Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.

In 1907, we were founded by inheriting the business of Japan Brewery Company, established in 1885.

Established Japan Brewery Company.

Established Japan Brewery Company (JBC), predecessor of Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd.; later, T.B. Grahuber also served as an executive.

JBC entered a wholesale distribution agreement with Meijiya's Kazuichi Isono and launched a German-style lager beer under the brand name 'Kirin Beer'.

Japan Brewery Company was reorganized into The Japan Brewery Company.

Reorganized into Japan Brewery Company, The Japan Brewery Company (hereafter JBC).

In 1907, Kirin Beer Co., Ltd. was founded, and 'Kirin Beer', brewed using German-origin ingredients by German brewers, received high praise in the market as a genuine German-style beer.

Founded Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. It inherited the business of Japan Brewery Company, established in 1885, and our company was founded in 1907.

Inherited JBC's business and founded Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd.

Kanzaki plant (later Kirin Beer Amagasaki Plant) completed (operations ceased in 1996).

Released 'Kirin Black Beer' (production ceased in 1998).

Acquisition agreement with Toyo Brewing Co., Ltd. finalized; Sendai plant (now Kirin Beer Sendai Plant) established.

Yokohama Yamanote plant collapsed due to the Great Kanto Earthquake.

Kirin Brewery changed its registered office location from Yamanote-cho, Yokohama City to Kojiyama-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City (Kaidai-dori).

Yokohama New Plant (now Kirin Beer Yokohama Plant) completed.

Kirin Brewery terminated its wholesale agreement with Meijiya, established a sales department, and began sales.

Expanded into soft drinks and launched 'Kirin Lemon'. It was sold in clear bottles and shipped wrapped in paper to preserve quality.

Launched Kirin Lemon. Expanded into the soft drink business.

Kirin Brewery completed a soft drink factory within the Yokohama plant.

Released carbonated beverage 'Kirin Lemon'.

Kirin Brewery changed its registered office from Kojiyama-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City (Kaidai-dori) to Ikumaki, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City.

Kirin Brewery completed a pharmaceutical plant within the Yokohama plant, producing yeast agents and the like.

Released 'Kirin Stout' (production ceased in 2008).

Established Showa Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. in Korea (business transferred in 1945).

Showa Kirin Brewery Nitta-ura Plant completed (business transferred in 1945).

Established Manchuria Brewery Co., Ltd. through joint investment with Dai Nippon Brewery (business transferred in 1937).

Manchurian Beer Second Factory Completed (business transferred in 1937)

Kirin Beer and Futada Distillery Completed (transferred to K.Y.C. Co., Ltd. in 1992)

Kirin Beer Hiroshima Factory Completed (operations ceased in 1998)

Reorganized the original Yoru Transport Company, which handled logistics for the Yokohama factory, and established Yoru Automobile Transport Co., Ltd. (now Kirin Group Logistics Co., Ltd.)

Established Limited Company Rinpo Co., Ltd. (now Kirin Echo Co., Ltd.)

The history of Kirin Beer’s research department began with the establishment of a research division in 1918, which became independent as the Kirin Research Institute that year.

Established Kirin Brewery and Kirin Research Institute (now Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. Kirin Central Research Institute, etc.).

Decided to discontinue beer brand trademarks, after which labels were unified as 'Beer'

Established Kirin Beer and Kirin Research Institute (now Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. Kirin Central Research Institute, etc.)

Acquired shares of Kinokawa Trading Co., Ltd., which operates beer halls

Revived the trademark 'Kirin Beer' and began sales

Established a subsidiary that sells soft drinks through vending machines.

Established Automatic Sales Service Co., Ltd. (now Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.).

Started in-house distillation and released the first domestic whisky, 'Robert Brown', in 1974.

Established Kirin Seagram Co., Ltd. (now Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd.) and began in-house production of distilled spirits.

Entered the food business and sold dairy products such as cheese and butter nationwide.

Established Koikawa Dairy Co., Ltd. and entered the food business.

Started Coca-Cola bottling operations in New England, North America.

Established KW Inc. (now Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast) and started Coca-Cola bottling operations in New England, North America.

After two oil shocks and the evident maturation of the beer market, we aimed to create a new management structure and formulated a 'Long-Term Management Vision' in 1981.

Formulated a long-term management vision and expanded into the medical and health science fields.

Based on proposals within Kirin Beer, we began research and development in the medical field using biotechnology.

Established a Research and Development Department and began medical R&D with a focus on biotechnology.

The Health Food Team of Kirin Beer Business Development Department was established, forming a team to explore health foods utilizing yeast and others.

Kirin City Co., Ltd. (now Kirin City Co., Ltd.) was established and entered the restaurant business as a beer restaurant offering draft beer brewed using the traditional German Pilsner technique of 'three pours'.

Launched the Health Food Team within the Kirin Beer Business Development Department, exploring health foods utilizing yeast and others.

Established Kirin City Co., Ltd. (now Kirin City Co., Ltd.) and entered the restaurant business.

Regarding erythropoietin (EPO) that was being researched in the R&D department, a joint venture with American Amgen Inc. was established, and large-scale production was successfully achieved.

Established Kirin Amgen Co., Ltd. and succeeded in large-scale production of erythropoietin (EPO).

Supported the establishment of the Lahoja Allergy Immunology Research Institute (now Lahoja Immunology Research Institute) and advanced research in immunology.

Supported the establishment of the Lahiya Immunology Research Institute and contributed to immune research.

Released the renal anemia treatment drug 'Espo' (EPO formulation) from Kirin Beer Co., Ltd.

Released the renal anemia treatment drug 'Espo' (EPO formulation).

Expanded into Oceania and took a capital stake in LION NATHAN LTD. (now LION PTY LTD).

Capital participation in LION NATHAN LTD. (now LION PTY LTD). Expansion into Oceania.

Acquired the business rights to the bourbon 'Four Roses', born in Kentucky, USA, in 1888.

Expanded into the Philippines, where economic growth and population increase are significant, and took a capital stake in San Miguel Corporation.

Kirin Beer’s Foundation Technology Research Institute, in collaboration with Koawai Dairy Co., Ltd. and the Graduate School of Life Sciences at Showa Women's University, discovered 'KW Lactobacillus' that improves allergy symptoms, and it was commercialized in 2022.

Acquired business rights of Four Roses. Obtained bourbon from Kentucky, USA.

Capital participation in San Miguel Corporation. Expansion into the Philippines.

Discovered 'KW lactic acid bacteria' for allergy improvement in collaboration with Koikawa Dairy.

Formulated the long-term management plan 'Kirin Group Vision 2021', expanded the business foundation, and advanced a merger of the pharmaceutical business with Kowa Fermentation Industry.

Made Merchan Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary and brought the wine business under its umbrella.

Formulated long-term management concept 'Kirin Group Vision 2021'. Merger with Kyowa Hakko Kogyo created Kyowa Hakko Kirin.

Made Merchan Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary. Brought wine business under its umbrella.

Inherited Kirin Beer’s pharmaceutical business and established Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd.

Established Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd. Started manufacturing and selling pharmaceuticals.

Divested the biochemicals business of Kowa Fermentation Industry Co., Ltd. and established Kowa Fermentation Bio Co., Ltd.

Kowa Fermentation Industry Co., Ltd. and Kirin Pharma Co., Ltd. merged operations and launched Kowa Fermentation Kirin Co., Ltd. (now Kowa Kirin Co., Ltd.).

Established Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. Spin-off of the biochemicals business.

Founded Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (now Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.). Launched pharmaceutical business utilizing antibody technology.

Discovered the lactobacillus L. lactis Plasma (plasma lactobacillus) and advanced research on lactobacilli that activate immune cells.

Discovered lactic acid bacterium 'L. lactis Plasma'.

Kowa Fermentation Bio’s Thai subsidiary, THAI KYOWA BIOTECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD., completed an amino acid production plant, and in 2022 also finished HMO production facilities.

Thai local subsidiary, THAI KYOWA BIOTECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD., completed an amino acid production plant.

Revised the long-term management plan 'Kirin Group Vision 2015' to the new KV2021 in 2016 and worked to strengthen corporate governance.

Revised long-term management concept 'Kirin Group Vision 2015' to new KV2021.

Formulated corporate governance policy.

In line with the new KV2021 policy, sold Kirin Brazil, which had been experiencing declining performance.

Launched the new brand 'iMUSE' of the group’s proprietary material 'plasma lactobacillus', and in 2020 it was first registered as a functional food with immune function.

Sold Kirin Brazil.

Released 'iMUSE'. Launched new brand of plasma lactic acid bacteria.

Formulated the long-term management plan 'Kirin Group Vision 2027' and set a policy aimed at solving social issues and achieving sustainable growth.

Established a new facility, the iMUSE Health Science Factory, for producing lactobacillus raw materials, and expanded production capacity for immune-function functional foods in 2021.

We invested in FANKE Co., Ltd. and advanced collaborations in the health science domain.

Formulated long-term management concept 'Kirin Group Vision 2027'.

Established Kirin Group CSV purpose.

Established 'iMUSE Health Science Factory', a lactic acid bacteria raw material manufacturing site.

'iMUSE' was approved as Japan's first functional food with an immune function claim.

'iMUSE' received notification as Japan's first functional food with immune function.

Capital participation in FANKEL Co., Ltd.

The development and commercialization of Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 (KW lactic acid bacteria) received the Agricultural, Forestry and Chemical Society Award.

We made Australian company Blackmores a consolidated subsidiary and aimed to become a leading health science company in the Asia-Pacific region.

Blackmores was consolidated as a subsidiary.

We formulated the long-term management concept 'Innovate2035!' to continue growing for the next 100 years, aiming to become a CSV-leading company that continues to innovate through people and technology.

The long-term management concept 'Innovate2035!' was formulated.