Company History

  • 1990

    Jan.

    Kirin Techno-System Corporation (the forerunner of Kirin Techno System Co., Ltd.)established.

  • Mar.

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Ichiban.

  • Apr.

    ESPO®, an erythropoietin preparation and therapeutic agent for renal anemia, introduced.

  • 1991

    Jan.

    Kirin Lemon Co., Ltd. takes over Kirin Brewery's soft drink business and changes its company name to Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.

  • Jan.

    Kirin Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Kyowa Hakko Kirin [Taiwan] Co., Ltd.) established.

  • Mar.

    Kirin Beverage starts selling Tropicana.

  • May

    Jeil-Kirin Pharmaceutical, Inc.(the forerunner of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Korea Co., Ltd.) established in South Korea.

  • Sep.

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Akiaji.

  • Oct.

    Kirin Europe GmbH established in Germany.

  • Dec.

    GRAN®, a G-CSF preparation and therapeutic agent for neutropenia, introduced.

  • Dec.

    Kirin Beverage Maizuru Plant (closed in 2013) completed.

  • 1992

    Jan.

    Acquires a stake in Nihon Fine Foods Co., Ltd.

  • Apr.

    Kirin Brewery completes Basic Technology Research Institute (the forerunner of the Kirin Holdings Kirin Central Research Institute, etc.) in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

  • 1993

    Apr.

    Hokuriku Plant completed (closed in 2010)

  • Aug.

    Kirin Pharmaceuticals (China) Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Kyowa Hakko Kirin [Hong Kong] Co., Ltd.) established.

  • Sep.

    Transfers dairy products business to Koiwai Dairy.

  • Sep.

    Starts manufacturing and selling Budweiser in Japan. (out of production in 2018)

  • Nov.

    Kirin Agribio EC B.V. established in Netherlands.

  • -

    Starts the United Nations University-Kirin Fellowship Program.

  • 1994

    Mar.

    Kirin Beverage introduces Kirin Chikara-Mizu.

  • 1995

    Jan.

    Kirin Logistics Corp.(the forerunner of Kirin Group Logistics Co., Ltd.) established.

  • Apr.

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

  • Aug.

    KB Estate Co., Ltd. changes its name to Kirin Building Management Co., Ltd.

  • Oct.

    Mercian introduce Mercian Bistro.

  • 1996

    Feb.

    Kirin Lease & Finance Co., Ltd. changes its name to Kirin Lease Co., Ltd.(closed in 2005)

  • Mar.

    Shanghai JinJiang Kirin Beverage & Food Co., Ltd. established. (share transferred to China Resources Enterprise in 2011)

  • July

    Co-establishes Kirin Brewery of America, LLC with Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

  • Oct.

    Mercian introduces Mercian Bon Rouge.

  • Nov.

    Acquires a stake in Cosmo Co., Ltd.

  • Dec.

    Zhuhai Kirin President Brewery Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Brewery [Zhuhai] Co., Ltd.) established in China.

  • Dec.

    Kirin Brewery transfers wine businesses to Kirin-Seagram.

  • 1997

    Apr.

    Kirin Brewery starts selling pharmaceutical products by itself.

  • May

    Develops a human antibody-producing mouse.

  • May

    Kobe Plant completed.

  • May

    Taiwan Kirin Engineering Co., Ltd. changes its name to Taiwan Kirin Co., Ltd.

  • June

    Kirin Kunpeng (China) Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Kyowa Hakko Kirin China Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) established.

  • Sep.

    Sanoh Trading Co., Ltd changes its name to Kirin International Trading Inc.(liquidated in 2009)

  • Oct.

    Kirin-Asupro Corp., a health food manufacturing company, established.

  • 1998

    Feb.

    Kirin Brewery introduces Kirin Tanrei.

  • Apr.

    Acquires a stake in Lion Nathan Limited(the forerunner of Lion Pty Limited) in New Zealand.

  • Sep.

    Kirin Hotels Development Co., Ltd. Established. (transferred in 2009)

  • 1999

    Jan.

    Kirin Dining Co., Ltd.(store transferred to R&K Food Service Co., Ltd. In 2005) established by merging Kirin Food Service Co., Ltd. and Kirin Act Co., Ltd.

  • Feb.

    Kirin Beverage introduces Kirin Alkali-Ion-no-Mizu.

  • Aug.

    Kirin Beverage introduces Kirin Fire, canned coffee drink.

  • Oct.

    Kirin Beverages introduces Koiwai Milk & Coffee.

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