange with schools. As we mark the 35th anniversary of Otsuka Health Comic Library, we will continue developing books and website to support child health.
Based on the corporate philosophy of "Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide," Otsuka group will continue to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world.
＊* Initially launched by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Otsuka Health Comic Library website (Japanese only)（https://www.otsuka.com/jp/comiclibrary/)
Full list of contributing comic artists
Fujio Akatsuka, Ryuzan Aki, Sayori Abe, Shotaro Ishinomori, Ippongi Bang, Seiji Iwami, Fuyuhiko Okabe, Junko Ogino, Eriko Ono, Shiori Kanaki, Sachiko Kozuki, Kentaro Koyama, Machiko Satonaka, Taro Suzuki, Yoshiji Suzuki, Keiko Takemiya, Kunio Tanemura, Tetsuya Chiba, Yukiyoshi Tokoro, Noriko Nagano, Masahiro Nikaido, Noboru Baba, Kantaro Hamada, Kikuo Hayashiya, Tsutomu Harako, Kunihiko Hisa, Kazuo Maekawa, Shinsuke Maekawa, Mitsuhiro Machiyama, Leiji Matsumoto, Tadashi Manabe, Madoka Momota, Takashi Yanase, Taiichi Yamaguchi, Nana Yuzuki, Fusako Yokoyama, Ryuichi Yokoyama (names listed in Japanese alphabetical order with honorifics omitted)
Selected topics from the last 35 years
Diet and nutrition, the body’s structure (internal organs), the wonders of the body (how it works), illness, exercise/sport and health, injury and first aid, infectious diseases, health and mind, bacteria/viruses, water and health, the global environment and health, lifestyle and body rhythms, health examinations, safety at school, road safety and natural disasters, living well to 100, skin health, etc.