Investigating Suspicious Pharmacies Selling Prescription Medicine Through Chinese Messaging Apps

Chinese money flows into jittery dispensing pharmacies

“What did you come here for? I have nothing to say to you! Get out!”

One mid-February morning, a sharp, high-pitched voice of a middle-aged woman rang out inside a dispensing pharmacy located in a commercial building in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It was Japanese, but her accent revealed she was a native Chinese speaker. This occurred when the reporter visited a pharmacy suspected of illegally selling prescription medicines.

According to Tokyo Shoko Research, 38 dispensing pharmacies went bankrupt in 2025, a record high. Factors include revisions to drug prices and aggressive expansion by major chains, which have squeezed profits. Against this backdrop, Chinese investment is reportedly entering the struggling industry. A medical trade journalist explained:

“More Chinese individuals are acquiring financially struggling pharmacies, hiring pharmacists who have closed their independent businesses, and participating in management. They have no intention of running the pharmacies properly; their goal is to sell the medicines online to their home country or Chinese residents in Japan. Many are involved in online sales of prescription drugs, which is prohibited under Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act.”

Last July, a pharmacy in Osaka was ordered by the city to suspend operations for 45 days and improve business practices for selling prescription drugs to people without prescriptions. The company operating the pharmacy was led by a person of Chinese origin.

During coverage of the “Tōyoko Kids” drug abuse case, the reporter discovered that some pharmacies in Tokyo were illegally selling prescription drugs. Using translation apps, several Chinese-run pharmacies sold prescription drugs—including new diabetes medications like Manjaro and Rybelsus for dieting purposes, as well as antibiotics for sexually transmitted infections—to Tōyoko Kids pretending to purchase them.

The reporter obtained multiple WeChat accounts of these illegal pharmacies and approached them in Chinese, posing as a buyer. Many accounts did not respond, likely suspicious, but one replied, “What do you want?” When the reporter asked about stock for commonly prescribed drugs like Relenza, Tamiflu, and antibiotics, the pharmacy confirmed all were available.

The reporter even ordered tramadol hydrochloride (brand name: Tramal), a powerful opioid painkiller prescribed for cancer patients. Tramal can cause a distinctive euphoric feeling and is considered a gateway drug to opioid dependence overseas.

“14,000 yen,” came the prompt reply.

Payment was made via PayPay, and two days later the package arrived. The shipping label listed the contents as supplements, and both sender name and address were marked same as above, indicating awareness of its illegal nature. Another point of note: the character for “Hama” in the recipient address was written in simplified form, commonly used in mainland China.

Tracking the inquiry number revealed that the handling post office was in Shinjuku. By comparing the post office’s delivery area with photos of the pharmacy interior posted on WeChat, the reporter traced the source to a single dispensing pharmacy.

Reviewing the company registry, both the CEO and directors had a Japanese surname, X. Interestingly, when the company was founded in 2022, the CEO’s registered address was a 50-year-old apartment in Itabashi. It has since moved to a luxury apartment in Shinjuku worth over 100 million yen.

“They won’t be punished.”

How do they respond to allegations of illegally selling prescription drugs? After business hours, the reporter confronted a pharmacist exiting the store (photo on previous page). Irritated by the sudden visitor, the pharmacist tried to leave, but stopped when told that Tramal had been purchased, saying:

“I’m not doing that anymore. Come to the store tomorrow at 10, and I’ll talk to you.”

The reporter returned at the appointed time. A woman claiming to be the “person in charge” appeared, and as described earlier, refused entry (photo 4).

When asked, “Are you Mr. X?” she neither confirmed nor denied. Eventually, the pharmacist who had been confronted the night before came out from the back to support her, and the reporter was ejected from the store. Even when warned, “You could face sanctions under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act,” the pharmacist replied confidently, “You won’t get in trouble for something like this.”

Later, the reporter sent a formal inquiry to the pharmacy’s operating company regarding illegal prescription sales. Instead of a response, a notice arrived from the company’s lawyer, stating that “Our company now strictly conducts legal sales of prescription medications in accordance with guidance from the Shinjuku Health Center.” It also declared that the company would “not respond to any inquiries from your publication” and hinted at potential legal action—both criminal and civil—against the reporter and the magazine.

For now, that was the end of it. The reporter submitted evidence collected during the investigation to the Shinjuku Health Center’s Public Health Division, raising the question: will this illegal pharmacy—potentially a source of drug abuse—ever be held accountable?

From “FRIDAY” March 6 issue.