Explain the history of Pocari Sweat!

About 40 years ago, an Otsuka researcher with a dream of developing an unprecedented new
beverage was on a business trip to Mexico, when he was hospitalized due to diarrhea. The doctor
told him to get enough water and nutrition, and handed him a carbonated beverage. The researcher
thought that it would be nice to have a drink that could supply both water and nutrients he needed.
Then in 1973, the same researcher saw a doctor drinking an I.V. solution to rehydrate himself after
finishing surgery. Thats when he got the idea for a drinkable I.V. solution. With this inspiration, Otsuka
researchers began to develop a rehydration beverage that could replenish the water and electrolytes
(ions) lost while sweating during daily activities. This idea came naturally to him as he was working in
a leading company in the I.V. solutions business.
Three years later in 1976, society had become more health conscious & jogging was all the rage.
Rather than developing a sport drink, the researchers sought to create a healthy beverage for
everyone in situations where they sweat. Otsuka researchers continued R&D on health beverages
that could be enjoyed during daily activities. Through this work, the Otsuka researchers found that
there are different kinds of sweat. They also found that the concentration of salt in everyday sweat is
lower than in sweat that occurs during sports activity.
Based on these findings, the researchers tried to create a beverage to replenish the body fluid after
regular everyday perspiration. However, it was quite bitter & didnt taste good. So they mixed a trial
rehydration drink with a citrus powder juice that was also being developed in the lab at the same time.
Suddenly the bitter taste was gone & a great tasting beverage was born. Through this combination
that no one had ever considered before, the development of this unique drink took a big leap forward.
The research continued, and finally two test products were prepared: one with high sugar content and
one with low sugar content. At that time, sweet juice-style beverages were the norm. Many of the
researchers thought that the sweetness of the test beverage was not sufficient. However, in order to
test the product concept to develop a drink that tastes great especially after sweating, the researchers
did not rely on their common sense in fact, one of them actually climbed a mountain to try out the
test products for himself. Then, he realized that the lightly sweetened test product was easier to drink.
This field test shaped the final taste decision.
The unprecedented rehydration drink, POCARI SWEAT, was launched in 1980. However, even after
trying it, many people did not understand the concept of the new beverage, and the taste did not
seem to be catching on either.

Despite this initial setback, Otsuka Pharmaceutical did not give up. In order to convey the new
rehydration drink concept, employees visited venues where people were likely to perspire. While
telling consumers of the importance of rehydration, they had them actually try POCARI SWEAT in
these situations. Free samples of POCARI SWEAT eventually reached the level of 30 million bottles.
In the summer two years after the launch, POCARI SWEAT suddenly broke through as a major hit
product. The concept had finally taken hold. Otsuka had succeeded in developing a completely new
market, namely, a rehydration beverage specifically designed for consumption after sweating.
In 2013, a new version of the POCARI SWEAT product was launched. POCARI SWEAT ION WATER
offers a light sweetness, a refreshing taste, and reduced calories.
The POCARI SWEAT logo was designed to convey the idea of replenishment of water and
electrolytes (ions) as well as the speed of absorption. Blue was adopted for the package, even though
it was considered taboo for beverage products in Japan at the time. This was a result of the
designers belief that the design expresses the products essential qualities, as well as the president
of Otsukas determination that the design should convey the product concept.
In regard to the name POCARI SWEAT, sweat was utilized in order to make the concept
unmistakable, and pocari is a catchy word that conveys the image of a refreshing blue sky in
Japanese.
The containers for POCARI SWEAT have continued to evolve in order to support not just the health of
people, but the planet as well. The weight of the 500 ml and 900 ml eco-bottles has been reduced by
about 30% compared to conventional plastic bottles. Thus, POCARI SWEAT is a health drink that
evolved through consideration of the well-being of both people and the planet.

What are the products of Pocari Sweat?

Explain the definition of colloid and give 3 examples of it!

Colloid is a dispersion of particles of one substance (the dispersed phase) throughout a

dispersing medium made of another substances

A colloid is a solution that has particles ranging between 1 and 100 nanometers in

diameter, yet are still able to remain evenly distributed throughout the solution.
Colloids are uniform mixtures that dont separate or settle out.
There are two parts to every colloid mixture
o The particles
o The dispersing medium

Example whipped cream, clouds, milk, shampoo