#Japan #Okayama #Kunsei Club #Puberol Acid #Japanese Health Minister

Minister of Health Submits Explanatory Document

In a recent development, the Japanese Minister of Health has submitted an explanatory document to the Information Disclosure and Personal Information Protection Review Committee. This document addresses the committee's inquiry regarding the decision-making process that led to the identification and public disclosure of Puberol Acid as a causative substance connected to a specific incident in 2026. The submission is primarily in response to the committee's Request No. 1107.

Overview of the Notification

On September 2, 2026, the Information Disclosure and Personal Information Protection Review Committee issued a notification to Kunsei Club, located in Hayashima Town, Okayama Prefecture. This notification details the request for the disclosure of documents concerning the decision-making process on Puberol Acid. The original decision, dated April 22, 2026, from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, denied this request.

Key elements of the notification include:

• - Notification Date: September 2, 2026
• - Request Number: Inquiry No. 1107
• - Case Title: No disclosure decision regarding documents on the public identification of Puberol Acid in relation to a specific case
• - Original Decision: Based on the Ministry's assessment from April 2026
• - Kunsei Club's Inquiry: Submitted on May 9, 2026, following the denial
• - Document Submission Deadlines: All feedback or documentation should be submitted by October 2, 2026.

Additional requests numbered 1108, 1109, 1110, 1111, and 1140 were also included in the notification and will be reported subsequently.

Documents Requested for Disclosure

In a formal request to the Minister on March 20, 2026, Kunsei Club sought access to documents that detail the decision-making process for classifying Puberol Acid as a causative substance as part of the 2026 red yeast rice incident. The company aimed to access four types of documents:
1. Decision-making Process: Documentation outlining the rationale and considerations for using the term Puberol Acid.
2. Scientific Basis: Records from investigations confirming the scientific rationale for classifying the substance.
3. Correspondence: Communications and records of exchanges with relevant agencies such as the Osaka City Health Department and National Institute of Health Sciences.
4. Meetings: Documentation from meetings where Puberol Acid was discussed, including inter-departmental communications.

Contents of the Explanatory Document

According to the explanatory document submitted by the Minister of Health, the review committee found that maintaining the original non-disclosure decision was justified. The report states that no confirmation was found regarding the public identification of Puberol Acid during the investigation. Therefore, it concluded that there are no existing documents concerning the disclosure request, which indicates that the ministry does not possess the materials requested.

The response also addresses claims made by Kunsei Club regarding procedural breaches, asserting that the original due diligence was sufficient and that their claims lacked merit due to the absence of documents.

Public Disclosures by the Ministry

Details released by the Ministry concerning Puberol Acid include:

• - March 29, 2026: Report stating the potential presence of Puberol Acid from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.
• - May 28, 2026: Release of materials from the National Institute that included research on the red yeast rice products.
• - September 18, 2026: Updated document from the Ministry discussing animal testing that confirmed renal damage related to Puberol Acid.

Furthermore, under decision document number 0422 from April 22, 2026, several documents related to tests involving rats were disclosed, proving the Ministry holds evidence regarding Puberol Acid.

New Initiatives by Kunsei Club

In light of the situation, Kunsei Club has launched an official LINE account aimed at restoring the reputation of red yeast culture. They plan to regularly update followers on the contents of the documents obtained through their information disclosure requests and the ongoing communications with relevant authorities.