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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