#Japan #Tokyo #Patient Trust #pharmacy management #Davinci

The Growing Challenge for Pharmacies

In recent years, the pharmacy industry has faced unprecedented challenges. For the second consecutive year, the number of pharmacy bankruptcies in 2025 has surged to 38, marking a staggering 35.7% increase from the previous year. According to Tokyo Shoko Research, this rise is attributed to several key factors, including the restructuring of major pharmacy chains and the increasing prevalence of drugstores with in-pharmacy prescription services. Small to medium-sized pharmacies now find themselves navigating a more competitive and often unwelcoming business landscape.

The upcoming 2026 revision of pharmacy reimbursement policies is likely to place a focus on the roles of community pharmacies and address geographic disparities. For smaller pharmacies, the necessity of demonstrating a compelling reason for patients to choose them has never been more critical.

From Location to Client Relationship: The Shift in Pharmacy Business

For many years, pharmacies have relied heavily on their locations, particularly those situated near hospitals or clinics. However, a blend of market pressures such as patient migration to drugstores, stagnated prescription prices, and intensified competition from larger chains means that simply having a good location is no longer sufficient for survival.

With ongoing inflation and the demands of adapting to digital transformations in healthcare, independent pharmacies must innovate to cultivate distinct value propositions. Establishing trust with patients and creating a welcoming atmosphere can lead to increases in non-referral prescriptions, insulating these businesses from the harsh realities of price wars.

At DaVinci Co., we firmly believe that the keystone of this transformative process is effective medication counseling.

Building Trust in Just Three Minutes

Recently, DaVinci Co., located in Meguro City, Tokyo, unveiled a free online seminar aimed at pharmacy managers, pharmacists, and pharmacy owners. This seminar, titled “Capturing Patient Trust in Just Three Minutes: A Path to Increasing Sales,” showcases effective strategies that have enabled us to grow our pharmacy's revenues for 16 consecutive years without increasing our number of stores.

In this free seminar, which requires participants to register via LINE, attendees will learn about techniques that include:

• - Effective counseling techniques to engage patients in short interactions
• - Communication skills that leave patients wanting to return
• - Strategies for naturally increasing non-referral prescriptions
• - Differentiation approaches to set pharmacy offerings apart from drugstore competition
• - Creating a fan base that contributes to long-term company value and enhances potential for M&A (mergers and acquisitions)

This seminar is ideal for:

• - Pharmacies experiencing declining prescription numbers
• - Pharmacies looking to become less dependent on local clinic prescriptions
• - Pharmacies aiming to boost patient retention rates
• - Pharmacies desirous of strengthening their pharmacists’ communication skills
• - Pharmacies aspiring to be valued resources in their communities long-term

Free Online Seminar Details

• - Seminar Title: Capturing Patient Trust in Just Three Minutes: A Path to Increasing Sales
• - How to Participate: By registering through LINE, you can gain free access to the seminar.
• - LINE Registration Link: Register Here

Meet The Instructor: Shunsho Tsuruhara

Shunsho Tsuruhara, CEO of DaVinci Co., has spent years immersed in pharmacy operations as an active pharmacist and manager. With experience spanning over 200 different locations, his expertise extends to pharmacist placement, consulting, and research. Tsuruhara has developed a model for attracting prescriptions from outside clinics. He currently leads the "Yakurijuku" course, focused on equipping pharmacy owners with strategies to increase their prescription volumes.

Company Overview

At DaVinci Co., we operate under the core principle that pharmacies thrive not through strategic locations but through the quality of trust established with their patients. We are dedicated to supporting pharmacies across the nation in establishing a solid footing in their communities and ensuring sustainable growth in a complex market.

Location: 3-10-3 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo
Representative: Shunsho Tsuruhara, CEO
Business Focus: Pharmacy management, consulting services for pharmacies, pharmacist education, and operation of "Yakurijuku"
Website: Yakurijuku