More than 70 years ago, Minoru Shirota, a researcher at the Faculty of Medicine at Kyoto University, began investigating lactic acid bacteria. Having studied the work of Nobel Prize winner Eli Metchnikoff, Dr Shirota became convinced that a positive balance of good bacteria in the gut was the basis of a long and healthy life – so convinced, that he devoted his whole life's work to it.
Dr Shirota's breakthrough came in 1930, when he succeeded in isolating a particular lactic acid bacterium, which had the ability to survive the harsh conditions of the stomach. This enabled it to reach the intestines alive and make a positive contribution to the balance of the gut flora. This bacterium was named Lactobacillus casei Shirota in his honour.
Dr Shirota then developed a fermented milk drink, as a convenient way to introduce Lactobacillus casei Shirota to the gut. He named it 'Yakult'.
To begin with, Dr Shirota made Yakult in his clinic and distributed it from there. But by 1955 demand had grown to such a point that he established the Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd in Tokyo.
And the rest is history. Dr Shirota lived to the ripe old age of 83. And Yakult has grown to become a world leader in probiotics. Around 28 million people drink Yakult every day. And we now operate in 32 countries, across five continents.