The History of Opium in Japan

Opium and its various derivatives, which include heroine, have a combination of properties that can make them very attractive, but also very dangerous. It's unclear when exactly opium arrived in japan. The most common suggestion is that it was introduced from india during the muramachi periods. Opium poppies were burned as offerings by certain buddhist sects. During the toku gawa period, the Japanese government did allow for medicinal use of opium.