Looking for the old Takeda vitamin C bottle, or deciding between yellow Hicee boxes? Start with how you want to take it: swallow tablets, chew a tablet, or take powder with water. The numbers on the front do not tell you how many to take at once.
I'm Irene, a Taiwan-born pharmacist licensed in Japan and working in a Japanese drugstore. I'll help you match the Japanese name and directions, including the easily missed refill case for Hicee L.
Sources checked: 13 October 2026. This guide covers Japanese-market products. These three are Class 3 OTC medicines; availability in individual shops is not confirmed.
First choose the form and check the age
| Full Japanese name | Practical reason to compare it | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C “2000” (ビタミンC「2000」) | Small tablets swallowed whole with water | 7 years, with age-specific doses |
| Hicee L (ハイシーL) | Chew or dissolve in the mouth; uses its dedicated case | 15 years |
| Hicee 1000 (ハイシー1000) | Individual powder sachets, taken with water | 15 years |
The maker confirms that ビタミンC「タケダ」 was renamed ビタミンC「2000」. Hicee L and Hicee 1000 are separate products. Hicee B-Mate 2 is another formula outside this comparison; do not use the table for it.
What are they labelled for?
All three list vitamin C supplementation during physical fatigue, pregnancy or breastfeeding, recovery-related weakness during or after illness, and older age. They also list relief of spots, freckles and pigmentation after sun exposure or skin irritation, and prevention of gum bleeding and nosebleeds. These indications do not make them a substitute for assessing unexplained or persistent symptoms. Do not interpret vitamin C supplementation as treatment or prevention of a cold.
“2000 mg” is a daily maximum, not one dose
The following doses are for ages 15 and over.
| Product, age 15+ | One dose | Daily frequency | After meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C “2000” (ビタミンC「2000」) | 1–3 tablets | Twice | Swallow without chewing, with water or warm water |
| Hicee L (ハイシーL) | 1 tablet | 1–3 times | Chew or dissolve in the mouth |
| Hicee 1000 (ハイシー1000) | 1 sachet | 1–2 times | Take with water or warm water |
At their adult maximum daily amounts, all three supply 2,000 mg of vitamin C: six Vitamin C “2000” tablets, three Hicee L tablets, or two Hicee 1000 sachets. You do not need to reach the maximum to follow a dose range. Do not take all three together to “complete” a vitamin routine.
Only Vitamin C “2000” has doses below age 15: ages 11–14 take 1–2 tablets per dose; ages 7–10 take one. Both are twice daily after meals, under adult supervision. Under 7 must not take it. Hicee L and Hicee 1000 must not be given to anyone under 15, even by reducing the adult amount.
The vitamin C source differs too
Vitamin C “2000” combines ascorbic acid with calcium ascorbate and contains no sodium. Hicee L and Hicee 1000 combine ascorbic acid with sodium ascorbate. At maximum daily doses, Vitamin C “2000” supplies 6 mg of vitamin B2 ester; Hicee L and Hicee 1000 each supply 12 mg. These differences do not establish superior absorption or results. Hicee 1000 contains aspartame: anyone diagnosed with phenylketonuria must consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered medicine seller before use.
Buying Hicee L? Check for the case before choosing a refill
The 40-tablet pack includes the dedicated container; 60- and 100-tablet packs are refills without it. The instructions require this case, rather than an ordinary pill organiser. Remove its sliding lid, press the inverted case onto the tablet pack's foil, turn both over, remove the empty pack shell and replace the lid. Follow the leaflet diagram if assembling it for the first time.
Do not eat the desiccant inside the Hicee L foil bag. Hicee L should be used within one month after transfer to its case. Its opened inner foil bag has a separate six-month quality guideline. Vitamin C “2000” also has a six-month guideline after opening its bottle; keep it in that bottle, discard the transport packing after first opening and close the lid tightly. These are storage limits, not recommended treatment lengths. Keep all three cool, dry, away from sunlight and children, and within expiry.
Stop rules worth keeping with the box
With any of these, stop immediately and seek professional advice for nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, bloating or loss of appetite after use. Stop and seek advice if diarrhoea persists or worsens. If symptoms have not improved after about one month, stop and consult a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or registered medicine seller with the leaflet. Do not wait a month if symptoms are worsening or concerning.
Tell your clinician before urine or stool tests because vitamin C may affect results. B2 can turn urine yellow; that does not show how well the product is working. If already taking vitamin medicines or supplements, have the combined intake checked before adding another.
My shelf check is full name, suitable age, one-dose directions, then pack size. If you meant DHC's food supplements instead, see the standard versus sustained-release DHC vitamin C guide; their serving directions are different.
