The History of Iodine in Japan

This content, which was contributed by Takashi Fujino, a special member of “The Society of Iodine Science” in March 2020, briefly summarizes the history of iodine in Japan, mainly from the perspective of the iodine industry.

It consists of four frameworks: the dawn of iodine in Japan, the development of the iodine business, the transition of iodine raw materials, and the transition of iodine usage(As this theme is difficult to limit it in Japan, it is described by expanding the scope to the world.).

Contents

• 1.Introduction
• 2-1 The dawn of iodine in Japan – Edo period
• 2-2 The dawn of iodine in Japan – After the Meiji Restoration to the beginning of the 20th century.
• 3-1 Development of the iodine industry – Boom due to wars
• 3-2 Development of the iodine industry – Industry reorganization after the Russo-Japanese War
• 3-3 Development of the iodine industry – Evolution of the monopoly system for by-products
• 3-4 Development of the iodine industry – Impact of World War I
• 3-5 Development of the iodine industry – Industry hardship and increasing production for World War II
• 4-1 Change in material – History of non-seaweed iodine production
• 4-2 Change in material – Development in Chiba
• 4-3 Change in material – Development of natural gas industry and innovation in production methods
• 4-4 Change in material – Increasing production to the top of the world
• 4-5 Change in material – Technology development in Japan
• 4-6 Change in material – Chile is No.1 again
• 5-1 Transition in use of iodine – Expansion to various fields
• 5-2 Transition in use of iodine – Disinfectants/antiseptics
• 5-3 Transition in use of iodine – Almighty medicine
• 5-4 Transition in use of iodine – X-ray contrast media
• 5-5 Transition in use of iodine – Medicines for thyroid disorders and iodized salts for prevention of thyroid disorders
• 5-6 Transition in use of iodine – Photographic film material
• 5-7 Transition in use of iodine – Halogen light
• 5-8 Transition in use of iodine – Catalyst
• 5-9 Transition in use of iodine – Polarizing film
• 5-10 Transition in use of iodine – Stable iodine preparations
• 5-11 Transition in use of iodine – Medical use of radioactive iodine
• 5-12 Transition in use of iodine – The Nobel Prize and iodine
• 6.Closing remarks
• 7.Chronology
• 8.Postscript
• 9.Bibliography
• 10.Comparison list of unique nouns　(English-Japanese)
• 11.Map of Japan