What happened
MITSUHIRO launched HealthSearch, which takes symptoms, conditions and allergies and uses AI to recommend OTC drugs and supplements, and urges a doctor visit when risk is high.
Why it matters
The service targets people who hesitate over which OTC product to choose, and it has obtained a patent combining AI and self-medication.
What to watch
In May 2026, a revised Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act takes effect, allowing OTC drug vending machines.
WHO IT HITSConsumers who buy OTC medicines or supplements without a prescription gain an AI tool to narrow choices, while MITSUHIRO plans to offer the service with OTC vending machines to dispensing pharmacies.
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HealthSearch was born from a personal experience. MITSUHIRO representative Pyau Randy had a 1.4-centimeter mass found during a health checkup; it was not malignant, but when he asked a doctor what he could do to prevent worsening, the doctor said he could explain treatment but told him to research self-care himself. Looking into it, he found no platform offering evidence-based self-care support, which led to developing HealthSearch.
In Japan, with a declining birthrate and aging population and rising medical costs, attention is turning to self-care as the step before treatment. In May 2026, a revised Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act will take effect, lifting restrictions on the use of OTC drug sales (handover) machines. MITSUHIRO aims to popularize HealthSearch by leveraging its proprietary natural language processing and a drug database, and it plans to offer the service with OTC vending machines to dispensing pharmacies, which could set up the machines in hotels, convenience stores and stations to increase sales.
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