On June 18, 2010, Sumitomo Corporation's subsidiary, Sumisho Drugstores Inc. (SDS), launched its 136th drugstore in Japan. The Tomod's COREDO Nihonbashi store in Chuo-ku, Tokyo is the first SDS drugstore with an automatic teller machine and self-serve digital photo printing machine. The store also does more to meet the needs of working people by adopting expanded convenience-store-like features, such as an extensive variety of bento lunch boxes, snacks and magazines, and a 5-yen-per-page copier machine.

SDS has been operating drugstores that offer both reliable professional expertise and convenient shopping since its foundation in 1993. These stores represent Japan's first European-style drugstores, differing from both conventional Japanese drugstores that sell daily necessities at discount prices and dispensing pharmacies attached to hospitals.

Almost every Tomod's drugstore has a prescription counter as well as trained pharmacists providing category-one over-the-counter medications. "Tomod's has always aimed to be a drugstore where people living or working nearby can seek help when they are not sick enough to see a doctor but still feeling a little under the weather," explains Deputy General Manager Sakata of SDS's Store Operation Dept. "That's why we have been committed to always providing professional service."

At the same time, Tomod's has also made a point of offering more and more products and services that are similar to those found in convenience stores. "The ATM and the digital photo printing machine, which SDS introduced for the first time at the Tomod's COREDO Nihonbashi store, have been well received by customers, even though there are not many precedents for this kind of thing," says Mr.Sakata, pleased with the response.