"I ni Isan" Stomach Care Day
Wordplay AnniversariesWhat Is "I ni Isan" Day?
December 13th is "I ni Isan" Day, a day for looking after your stomach. It was established by Ohta's Isan Co., Ltd., maker of the well-known stomach medicine Ohta's Isan, and was certified by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2014. The date is a pun: 12 reads as "i ni" (to the stomach) and 13 as "i san" (stomach powder). It falls in the season of year-end parties, when stomachs work overtime.
A Message to the Overworked December Stomach
Reading "1213" as "i-ni, i-san" is only half the idea; choosing December matters just as much. This is the month of back-to-back parties and restaurant meals, when overeating and overdrinking pile up.
- Established by: Ohta's Isan Co., Ltd., headquartered in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
- Origin of the date: the wordplay "i (1) ni (2)" and "i (1) san (3)"
- Certification: registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2014
- Company history: Ohta's Isan was founded in 1879 and has over 140 years of history
- Aim: to prompt people to care for their digestion during the year-end party season
The Name Comes from the Founder
"Ohta" in both the company and product name comes from the founder's surname. The powdered remedy, with its herbal aroma and cooling finish, has been a household fixture in Japan for generations -- many people can hum its commercial jingle before they can describe the product.
Tips for Marking This Day
- In a week of back-to-back parties, slot in a day of lighter, easier-to-digest meals
- Drink water or tea alongside alcohol to slow your own pace
- Check the expiry dates in your medicine box and restock what has run out
- Look for other anniversaries built on number wordplay, as this one is
Year-End Health Starts with the Stomach
December fills up fast, and eating patterns slip with it. December 13th is the day to check in with your stomach before the run of parties begins -- a good moment to decide, in advance, how you will pace yourself.