40+ Years of Hydration Innovation
Pocari Sweat was not created by a beverage company. It was created by a pharmaceutical company that understood dehydration at a molecular level. The story begins with a trip to Mexico.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is established in Tokushima, Japan, with a mission rooted in medical science. The company builds deep expertise in intravenous solutions and pharmaceutical hydration, laying the groundwork for everything that follows.
Inspired by a business trip to Mexico where an Otsuka employee recovered from dehydration using an IV drip, the team asks: what if we could make an IV you could drink? Pocari Sweat launches as Japan's first electrolyte sports drink, with a formula designed to closely match human body fluids.
Pocari Sweat becomes a household name across Japan. It is the drink parents give sick children, athletes reach for after practice, and commuters grab during humid summers. The iconic blue-and-white label becomes synonymous with hydration itself. The name "Sweat" surprises foreigners, but in Japan, it simply means "replaces what you sweat out."
Now sold across Asia and increasingly available worldwide, Pocari Sweat remains true to its original formula. Otsuka Pharmaceutical has grown into one of Japan's largest pharmaceutical companies, but Pocari Sweat stays faithful to its medical roots: science-backed hydration that your body can absorb fast. The powder stick format makes it easier than ever to stay hydrated anywhere.