Value Village ／ Health
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Supplements are used all over the world, but in Japan the rules changed sharply in 2024. If you buy supplements at a Japanese drugstore (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, etc.) or online, knowing why they changed is the starting point for choosing well.
In March 2024, health damage linked to products made from red yeast rice (紅麹, beni-kōji) came to light. In response:
In other words, the assumption "it's a food, so it's safe" was revisited by the regulators themselves.
[Verify] The content of the reforms and the date they came into force are from Consumer Affairs Agency Food Labelling Division material (August–September 2024). Check the original before publication.
Supplements are foods. They are not meant to heal or prevent any disease.
There are reports of health damage from taking too much. Do not exceed the amount on the label.
The 2024 health damage came from a naturally derived ingredient. Origin and safety are two different things.
Some are known to interact with medicines. If you are on medication, always ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Foods with Function Claims are notified on the business's own responsibility. The government does not confirm the effectiveness of each individual product.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a chronic condition, take medication, or are buying for a child, always ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/notice/assets/food_labeling_cms201_240823_01.pdf
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/food_labeling/foods_with_function_claims/
https://hfnet.nibn.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is not meant to diagnose or manage any specific medical condition. If you are worried about your health, see a doctor rather than relying on your own judgement.
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