Company History

  • 1885

    July

    Japan Brewery Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd.) established. Later T.B.Glover served as an executive.

  • 1888

    May

    Japan Brewery introduces German-style lager beer under the brand name Kirin Beer and concluded an exclusive distribution contract with Meidi-Ya.

  • 1899

    Nov.

    Reorganizes to The Japan Brewery Co., Ltd.

  • 1907

    Feb.

    Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. established.

  • 1918

    Apr.

    Kanzaki Plant completed (later renamed the Amagasaki Plant, closed in 1996).

  • 1919

    Feb.

    Kirin Kuro Beer (out of production in 1998) introduced.

  • 1923

    May

    Acquires Sendai Factory (the forerunner of Kirin Brewery Sendai Factory) from Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd.

  • Sep.

    Yokohama Yamate Plant collapsed due to the Great Kanto Earthquake

  • 1925

    Sep.

    Kirin Brewery changes its head office location from Yamate-cho, Yokohama-shi to Koyasu-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi.

  • 1926

    June

    New Yokohama Plant (the forerunner of Kirin Brewery Yokohama Plant) completed.

  • 1927

    Jan.

    Kirin Brewery terminates the exclusive distribution agreement with Meidi-Ya and went direct to retailers with its own sales force.

  • 1928

    Feb.

    Kirin brewery expands a soft drink production line in Yokohama Plant.

  • Mar.

    Kirin Lemon – lemon-flavored carbonated drink –introduced.

  • Apr.

    Kirin Brewery changes its head office location from Koyasu-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi to Namamugi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi.

  • 1932

    Feb.

    Kirin brewery expands a chemical facility in Yokohama Plant and manufactured yeast etc.

  • Dec.

    Kirin Stout (out of production in 2008) introduced.

  • 1933

    Dec.

    Showa Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. established in Korea (business transfer in 1945).

  • 1934

    Apr.

    Yeongdeungpo Plant of Showa Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. Completed.

  • Apr.

    Establishes Manchuria Beer Co., Ltd. In China through joint investment with DaiNippon Beer (business transfer in 1937).

  • 1936

    Nov.

    The second plant of Manchuria Beer completed.

  • 1938

    Apr.

    Kirin Brewery builds a plant to produce bottles in Tonda, Yamaguchi (transferred in 1992).

  • May

    Hiroshima Plant completed (closed in 1998).

  • 1941

    Aug.

    Haratori-Jidousya-Unyu Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Kirin Group Logistics Co., Ltd.) established.

  • Oct.

    Rimpo Shokai Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Echo Co., Ltd.) established.

  • 1943

    Mar.

    Kirin brewery decides to abolish the beer brand trademark, after which the labels of beer products was unified to only "Beer".

  • Nov.

    Kirin Science Institute (the forerunner of Kirin Central Research Institute) established.

  • 1949

    Apr.

    Acquires a stake in Kinko Shokai Co., Ltd. running beer hall.

  • Dec.

    Revived the trademark "Kirin Beer" and started selling.

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Company History