Okiyo Ozuka

Japanese entrepreneur who revolutionized health drinks and pioneered women's entrepreneurship post-WWII

Okiyo Ozuka (1924-2012) was a trailblazing business leader who transformed Japan's health beverage industry. As a young widow in 1950s Tokyo, she founded Ozuka Laboratories after discovering traditional alkaline water's health benefits. Her Ozukaline electrolyte drink became a household name, using patented technology still used today in sports drinks.

Ozuka pioneered modern corporate practices for women, establishing Japan's first childcare facilities at workplaces in 1963. Her company became a model for gender equality, employing 70% female staff by the 1970s. Her 1968 management book remains a reference in Japanese business schools.

Her innovations influenced global health drink markets - Coca-Cola's 2010 electrolyte drink launch cited her research. Ozuka was posthumously awarded the Japan Prize for Entrepreneurial Excellence in 2015. Modern health tech startups like Ozuka Institute continue her legacy in nutritional science.