Jigsaw Puzzle: Vinca

Jigsaw puzzle featuring a work by Bin Kashiwa, likely depicting a French cityscape.
It comes in a cylindrical package.

It appears to be a novelty item from Nippon Merck-Banyu Co., Ltd.

Jigsaw Puzzle
PICTURE: BIN KASHIWA

★MB Nippon Merck-Banyu Co., Ltd.
→ A Japanese pharmaceutical company.
1952: Sales partnership with Merck & Co., Inc., USA.
2002: Company name changed to "Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."
2003: Became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., USA.
2010: New company name "MSD K.K."

★Bin Kashiwa / Bin Kashiwa
Real name: Toshiichi Kashiwazaki (May 15, 1944 – September 6, 2023)
A popular painter known for the cover art of the NHK "French Language Course" textbook.
He is said to be Hiro Yamagata's teacher.

★Merxin
Merxin®: Likely the product name (trademark) for Cefoxitin (CFX), a cephamycin antibiotic.

Based on information such as the antibiotic's development year being 1972 and the "trademark pending" text on the package, it is believed to be a product from around 1980, but the exact details are unknown.

◆Size
Case size: Diameter 7.9 x Height 12.3

◆Condition
The case has scratches and stains.
The puzzle pieces inside are unopened, so their condition is unconfirmed.
The number and size of the pieces are also unknown as they are not listed.

Retro
Showa Era
Corporate Novelty
Rare
Scarce
Hiro Yamagata