Company History

Makes Kamakura Kaihin Hotel Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary (liquidated in 2013).

Kirin Juice introduced.（In 1970, the name was changed to Kirin Orangeade and the product was later discontinued.）

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.(currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) succeed isolation and commercial mass-production of the anticancer drug, Mitomycin C.

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.(currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) invented the process of L-glutamic acid production by fermentation (a world first).

Tokyo Plant completed (closed in 1998).

Eirin Shokai Ltd. established.

Kinki Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. Established. (later Kinki Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd., stock transfer in 2006)

Yokohama Second Plant completed (closed in 1991)

Nagoya Plant completed.

Vending Machine Services Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.) established, selling soft drinks through vending machines.

Kirin Brewery changes its head office location from Namamugi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama to Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

Takasaki Plant completed (closed in 2000).

Fukuoka Plant completed.

Rimpo Shokai Ltd. changes its name to Hotel Echo Co., Ltd.

Integrated Research Institute (the forerunner of Kirin Central Research Institute etc.) established.

Vending Machine Services starts selling soft drinks to retail stores.

Vending Machine Services changes its name to Kirin Lemon Service Co., Ltd.

Kirin brewery completes the extension and renovation work of the Kyoto Plant acquired from Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.(closed in 1999)

Toride Plant completed.

Mercian introduced Château Mercian.

Kirin brewery starts selling imported whisky and wine.

Hokkaido Kirin Lemon Service Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Hokkaido Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.) established.

Okayama Plant completed.

Kirin-Seagram Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd.) established.

Kirin Lemon service Sagami Plant (the forerunner of Kirin Beverage Shonan Plant) established.

Zymolyase®5000 introduced.

Established Japan Shakey's Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation and Shakey's Inc. (store inherited to Kirin Dining Co., Ltd. in 2000)

Kirin Brewery transfers sales of imported whisky, wine, etc. to Kirin Seagram.

Kirin Seagram Gotemba Plant (the forerunner of Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery) completed.

Kirin-Seagram introduces Robert Brown, their first whisky made in Japan.

Shiga Plant completed.

Chitose Plant (soft drink) completed.

Koiwai Dairy Products Co., Ltd. established.

K.B.B. Malting Co., Pty Ltd.(later renamed Kirin Australia Pty Ltd) established.

Acquires a stake in Nagano Tomato Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of naganotomato Co., Ltd. which transferred in 2020).

KB Estate Co., Ltd. established.

Kirin Tomato Juice introduced.

Kirin brewery starts selling nine products of Koiwai Dairy.

Kirin Brewery changes its head office location from Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo to Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

Hotel Echo changes its name to Kirin Echo Co., Ltd.

Kinko Shokai Changed its name to Kirin Food Services Co., Ltd.

Makes Tsurumi Warehouse Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary(share transfer in 2009).

KW Inc. (the forerunner of Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc.) established in the United States.

Begins to sponsor the Japan Cup soccer(the forerunner of Kirin Cup Soccer).

Tochigi Plant completed(closed in 2010).

Kirin Mets introduced.

Kirin Memorial Foundation (the forerunner of The KIRIN Welfare Foundation) established.

Makes K.B.B. Malting Co., Pty Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary.

Formulates the Long-Term Management Vision (the 21st Long-Term Plan).

The Research Institute for Production Development foundation begins full-scale research towards the commercialization of erythropoietin.

Makes JAPAN TRAVEL MARKETING CONSULTANTS, INC. a consolidated subsidiary(transferred in 2005).

Makes KW Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary.

Acquires a stake in Sanoh Trading Co., Ltd.

Kirin Sports Club Co., Ltd. established (share transfer in 2005).

Sendai Plant completed.

Kirin City Co., Ltd. established.

Heineken Japan Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Heineken Kirin Co., Ltd.) established.

Kirin Plaza Co., Ltd running sports club established (share transfer in 2007).

Starts selling Heineken.

K.B.B. Malting Co., Pty Ltd changes its name to Kirin Australia Pty Ltd (share transfer in 2011).

Kirin-Amgen, Inc. established(terminated the joint venture agreement in 2017).

Establishes Flower Gate Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Tokyo Kamon Co., Ltd (share transfer in 2006).

Hokkaido Chitose Plant completed.

Heartland Beer introduced.

Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha, bottled black tea, introduced.

Yokohama Arena Co., Ltd. established (share transfer in 2017).

Eirin Shokai changes it name to Kirin Lease & Finance Co., Ltd.

Kirin Plaza Osaka, Complex culture building, completed (later KPO Kirin Plaza Osaka, closed in 2007).

Acquires a stake in Verde Co., Ltd.(share transfer in 2010)

Supported the establishment of the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) in the United States.

Kirin & Communications Co., Ltd. established.

Kirin Engineering Co., Ltd. established.

Kirin Wine Club introduced.

Kirin Lemon Service changes its name to Kirin Lemon Co., Ltd.

Taiwan Kirin Engineering Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Taiwan Kirin Co., Ltd.) established.

Kirin Business System Co., Ltd. established.

GEMINI SCIENCE, INC.(the forerunner of Kyowa Kirin Pharmaceutical Research, Inc.) established.

Acquires a stake in Twyford International, Inc. (the United States, liquidated in 2007)

KW Inc. changes its name to Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England, Inc. (the forerunner of Coca Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc.)

Acquires a stake in RAYMOND VINEYARD & CELLAR, INC. (share transfer in 2009)

Establishes R & K Food Service Co., Ltd. as a joint investment with Royal Co., Ltd. (share transfer in 2005)

Takasaki Pharmaceutical Plant (the forerunner of Kyowa Kirin Takasaki Plant) completed.

Acquires a stake in Tokita Seed Co., Ltd. (share transfer in 2010)