Vintage Japanese Kusuri-bako Medicine Drawer Box, Mid Showa (1946-1965) | SKU: 26M-671

Vintage Japanese Kusuri-bako Medicine Drawer Box, Mid Showa (1946-1965) | SKU: 26M-671

A boldly lacquered apothecary drawer box from the famed Etchu-Hiroshido pharmacy of Toyama -- a vivid relic of Japan's legendary medicine peddler tradition.

A kusuri-bako is a traditional Japanese medicine storage box, used by pharmacies and traveling medicine merchants to organize and transport remedies for household customers. This compact red-lacquered example was issued by Hiroshido (Koshido), a registered family medicine cooperative based in Toyama City -- the historic heartland of Japan's itinerant medicine trade, known as the "Etchu no kusuri" or Toyama medicine peddler tradition that dates back to the Edo period. The outer casing and pull-out drawer front are finished in a vivid vermillion red, boldly printed in black with the pharmacy's registered trademark mon crest and the name of the cooperative. The interior of the casing reveals a natural sugi (cedar) wood construction, and the drawer itself is built from a lightweight paperboard shell over a wooden base -- typical of mid-century pharmaceutical packaging. A simple metal ring pull serves as the drawer handle.

Today this striking vintage Japanese kusuri-bako works beautifully as a small desk organizer -- ideal for storing business cards, stamps, loose keys, or jewelry on a bedside table or home office shelf. Its bold red graphic design and authentic Showa-era pharmacy branding make it a compelling wabi-sabi accent piece for Japandi-style interiors, and a truly unique gift for collectors of Japanese apothecary vintage pieces or lovers of vintage graphic ephemera. Display it on a bookshelf, entryway console, or curio cabinet as a one-of-a-kind piece of living Japanese commercial history.

• Origin: Toyama, Japan (Etchu region)
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Sugi (cedar) wood interior casing; paperboard-over-wood drawer construction; red lacquer and black printed finish
• Use: Pharmacy medicine storage and dispensing box used by the Hiroshido (Koshido) household medicine cooperative, Toyama City
• Modern Use: Desktop organizer or keepsake box; bedside table accent; display piece for Japandi or wabi-sabi styled interiors
• Features: Single pull-out drawer with metal ring pull; bold vermillion red exterior printed with registered trademark mon crest and cooperative name; natural wood interior; text on sides references "excellent prescription efficacy" and the Toyama cooperative address
• Dimensions: 7 1/2"W x 9"D x 5"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition -- wear, scuffing, and fading consistent with age and use; drawer slides smoothly; all surfaces intact

A vivid survivor of Japan's Showa-era apothecary culture -- this vintage kusuri-bako brings the bold graphic spirit of Toyama's legendary medicine trade into any modern home.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.