Company History

• 1951

  • 

    Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.(currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) introduces production technology of Streptomycin, an anti-tubercular drug, from US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. and succeeded in its mass production. Contributed to the eradication of tuberculosis in Japan.

• 1952

  • Makes Kamakura Kaihin Hotel Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary (liquidated in 2013).

• 1954

  • June

    

    Kirin Juice introduced. (In 1970, the name was changed to Kirin Orangeade and the product was later discontinued.)

• 1956

  • Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.(currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) succeed isolation and commercial mass-production of the anticancer drug, Mitomycin C.

  • Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.(currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) invented the process of L-glutamic acid production by fermentation (a world first).

• 1957

  • Apr.

    

    Tokyo Plant completed (closed in 1998).

• 1958

  • Apr.

    Eirin Shokai Ltd. established.

• 1960

  • Sep.

    Kinki Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. Established. (later Kinki Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd., stock transfer in 2006)

• 1961

  • Apr.

    Yokohama Second Plant completed (closed in 1991)

• 1962

  • Feb.

    

    Nagoya Plant completed.

• 1963

  • Apr.

    

    Vending Machine Services Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.) established, selling soft drinks through vending machines.

• 1965

  • Mar.

    Kirin Brewery changes its head office location from Namamugi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama to Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

  • May

    

    Takasaki Plant completed (closed in 2000).

• 1966

  • Feb.

    

    Fukuoka Plant completed.

  • Mar.

    Rimpo Shokai Ltd. changes its name to Hotel Echo Co., Ltd.

• 1967

  • Jan.

    

    Integrated Research Institute (the forerunner of Kirin Central Research Institute etc.) established.

  • Feb.

    Vending Machine Services starts selling soft drinks to retail stores.

  • July

    Vending Machine Services changes its name to Kirin Lemon Service Co., Ltd.

• 1968

  • May

    

    Kirin brewery completes the extension and renovation work of the Kyoto Plant acquired from Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.(closed in 1999)

• 1970

  • June

    

    Toride Plant completed.

  • 

    Mercian introduced Château Mercian.

• 1971

  • Sep.

    Kirin brewery starts selling imported whisky and wine.

  • Dec.

    Hokkaido Kirin Lemon Service Co., Ltd.(the forerunner of Hokkaido Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.) established.

• 1972

  • Apr.

    

    Okayama Plant completed.

  • Aug.

    Kirin-Seagram Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd.) established.

• 1973

  • June

    

    Kirin Lemon service Sagami Plant (the forerunner of Kirin Beverage Shonan Plant) established.

  • Aug.

    Zymolyase®5000 introduced.

  • Sep.

    Established Japan Shakey's Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation and Shakey's Inc. (store inherited to Kirin Dining Co., Ltd. in 2000)

  • Oct.

    Kirin Brewery transfers sales of imported whisky, wine, etc. to Kirin Seagram.

  • Nov.

    

    Kirin Seagram Gotemba Plant (the forerunner of Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery) completed.

• 1974

  • Feb.

    

    Kirin-Seagram introduces Robert Brown, their first whisky made in Japan.

  • May

    

    Shiga Plant completed.

• 1975

  • May

    

    Chitose Plant (soft drink) completed.

• 1976

  • June

    

    Koiwai Dairy Products Co., Ltd. established.

  • June

    

    K.B.B. Malting Co., Pty Ltd.(later renamed Kirin Australia Pty Ltd) established.

  • June

    Acquires a stake in Nagano Tomato Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of naganotomato Co., Ltd. which transferred in 2020).

  • Aug.

    KB Estate Co., Ltd. established.

  • Sep.

    

    Kirin Tomato Juice introduced.

  • Oct.

    

    Kirin brewery starts selling nine products of Koiwai Dairy.

• 1977

  • Jan.

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

  • Feb.

    Hotel Echo changes its name to Kirin Echo Co., Ltd.

  • Feb.

    Kinko Shokai Changed its name to Kirin Food Services Co., Ltd.

  • May

    Makes Tsurumi Warehouse Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary(share transfer in 2009).

  • May

    

    KW Inc. (the forerunner of Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc.) established in the United States.

• 1978

  • Begins to sponsor the Japan Cup soccer(the forerunner of Kirin Cup Soccer).

• 1979

  • Apr.

    

    Tochigi Plant completed(closed in 2010).

  • Aug.

    

    Kirin Mets introduced.

• 1981

  • July

    Kirin Memorial Foundation (the forerunner of The KIRIN Welfare Foundation) established.

  • Nov.

    Makes K.B.B. Malting Co., Pty Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary.

  • Dec.

    Formulates the Long-Term Management Vision (the 21st Long-Term Plan).

• 1982

  • The Research Institute for Production Development foundation begins full-scale research towards the commercialization of erythropoietin.

  • Feb.

    Makes JAPAN TRAVEL MARKETING CONSULTANTS, INC. a consolidated subsidiary(transferred in 2005).

  • Feb.

    Makes KW Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary.

  • May

    Acquires a stake in Sanoh Trading Co., Ltd.

• 1983

  • Mar.

    

    Kirin Sports Club Co., Ltd. established (share transfer in 2005).

  • Mar.

    

    Sendai Plant completed.

  • May

    

    Kirin City Co., Ltd. established.

  • Aug.

    Heineken Japan Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Heineken Kirin Co., Ltd.) established.

• 1984

  • Mar.

    Kirin Plaza Co., Ltd running sports club established (share transfer in 2007).

  • Apr.

    

    Starts selling Heineken.

  • Apr.

    K.B.B. Malting Co., Pty Ltd changes its name to Kirin Australia Pty Ltd (share transfer in 2011).

  • May

    Kirin-Amgen, Inc. established(terminated the joint venture agreement in 2017).

• 1986

  • Feb.

    Establishes Flower Gate Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Tokyo Kamon Co., Ltd (share transfer in 2006).

  • May

    

    Hokkaido Chitose Plant completed.

  • Sep.

    

    Heartland Beer introduced.

  • Oct.

    

    Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha, bottled black tea, introduced.

  • Nov.

    

    Yokohama Arena Co., Ltd. established (share transfer in 2017).

• 1987

  • Nov.

    Eirin Shokai changes it name to Kirin Lease & Finance Co., Ltd.

  • Nov.

    

    Kirin Plaza Osaka, Complex culture building, completed (later KPO Kirin Plaza Osaka, closed in 2007).

  • Dec.

    Acquires a stake in Verde Co., Ltd.(share transfer in 2010)

• 1988

  • 

    Supported the establishment of the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) in the United States.

  • Feb.

    Kirin & Communications Co., Ltd. established.

  • Mar.

    Kirin Engineering Co., Ltd. established.

  • Mar.

    

    Kirin Wine Club introduced.

  • Apr.

    Kirin Lemon Service changes its name to Kirin Lemon Co., Ltd.

  • May

    Taiwan Kirin Engineering Co., Ltd. (the forerunner of Taiwan Kirin Co., Ltd.) established.

  • May

    Kirin Business System Co., Ltd. established.

  • Sep.

    

    GEMINI SCIENCE, INC.(the forerunner of Kyowa Kirin Pharmaceutical Research, Inc.) established.

  • Dec.

    Acquires a stake in Twyford International, Inc. (the United States, liquidated in 2007)

• 1989

  • Jan.

    KW Inc. changes its name to Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England, Inc. (the forerunner of Coca Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc.)

  • Feb.

    Acquires a stake in RAYMOND VINEYARD & CELLAR, INC. (share transfer in 2009)

  • Mar.

    Establishes R & K Food Service Co., Ltd. as a joint investment with Royal Co., Ltd. (share transfer in 2005)

  • Aug.

    

    Takasaki Pharmaceutical Plant (the forerunner of Kyowa Kirin Takasaki Plant) completed.

  • Sep.

    Acquires a stake in Tokita Seed Co., Ltd. (share transfer in 2010)

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