More Convenience Stores Offering Prescription Medication Pickup Service

Hello everyone.

Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

Thanks for joining us.

In this program, we'll learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.

So, Chiara, you do a lot of traveling.

Have you ever become ill while traveling abroad?

Yes. And it's always a very scary thing, especially if you don't speak the local language.

Right.

I tend to sort of bring some amount of medicine with me, but sometimes that's not enough.

And so off to the nearest clinic I go.

Right.

So, our news story today is about prescription drugs.

More Convenience Stores Offering Prescription Medication Pickup Service.

Before we go to the news clip, let's go over some words to listen for.

"Yakuzaishi."

Pharmacist.

"Isha ga dashita kusuri."

Prescription drug.

"Konbini."

Convenience store.

OK, let's watch the news clip.

An increasing number of convenience stores
are offering a 24-hour service that makes it possible to pick up
prescription drugs after visiting the hospital

without having to go to a pharmacy.

FamilyMart has been offering this service
at about 2,000 stores in Tokyo since May.

Customers receive an explanation
of their medication online from a pharmacist.

Then they decide which store
they want to pick their drugs up at.

At the earliest, their medicine will arrive
at the store the next day.

In Kawasaki City, Seven-Eleven Japan
is testing a service that allows customers to pick up
medication via in-store lockers.

These services began
because pharmacists are now allowed to give instructions
by phone or online

following the spread of
the novel coronavirus.

OK, now, let's review some sentences from the story.

An increasing number of convenience stores are offering a 24-hour service that makes it possible to pick up prescription drugs after visiting the hospital without having to go to a pharmacy.

Now read along with me.

"Byooin ni itta ato yakkyoku ni ikanakutemo

isha ga dashita kusuri o konbini de nijyuu-yo-jikan itsudemo uketoru koto ga dekiru

saabisu ga fuete imasu."

In Japan, when you become sick, you go to the hospital, and your doctor will write you what's called a "shohoosen."

A "shohoosen" is an order for medication that a patient needs.

It includes information about drug type, quantity, and dosage.

To get your medicine, you take your "shohoosen" to a "yakkyoku," and present it to the pharmacist.

The Japanese word "yakkyoku" refers to a place where a pharmacist sells and prepares medicines.

That's distinct from a "doragu-stoa," which sells over-the-counter medication.

And now, there's a new service that allows people to buy their prescription drugs at convenience stores.

That means you can avoid long lines at pharmacies, and pick up your medication outside of standard pharmacy hours.

The Covid-19 pandemic is definitely changing the way that healthcare works here in Japan.

And in Japan, doctors have also begun treating their patients virtually.

Right. So if you combine these two services, you can receive medical care without having to go to the hospital or a pharmacy.

Which is super convenient.

Yes, it is.

So, the way it works is that patients tell their doctor or the receptionist that they want to use the "prescription drug delivery service."

They can also upload their prescription via smartphone.

A pharmacist will then provide usage instructions by phone or online.

The patient specifies what branch they want their medicine delivered to, and their order can arrive as early as the next day.

That's fantastic.

Right.

Now, let's move on to our next sentence.

Customers receive an explanation of their medication online from a pharmacist.

Now, read along with me.

"Kusuri o uketoru hito wa intaanetto de

yakkyoku no yakuzaishi kara kusuri no setsumee o kikimasu."

In the word "yakuzaishi," the kanji "shi" refers to a person who serves as a role model, and teaches knowledge and skills to others.

So, you see the kanji used for many professions.

That's true, so there's: "ishi," which is "doctor,"

"kangoshi," which is "nurse," let's see... "kyooshi," which is an educator, so like a teacher,

and... oh yeah, "biyooshi," so a "beautician."

So, there are many words that come with "shi."

So, in Japan, "yakuzashi" are required by law to give usage instructions when handing out prescription drugs.

Chiara, have you ever had difficulty understanding the instructions from a pharmacist?

Yeah, I think that the first time I ever picked up a prescription in Japan, there were some terms in there that I didn't really understand.

But the most complicated one, I think, was actually "shokkan," which, according to the kanji, you would think it means "during meals," so with food,

but it actually means "between meals," so, on an empty stomach, or, you know, not with food.

So, yeah, that was a little tough.

Right, that's a tricky one, yes.

OK, now it's time to check in with Tokunaga-sensei for more vocab words.

Prescription drugs come in a bag
that has important info written on it.

First, it will say in large letters
either "naifukuyaku" or "gaiyooyaku."

"Naifukuyaku" means "oral medicine."

"Gaiyooyaku" are not taken orally.

The word refers to topical drugs,
such as ointments and eye drops.

You will also see instructions for
when and how much you should take.

If it says
"ichi-nichi san-kai, maishokugo," that means
"three times a day, after every meal."

If, for whatever reason,
you miss a meal, you should eat a cookie or some food
before taking the medicine.

"Shokkan" means "between meals,"
and not "during meals."

Wait two hours after eating
before taking the medicine.

If you don't understand the Japanese,
be sure to ask for clarification.

Inside Japan.

Chiara, what do you think about Japanese "konbini?"

Well, I think that they're very interesting, compared to convenience stores in the United States.

Especially when you're traveling, they have all sorts of things that can be very useful, like shampoo, or some kinds of medicine, and stationary, even some simple clothes.

Right, OK.

They're really great.

So, take a look at this data.

According to a Japan Tourism Agency survey, the number one place international visitors go to buy souvenirs is actually "konbini."

And it's a favorite shopping destination for nearly 80% of tourists.

Wow! But I can understand.

In a lot of situations, your local "konbini" has basically all the basics that you need.

So they're really convenient - they live up to their name.

Exactly.

How do people in Japan use their local "konbini?"

ATMs. All "konbini" have ATMs.

It's very convenient.

It's great that when you need
to make copies of a document you don't have to go far.

You can pay your tax bill.
You can't do that in the U.S.!

"Konbini" in Japan really are one-stop shops.

They offer a variety of specialized services under one roof.

You can pay your utility bills, you can pay your taxes...

So, "konbini" have truly become part of the social infrastructure.

Yeah. And now they've added prescription drug pickup to their offerings.

Yes.

I mean, "konbini" have become such an integral part of modern Japanese life.

Yes, they're essential.

OK, and that's all for today.

We'll see you next time.

See you soon!