Toyama is the center of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Japan. The "drugs for household delivery business" (Toyama Kusurin) has more than 300 years of history and is famous for its unique business model ("use first pay later").

The Toyama Pharmaceutical Association was founded in 1952 under the permission of the prefectural governor. Basel and Toyama have signed a friendship agreement in 2018. There are ongoing collaboration between Basel University, Toyama University and the Toyama Preferctural University.