Kirin キリンビール

Kirin's roots trace to Japan Brewery Company, founded in Yokohama in 1885 by foreign residents and producing beer under the Kirin name, after the mythical Chinese-Japanese creature. In 1907 the business was reorganized as Kirin Brewery Company with capital from the Mitsubishi group, beginning a business relationship that continues to this day.

When post-war antitrust authorities broke up the dominant Dai-Nippon Breweries in 1949 (splitting it into Asahi and what later became Sapporo), Kirin was already operating independently and emerged as Japan's largest brewer, holding the top share of the domestic beer market for decades afterward. Kirin Holdings today spans beer, soft drinks, health foods, and pharmaceuticals.