Parke-Davis was the first bacterial drug manufacturer licensed by the US government to produce bacterial drugs, and on that visit in 1904, the company cordially welcomed Dr. Kitasato and expressed its profound gratitude to Mr. Shiobara for introducing him.
Dr. Takamine, then serving as a scientific adviser to Parke-Davis, also joined the visit, and the three shared a moment to talk and socialize with Parke-Davis’s executives.
This visit helped strengthen ties between Sankyo Shoten and Parke-Davis and was memorable for both companies. During the visit, Mr. Shiobara was invited aboard the boat of the director and chairman of Parke-Davis and toured Lake Michigan near the company’s headquarters. He cherished a photograph taken during the excursion and reportedly often used it to reminisce about the history of Sankyo.
Parke-Davis visit to Japan in September 1906. From left: President
Ryan's daughter, Matasaku Shiobara, Mrs. Chiyo Shiobara, Henry
George II (U.S. Representative), Jokichi Takamine, Frank G. Ryan
Two years later, in 1906, Parke-Davis President, Frank G. Ryan, visited Japan accompanied by Dr. Takamine. Mr. Shiobara hosted a large welcoming party for the delegation, including US Congressman Henry George, and introduced the delegation to several renowned researchers, including Dr. Kitasato.
Consequently, Mr. Ryan returned home with a deeper understanding of Japan and its pharmaceutical and medical industries.
Messrs. Shiobara and Ryan continued to visit each other, fostering a friendly relationship between their two companies, leading to the establishment of Parke-Davis Sankyo Co., Ltd. in 1960, a joint venture to market Parke-Davis products in Japan, and Sankyo Parke-Davis in 1996, a company that promoted antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs in the US.
Park Davis President Loynd and Marunouchi Sankyo Pharmacy
President, Manpei Suzuki, in front of the pharmacy (January 1952)
In January 2001, Sankyo Parke-Davis was voluntarily dissolved when Sankyo Pharma Inc. (now Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.), the US subsidiary of Sankyo, acquired Pfizer’s shares in the company.
In Daiichi Sankyo's consolidated business results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, the US market accounted for 34% of its annual sales, and the first steps taken by Mr. Shiobara over 120 years ago laid the foundation for Daiichi Sankyo’s enduring presence in the US market.