The Story of Toyama's Medicine Peddlers and "Etchu Hangontan"
Speaking of Toyama Prefecture, it's medicine!
The relationship between Toyama Prefecture and medicine is inextricably deep.
Particularly famous is "Etchu Medicine." This is a collective term for the pharmaceutical distribution business based in Toyama (formerly Etchu Province) and the medicines handled there.
This tradition, which has continued since the Edo period, has been supported by a unique sales method called "Oki-gusuri" (medicine on deposit/pay later), which delivers medicine to all parts of the country.
The place I visited this time is the long-established pharmacy Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten,
founded in 1936.
The first proprietor, Minoru Ikeda, opened the shop as a wholesaler of Japanese and Chinese herbal medicines, and after the war, began manufacturing and selling "Hangontan." The shop's name, "Kakusan," represents the family motto: to master the three virtues of "trust," "tradition," and "diligent study."
The Legend of Hangontan
There is a folk tale about the medicine called "Hangontan."
At the beginning of the 14th century, the mother of the samurai Gencho Matsui fell seriously ill. When Gencho climbed Mount Tateyama and prayed earnestly, he was granted the recipe for the medicine by Amida Nyorai, who appeared in his dream.
It is said that when he gave the prepared medicine to his mother, she was revived from death. Truly, a "medicine that returns the soul"—that is said to be the origin of the name Hangontan.
The Edo Castle Stomachache Incident and the Beginning of Etchu Medicine Sales
In the third year of the Genroku era (1690), when the Lord of the Toyama Domain, Masatoshi Maeda (1649–1709), visited Edo Castle, the Lord of Miharu Castle, Kawachi-no-kami Akita, complained of a sudden stomachache.
When he took the Hangontan that Masatoshi offered on the spot, his symptoms were cured immediately. Seeing this, the various daimyo requested that it be sold in their own domains, which is said to be the origin of Etchu medicine sales. It was unusual to allow interaction with other domains during the feudal era, which shows just how shocking the effectiveness of Hangontan was.
The Development of Toyama Medicine Peddling
Masatoshi was also enthusiastic about medicinal herb research; he established a medicinal herb garden within the castle and was taught the recipe for Hangontan by the physician Jokan Mandai. The medicine production that began this way continued to maintain its quality under the strict control of the domain and spread throughout the country. When Western medicine was introduced during the Meiji period, many of Japan's traditional medicines were forced to be discontinued, but Toyama's pharmaceutical industry adapted to the flow of the times and grew into an industry representing the prefecture. Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten also revived Hangontan after the war and continues to provide Japanese and Chinese herbal medicines in a form that suits modern people.
The Cultural Aspect of Hangontan
There is a song about Hangontan that goes, "Etchu Toyama's Hangontan, roll up your boogers into Mankintan, the guy who drinks that is a fool," which even appeared in period drama performances. It can be said to be proof that it was loved by the common people and took root as a culture.
Store Visit Report
The interior of Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten uses the traditional "za-uri" (sitting sales) system, where they suggest medicine according to the customer's symptoms. The packaging also has a Showa-retro atmosphere, which feels somewhat nostalgic. Furthermore, there is a tearoom on the second floor where you can enjoy rare Japanese and Chinese herbal teas. Through the medicine and tea, I was truly able to experience a "healing time."
Summary
Toyama's medicine peddling is not just a business, but a culture that protects people's lives and health, passed down to the present day. "Hangontan" is the symbol of this, and it is the pride of the people of Toyama.
History Writer Tsubaki
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