TOYAMA: Japanese anti-itch medicine Muhi cream has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the longestselling drug of its kind, marking 100 years since its launch.
An official Guinness World Records adjudicator on Saturday presented a certificate recognising the brand as the world’s longestselling over-the-counter bite-and-sting anti-itch product brand to the president of the medicine’s manufacturer, Ikeda Mohando Co., at an event held in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan.
According to the pharmaceutical company, which is based in the prefecture, the first version of Muhi went on sale in 1926 as a petroleum jelly ointment in a tin, with the name Muhi derived from a Japanese word meaning “incomparable”.
Katsuhiro Ikeda, president of the company, said at the event, held in the city of Toyama to celebrate the drug’s 100th anniversary, that he hopes to continue producing products worthy of the name.
The original Muhi petroleum jelly was developed for workers in the then-thriving sericulture industry who suffered from insect bites but avoided using insecticides to protect silkworms, according to the company.
The brand adopted its current red-and-white design in 1970. – BERNAMA
