| 1871 |
「殖産興業による社会奉仕」の精神をもって創業 本坊郷右衛門と子の松左衛門、製綿業を開始 |
| 1871 |
Founded with the spirit of ‘serving society through industrial development’ |
| 1884 |
本坊合名会社を設立し、代表社員に本坊東吉が就任 |
| 1884 |
植林、山林事業を開始 |
| 1884 |
Matsusaemon began producing rapeseed oil |
| 1902 |
Started a merchandise sales business under the name Hombo Brothers Partnership |
| 1909 |
The Hombo Brothers Partnership was reorganized into a company, with Asakichi Hombo assuming the role of representative |
| 1918 |
Began production of modern shochu (current Korui Shochu) |
| 1921 |
Opened a Kagoshima branch in Tsukimachi, Kagoshima City |
| 1926 |
Moved the Kagoshima branch to Sumiyoshi-cho, Kagoshima City |
| 1928 |
Presented two bottles of ‘Hoshi’ shochu to the Emperor and Empress |
| 1928 |
Following this, the trademark was changed to ‘Takaraboshi’ |
| 1928 |
Established Hombo Partnership Company, with Tokichi Hombo as the representative partner |
| 1928 |
Started afforestation and forestry business |
| 1928-03-28 |
Advertisement in Kagoshima Newspaper (now Minami Nippon Shimbun) for [Takaraboshi] 1928/3/28 |
| 1936 |
株式会社に変更 本坊酒造株式会社を設立し、本社は鹿児島市加世田津貫 |
| 1936 |
初代社長に本坊東吉が就任 |
| 1936 |
鹿児島工場を鹿児島市築町に開設 |
| 1936 |
二代目社長に本坊常吉が就任 |
| 1936 |
Began production of Mirin |
| 1941 |
Began production of Synthetic Sake |
| 1942 |
Became a contracted producer under the Alcohol Monopoly Law |
| 1945 |
The Kagoshima branch and Tsunuki Manufacturer were completely destroyed by air raids |
| 1947 |
Reconstruction of Tsunuki Manufacturer was completed |
| 1949 |
Began production of whisky |
| 1952 |
Began production of Jizake (Akumochi-zake) |
| 1954 |
Opened the Fukuoka office (now Fukuoka branch) |
| 1954 |
Began production of raw alcohol |
| 1955 |
Began production of Umeshu |
| 1955 |
Began production of Fortified wine |
| 1955 |
Incorporated as Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tsunuki, Kaseda City |
| 1955 |
Tokichi Hombo became the first president |
| 1955 |
Opened Kagoshima Manufacturer in Tsukimachi, Kagoshima City |
| 1955 |
Tsunekichi Hombo became the second president |
| 1956 |
財団法人興南アジア国際奨学財団を設立 |
| 1956 |
Moved Kagoshima Manufacturer to Kōrimoto, Kagoshima City |
| 1957 |
Transferred the whisky manufacturing license from Tsunuki Manufacturer to Kagoshima Manufacturer |
| 1958 |
Began production of spirits |
| 1960 |
Established Yamanashi Manufacturer (now Mars Yamanashi Winery) in Yamanashi Prefecture |
| 1960 |
Began production of wine |
| 1962 |
Opened the Tokyo office (now Tokyo branch) |
| 1963 |
First shipment from Yamanashi Manufacturer |
| 1969 |
Re-acquired a new whisky manufacturing license at Kagoshima Manufacturer |
| 1972 |
Suspended whisky distillation at Yamanashi Manufacturer |
| 1973 |
Established Chiran Manufacturer (now Chiran Distillery) in Chiran, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| 1974 |
Relocated and established a new Kagoshima Manufacturer in Nan’ei, Kagoshima City |
| 1982 |
Established a traditional handmade shochu distillery (now Satsuma Gojyugura) at Kagoshima Manufacturer |
| 1985 |
Established Shinshu Manufacturer (now Mars Komagatake Distillery) in Miyada Village, Nagano Prefecture, transferring the whisky license from Yamanashi Manufacturer |
| 1986 |
Opened the Osaka office (now Osaka branch) |
| 1987 |
Established a biotechnology research institute within Kagoshima Manufacturer |
| 1989 |
Renovated Yamanashi Manufacturer (added a new bottling manufacturer) |
| 1992 |
Opened the Kanto branch |
| 1992 |
Suspended whisky distillation at Shinshu Manufacturer |
| 1994 |
Established the Konan Asia International Scholarship Foundation |
| 1995 |
長野県駒ヶ根市に第3セクターにて南信州ビール（株）を設立 |
| 1995 |
Co-founded Minami Shinshu Beer Co., Ltd. in Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture |
| 2000 |
（株）クリーン・アクア・ビバレッジを設立 |
| 2000 |
Established “Hosaka Hinoshiro Farm,” our estate vineyard, in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| 2001 |
Began aging shochu in natural caves at the foot of Tachudake on Yakushima Island |
| 2003 |
Opened “Tsunuki Kishogura” within Tsunuki Manufacturer |
| 2004 |
Completed a full renovation of Chiran Distillery |
| 2005 |
Awarded the first gold medal for a Yamanashi Prefecture grape (Koshu and European varieties) at the Japan Wine Competition |
| 2006 |
Established “Kawahira Farm,” our estate sweet potato field, adjacent to Chiran Distillery |
| 2008 |
Completed a shochu lees processing plant at Chiran Distillery |
| 2008 |
Moved the company headquarters from Sumiyoshi-cho to Nanei, Kagoshima City |
| 2008 |
Established Clean Aqua Beverage Corporation, a dedicated mineral water producer, at the Kobayashi manufacturer |
| 2008-06-25 |
Advertisement in Minami Nippon Newspaper [A New Era] |
| 2011 |
Resumed whisky distillation at Mars Shinshu Distillery |
| 2013 |
Awarded the “World’s Best” at the World Whiskies Awards (WWA) |
| 2013 |
Awarded the first-ever ‘Trophy’ for shochu at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) |
| 2013-03-21 |
WWA Award Ceremony at The Waldorf Hilton, London |
| 2013-11-13 |
IWSC Award Ceremony at Guildhall, London |
| 2014 |
Installed new whisky pot stills at Mars Shinshu Distillery |
| 2016 |
Awarded the first-ever “Best Shochu” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) |
| 2016 |
Awarded the first-ever “Trophy” for shochu at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2016 |
Established the “Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar” at the Yakushima manufacturer |
| 2016 |
Began production at the newly established “Mars Tsunuki Distillery” |
| 2016-11-07 |
Completion of Mars Tsunuki Distillery |
| 2017 |
Awarded the first-ever “Craft Producer of the Year” for Japan at the Icons of Whisky (IOW) |
| 2017 |
Established “Mars Hosaka Winery” in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| 2017-03-28 |
IOW Award Ceremony at The Waldorf Hilton, London |
| 2017-11-25 |
Completion of Mars Hosaka Winery |
| 2019 |
Awarded the “Trophy” & “White Spirits Producer of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2019-07-10 |
ISC Award Ceremony at Plaisterers’ Hall, London |
| 2020 |
Awarded the ‘Best Shochu’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) |
| 2020-01-19 |
Awarded the “Trophy for Best White Wine” & “Riedel Award for Best White Winemaker” at the Japan Wine Challenge (JWC) |
| 2020-01-19 |
JWC Award Ceremony at Conrad Tokyo Hotel |
| 2020-09-10 |
Completed renovation of Mars Shinshu Distillery, adding a new whisky distillation building and visitor center |
| 2021 |
Awarded the “Trophy” at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2021 |
Awarded the “Best Shochu” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) |
| 2021 |
Awarded the “Trophy” & “Shochu Producer of the Year Trophy” at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) |
| 2021 |
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021 'Shochu Producer of the Year Trophy' certificate |
| 2021 |
IWSC 2021 Shochu Producer of the Year certificate |
| 2022 |
Awarded the “Trophy” & “Shochu Producer of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2022-07-12 |
ISC Award Ceremony at One Great George Street, London |
| 2023 |
Awarded the “Trophy” & “Shochu Producer of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2023-09-12 |
ISC Award Ceremony at One Great George Street, London |
| 2024 |
Renamed “Mars Shinshu Distillery” to “Mars Komagatake Distillery” |
| 2024 |
Awarded the “BEST OF THE BEST” & “BEST CATEGORY” at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) |
| 2024 |
Awarded the “Trophy” & “Shochu Producer of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2024-09-26 |
ISC Award Ceremony at One Great George Street, London |
| 2025 |
Awarded the “Trophy” & “Shochu Producer of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) |
| 2025-09-25 |
ISC Award Ceremony at One Great George Street, London |
