100 Years of Playfulness

vol.325

The anti-itch medication Muhi has reached 100 years since its launch, and on the 25th

was certified as a Guinness World Record.

〈Kyodo News / July 25, 2026〉

It is a very auspicious story, but by the way, do you know what Muhi means?

I have lived for 50 years and never thought about it, but in kanji it is Muhi (unrivaled).

In other words, the manufacturer, Ikeda Mohando is

—they apparently put that confidence into the product name.

However, by using katakana, it somehow creates a unique image.

Speaking of unique, the Muhi Centennial Festival held by the company

is becoming an interesting event that people are saying.

〈Asahi Shimbun &W / July 25, 2026〉

Ikeda Mohando is a company from Toyama, and for the two days of yesterday and today, they are selling collaboration products with 8 local companies and offering them as capsule toy prizes.

For example, a kamaboko manufacturer and we created the "Muhi S Tube Design Kamaboko".

It has such a strong Muhi vibe that it doesn't look very appetizing... (laughs), but it's a masterpiece that you'd want to buy as social media fodder.

There's also the "Muhi Socks".

If a 50-year-old guy like me wore them, it would be crazy... (laughs)

Other than that,

and other Toyama and Muhi themed collaboration products are available, so if you are interested, please take a look at the Asahi Shimbun article😊

It is certainly a project that is a bit over the top in a good way, but as written on the Muhi Socks with

, perhaps this "playfulness" of enjoying things freely is a major factor that allowed Ikeda Mohando, founded in 1909, to grow into a 100-year-old company🤔

Come to think of it, the guest on last week's "Cambria Kyuden" (broadcast on TV Tokyo) was the 11th head of Yamamotoyama, Nami Yamamoto, and she shared the secret to being a 300-year-old company founded in 1690 as

she said.

Of course, while upholding what must be protected, such as corporate philosophy, by constantly innovating we will be loved in every era to come.

However, continuing to innovate is difficult, which is why I believe a sense of playfulness is important.

Just like Muhi, freely and joyfully.

And I feel that this applies to life as well.

This is also true when looking at the 100-year-old influencer Etchan, whom I recently learned about.

<ORICON NEWS / July 22, 2026>

Her heartwarming video with her dog has become a hot topic, reaching 350,000 views, and her way of living every day freely and happily is giving energy to many people.

<gaachan0728 / Instagram>

Come to think of it, when I was in elementary school, I was such an energetic child that my cram school teacher would often

I remember being told that.

...I can't imagine a future where I live to be 100 now, but... at the time I felt that living to 100 would be easy.

Of course, that just means I've grown up, but perhaps it was more that when I was a child every day was so fun and so enjoyable that I thought it would be a waste not to live to 100🤔

Right now, I have a goal of working until I'm 80, but I've decided to return to my roots (?) and set a goal of living a life where I feel like it would be a waste not to live to 100, just like when I was a child, a life worth living—that's what I'm aiming for now.

And then, when I turn 100, I'll post on note:

I'll post that.

To do that, after all, work and life both won't last without a sense of playfulness, right?

Thank you very much for reading until the end today as well!