Shinjiro Torii starts the Torii Shoten store in Osaka, on February 1 and initiates production and sales of grape wine.
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Suntory's founder Shinjiro Torii |
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Akadama Port Wine, a sweet grape wine, released.
| An advertisement for Akadama Port Wine |  |
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Kotobukiya Limited founded.
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Kotobukiya in the early 1920's |
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Construction of the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's first malt whisky distillery, begins in Yamazaki in the outskirts of Kyoto, marking the first step toward the production of Japanese whisky.
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Yamazaki Distillery's Kiln (around 1937) |
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Suntory Shirofuda (white label), Japan's first genuine whisky, introduced.
| An advertisement for Suntory Whisky Shirofuda at the time of its release |
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Oraga Beer released by Kotobukiya.
Suntory whisky exported for the first time to overseas markets.
Yamanashi Winery (current Tomi no oka Winery), Japan's largest independently owned vineyard (approx. 150 hectares), opened in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Suntory Kakubin(square bottle) whisky launched.
| Suntory Kakubin (square bottle) whisky |
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Production of Suntory Old whisky announced, but sales postponed due to war.
Torys Whisky re-released after World War II.
Release of Suntory Old whisky, postponed since 1940.
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Suntory Old whisky |
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Torys Bars and Suntory Bars opened one after another, centered on Tokyo and Osaka.
| A Torys Bar |  |
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First issue of Youshu Tengoku (Western liquor heaven), a PR magazine available at bar chains, issued with Ken Kaiko as editor-in-chief.
Suntory Royal whisky launched to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Company's founding.
"Let's drink Torys and go to Hawaii" campaign conducted.
Suntory Museum of Art opened.
Suntory Whisky becomes the first Japanese whisky to be approved for registration in the United States.
Keizo Saji becomes 2nd president.
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A "Let's drink Torys and go to Hawaii" campaign advertisement |
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Company name changed from Kotobukiya to Suntory Limited.
Musashino Brewery, Suntory's first brewery, established; brewing and sales of Suntory beer initiated.
| An advertisement for Suntory Beer at the time of its release |  |
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Suntory Red whisky released.
High-quality Suntory Château Lion wine marketed.
Name of Suntory Shirofuda whisky changed to Suntory White.
Suntory Beer Jun-nama marketed in small, medium and large bottles.
Jun-nama canned beer marketed.
Suntory Music Foundation established.
Katsura Brewery (current Kyoto Brewery), the Company's second brewery, opened.
Suntory Reserve whisky released.
Suntory Pavilion at Osaka Expo opened.
First Restaurant Suntory, a Japanese-style restaurant, opened in Mexico City.
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The Suntory Pavilion at the Osaka Expo |
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"Friday is a day to buy wine" campaign conducted.
| A commercial on the theme of "Friday is a day to buy wine" that ignited a wine boom. |  |
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Hakushu Distillery established.
First annual Suntory Open Golf Tournament held (continued until 2007).
Central Research Institute (current Suntory Research Center) completed.
Japan's first noble rot grape variety harvested at Yamanashi Winery (current Tomi no Oka Winery).
MIDORI, melon liqueur, marketed in the United States.
Noble rot grape Suntory Château Lion (Noble d'or) and Suntory Château Lion (Noble d'Argent) wines marketed.
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MIDORI, melon liqueur |
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Suntory Foundation established.
Suntory Whisky Museum completed at the Hakushu Distillery.
Pharmaceutical Business Department and Suntory Institute for Biomedical Research established.