Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. was a Japanese pharmaceutical company formed in October 2005 through the merger of Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. [1] The company operated under this name until April 1, 2022, when it changed its trade name to Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. [2]
Design and History
During the Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma era, the company used a corporate symbol called the “Green Prism.” According to the company’s official Fact Book, the symbol was designed with three motifs: the “Sun,” expressing a lively sense of energy moving on toward tomorrow; “Light,” conveying the potential and hope of the future; and “Flower,” engendering the joyous and liberated sensation of basking in good health. [3]
In May 2021, the company announced its decision to change its name from “Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma” to “Sumitomo Pharma,” citing the aim of maximizing the use of the simple and globally accepted “Sumitomo” brand. The announcement included a new brand logo, with the change scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2022. [2]
With the rebranding, the company adopted the “Igeta” (井桁) mark, a common corporate symbol shared across the Sumitomo Group. The new identity reintroduced this traditional Sumitomo emblem while retaining the green color associated with the previous brand. [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The corporate color of the current Sumitomo Pharma brand is called “SMP Green.” According to the company’s official corporate profile, the color represents “the hue of fresh young leaves and other images of healthy and energetic moods, and signs of what the future holds.” [5] The Japanese corporate site similarly explains that the green expresses a state of healthy, lively feeling and the color of young leaves, a symbol of future possibility. [4]
The Igeta mark itself is described by the company as a common mark for the Sumitomo Group, not a design unique to the pharmaceutical company. [5] The rebranding was reported as reviving the distinctive Igeta symbol to reflect the group’s long history and heritage, while keeping the fresh-leaf green tone of the previous logo to convey health, vitality, and a promising future. [6]
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