Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast problem is being driven down by Japanese brands that are weakening their competitiveness in China

2024/8/14 12:54 JST (some excerpts)
Consumer wallet strings are tight due to economic deterioration, and competition with domestic Chinese brands intensifies
The financial results of FASTRI and Shiseido, and the slump in the Chinese market are hampering
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's “red malt (koji)” issue is attracting attention in China. As consumption declines due to economic deterioration, the occurrence of problems that could cause loss of trust is a hindrance to local Japanese companies that have used brand power as a weapon.

Most Chinese tourists who travel to Japan buy health supplements when they stop by drugstores, so Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is well known. Many of the company's products, such as bansou and pain relievers, have been picked up on Chinese social media, and it can be said that they are staple souvenirs.