Travelmin Boy

9.11.2020

I had a big Box Day about two weeks ago. I got one of my holy grail figures. I searched for several years but no luck. And then a little voice told me to search Mandarake and there it was. After debating with myself over the price, I jumped on it because I just couldn’t let it get away. In the opening scenes of the Japanese version of King Kong vs Godzilla (1962), the fictitious company Pacific Pharmaceutical (パシフィック製薬) has a mascot figure called Pashin Boy (パシン坊や) standing in the background of the office of Mr. Tako (多胡部長, played by Ichiro Arishima 有島 一郎).

Pashin Boy carries a suitcase (or a doctor’s medical bag or pill box) with the label his name「パシン坊や」pashin boya. Inside the case is found the Pacific Pharmaceutical Tonic Pasin Tablets (強壮剤パシン錠). Ads promise to be a fountain of youth and a source of energy (若さの泉、パシン！精力の源、パシフィック製薬のパシンを どうぞ！). “This passion! This stamina! The driving force behind this activity is Pashin! Fountain of youth, Pasin! Source of energy Go to Pacific Pharmaceutical Pasin!” 「この情熱！このスタミナ！ 活動の原動力はパシン‼︎ 若さの泉、パシン！精力の源パシフィック製薬のパシンをどうぞ！」There are few Pashin Boy figures but hard to find and can be very expensive. X-Plus Ltd. produced a RIC Exclusive Pashin Boy bank to accompany its 30cm Godzilla 1962 figure release. Various garage kit have been made and released at Wonder Festival. Iwakura (CAST) produced a replica box and button of the Pashin Tablet pill box.

Pacific Pharmaceutical and Pashin Boy are based on the real company Eisai Co., Ltd. (エーザイ株式会社) and its mascot Travelmain Boy (エーザイ／トラベルミン坊や). Eisai is a Japanese pharmaceutical company, established in 1955, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Travelmin was first released in 1950s and promoted for children and adults. Travelmin Boy appeared in 1964 as an Eisai mascot. A cute little boy wearing yellow and black shimashima (striped) clothes. It was exhibited at stores and was popular at the time. Travelmin Boy has different looks. Often he has big hair that sits out off his head similar to Mr Taco. Sometimes his hair makes him look like one of The Beatles. Space Travelmin Boy has curly fro packed under his space helmet. Travelmin Boy carries his iconic suitcase that appears in different colors and designs: 1) blue with a white strip, 2) with the Eisai logo, 3) yellow. Often the suitcase reads 「乗り物酔い トラベルミン坊や」”Motion sickness Travelmin Boy.” Travelmin was made for motion sickness (乗り物酔い) and for the prevention and alleviation of vehicle sickness during trips. Travelmin (トラベルミン) is a compound word made up of the Japanese kana for “travel” (トラベル) and “min” (ミン) from vitamin, suggesting travel vitamin. Here’s an advertisement:

のりものよいに…かんでおいしい
小学生用 トラベルミン

バスだって
ふねだって
へいきだよ
のりものよいなんか
するもんか
トラベルミンもってるから
へっちゃらさ

小学生用 トラベルミンは
あまくて　おいしくて
おかしみたいに
ポリポリたべてもいい
のりものよいのおくすりなんだよ

ぼくたちのおくすり
小学生用 トラベルミンを
わすれずに　もっていこうっと

6錠　80円z

⬤ 大人の方には…
トラベルミン•ソフト錠があります

東京都文京区小石川 4丁目
エーザイ株式会社
大阪•札幌•名古屋•福岡

For motion sickness … it’s delicious
Travelmin for elementary school students

Even the bus
Even a ship
I’m fine
The ride is good
Do it
I have Travelmin
Easy

Travelmin for elementary school students
Sweet and delicious
Like sweets
You can eat a little bit
It’s a good medicine

Our medicine
Travelmin for elementary school students
Don’t forget to take it

6 pills 80 yen

⬤ For adults …
Travelmin • There is a soft lock

4-chome, Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Eisai Co., Ltd.
Osaka • Sapporo • Nagoya • Fukuoka

「小学生用トラベルミン（乗りもの酔い薬） [1965（昭和40）年] 1964（昭和39）年発売の乗りもの酔い薬『小学生用トラベルミン』の広告。「かんでおいしい」というフレーズを添えて、子どもの旅行での利用を訴求。個性的なイラストは、漫画家・画家「おおば比呂司」氏によるもの。」”Travelmin for elementary school students (vehicle sickness medicine) [1965 (Showa 40)] Advertisement for “Travelmin for elementary school students”, a vehicle sickness drug released in 1964 (Showa 39). With the phrase “It’s delicious”, it appeals to children for use on travel. The unique illustrations are by the manga artist and painter Hiroshi Oba.” Source: https://bit.ly/33nQ8Xp

Travelmin Boy figures were made for promotion. He was made in very small and large sizes for tabletop display and for sale. Today, they can be found, some for sale, ranging in price from as little as $20 to as much as $500 and more. There is a rich variety of Travelmin Boy collectibles available. There is a noticeable different between Pashin Boy and Travelmin Boy. Pashin Boy’s eyes stare to the left and Travelmin Boy gazes to the right.

Years ago, X-Plus produced a RIC Exclusive Pashin Boy bank to accompany its 30cm Godzilla 1962 figure. A few garage kit has been made of this movie character. CAST produced a replica box and button of the Pashin Tablet pill box. I was fortunate to find the Eisai/X-Plus counter-size Travelmin Boy Bobblehead dolls (エーザイ/エクスプラス カウンターサイズ トラベルミン坊や). The figure is huge with a height of 30cm! It is well made and comes in modest white packaging.

But as expected, there are not many Pashin Boy representations. X-Plus Ltd. produced a RIC Exclusive Pashin Boy bank to accompany its 30cm Godzilla 1962 figure. Various garage kit has been made of this movie character as well. A noticeable different between Pashin Boy and Travelmin Boy is the direction of the eyes. Pashin Boys eyes stare to the left. Iwakura (CAST) produced a replica box and button of the Pashin Tablet pill box.