Orion Breweries, Ltd. (オリオンビール株式会社, Orion Bīru Kabushiki-gaisha) is the fifth-largest beer brewery in Japan, headquartered in Tomigusuku, Okinawa Prefecture.[1] The company commands approximately 1% of the Japanese beer market, and controls 60% of the beer market on Okinawa.[4]
Founded in 1957 in Nago, Okinawa during the American occupation of Okinawa, Orion began making beer in 1959. Orion struggled to compete with the other major Japanese breweries, but after changing from a German-style beer to an American-style beer, it gained the top share in the Okinawan market.[5] Up until 2002, it had a market that was limited to mostly Okinawa. Since 2002, Orion partnered with Asahi Breweries to manufacture Asahi beers in Okinawa, in return for Asahi's assistance in selling Orion beer outside of Okinawa.[6] Asahi owns 10% of Orion Breweries.[7]
In January 2019, Nomura Holdings and The Carlyle Group entered talks to acquire Orion Breweries and help the beer brand expand in the US and in Asia.[7][8] On May 14, 2019, Orion entered the chūhai market with the release of the WATTA chūhai brand, using traditional Okinawan flavors.[9] In July 2019, Keiju Hayase was appointed president and CEO of Orion Breweries.[10]
In 2020, Orion Breweries stopped the production and distribution of its 9% ABV beer, Watta Strong, in a move to fight alcoholism, the first major brewery in Japan to make a move in this direction.[11][12]
Keiju Hayase stepped down as president and CEO of Orion Breweries in June 2021 for personal reasons.[13] Hajime Murano was appointed president and CEO in December 2021.[14]
Descriptionedit
Orion uses water that comes from springs out of the mountain near the brewery.[3] The brewery imports its malt from Germany, and also uses German Hallertau and Czech Saaz hops.[15] The brand is known by the US military personnel stationed in Okinawa. The company's sales outside of Japan make up 5% of its sales.[16] In 2017, Orion Breweries recorded sales of 28.3 billion yen.[7]
In Korea, Orion beer is marketed under the brand name Okinawa.[17]
Orion beer sponsors the Okinawan wrestler Menso-re Oyaji.[18] Akihito Yagi, 8th Dan in Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate-do, which his late grandfather (Meitoku Yagi) created, and who is the current chairman of the International Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate Association (IMGKA), is a spokesman for Orion beer.
In one episode of Wakakozake, the main character Wakako tries out different restaurants to pair foods with drinks, and pairs goya chanpuru with Orion beer.[20]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Company Profile" (in Japanese). Orion Breweries. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
^ abBy, Charles (July 22, 2010). "Orion beer quenches Okinawa thirst". Weekly Japan Update. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
^Negishi, Mayumi (September 14, 2002). "Okinawans look to tackle problems on own terms". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
^Forte, Sarah (November 17, 2012). "Orion Beer Factory". Okinawa Hai. Overseas Yes!. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
^Frisch, Eleanor (August 20, 2015). . FoodServiceWarehouse.com. FoodServiceWarehouse.com, LLC. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
^ abcNomura and Carlyle to acquire Okinawa's Orion Breweries, Nikkei.com, 18 January 2019
^Natalie Wang, Nomura Holding and Carlyle to acquire Japan’s Orion Breweries, Thedrinksbusiness.com, 1 February 2019
^"Orion Beer Releases First Chuhai Flavors". Okinawa.Org. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
^Hayase Becomes Orion Breweries President, Nippon.com, 22 July 2019
^Yuta Hiratsuka, Japan brewer withdraws range of strong alcoholic drinks dubbed destructive by expert, Mainichi.jp, 22 June 2020
^Eriko Tamaki, Orion to cease production of 9% alcohol by volume “Watta Strong” chuhai due to health concerns, Ryukyushimpo.jp, 23 April 2020
^"Orion Breweries CEO Quits for Personal Reasons". 時事通信ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^ssnp (2021-12-01). "オリオンビール新社長に村野一氏、シック・ジャパン社長など歴任". 食品産業新聞社ニュースWEB (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^Okinawa’s Orion: A chance to sample “The Beer of Beers”, Stripes.com, 27 November 2005
^Ou Ninouma, Okinawa's most popular beer taps military ties to US, Nikkei.com, 19 January 2019
^Choi Moon-hee, Boycott of Japanese Products Causes Woes for Distributors, Businesskorea.co.kr, 26 July 2019
^Gottlieb, Matthew (September 7, 2010). . The Beer Connoisseur Online. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
^"Effort to establish a "Material Circle Society" in Okinawa, Japan" (PDF). ASEAN-Japan Centre.
^Vanessa Rose, 10 Food-Based Anime That Feature Real-Life Brands, Cbr.com, 7 May 2021
orion, breweries, オリオンビール株式会社, orion, bīru, kabushiki, gaisha, fifth, largest, beer, brewery, japan, headquartered, tomigusuku, okinawa, prefecture, company, commands, approximately, japanese, beer, market, controls, beer, market, okinawa, native, nameオリオンビール株. Orion Breweries Ltd オリオンビール株式会社 Orion Biru Kabushiki gaisha is the fifth largest beer brewery in Japan headquartered in Tomigusuku Okinawa Prefecture 1 The company commands approximately 1 of the Japanese beer market and controls 60 of the beer market on Okinawa 4 Orion Breweries Ltd Native nameオリオンビール株式会社Company typePrivate KKIndustryBeverageFounded May 18 1957 66 years ago 1957 05 18 Nago OkinawaFounderSosei GushikenHeadquartersTomigusuku Okinawa 901 0225 JapanArea servedJapanAsiaUnited StatesKey peopleHajime Murano President and CEO ProductsBeerSoft drinksNumber of employees295 as of March 2021 ParentOcean Holdings Co Ltd WebsiteOfficial website in Japanese Footnotes references 1 2 3 Orion Draft Beer Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Products 4 In popular culture 5 References 6 External linksHistory editFounded in 1957 in Nago Okinawa during the American occupation of Okinawa Orion began making beer in 1959 Orion struggled to compete with the other major Japanese breweries but after changing from a German style beer to an American style beer it gained the top share in the Okinawan market 5 Up until 2002 it had a market that was limited to mostly Okinawa Since 2002 Orion partnered with Asahi Breweries to manufacture Asahi beers in Okinawa in return for Asahi s assistance in selling Orion beer outside of Okinawa 6 Asahi owns 10 of Orion Breweries 7 In January 2019 Nomura Holdings and The Carlyle Group entered talks to acquire Orion Breweries and help the beer brand expand in the US and in Asia 7 8 On May 14 2019 Orion entered the chuhai market with the release of the WATTA chuhai brand using traditional Okinawan flavors 9 In July 2019 Keiju Hayase was appointed president and CEO of Orion Breweries 10 In 2020 Orion Breweries stopped the production and distribution of its 9 ABV beer Watta Strong in a move to fight alcoholism the first major brewery in Japan to make a move in this direction 11 12 Keiju Hayase stepped down as president and CEO of Orion Breweries in June 2021 for personal reasons 13 Hajime Murano was appointed president and CEO in December 2021 14 Description editOrion uses water that comes from springs out of the mountain near the brewery 3 The brewery imports its malt from Germany and also uses German Hallertau and Czech Saaz hops 15 The brand is known by the US military personnel stationed in Okinawa The company s sales outside of Japan make up 5 of its sales 16 In 2017 Orion Breweries recorded sales of 28 3 billion yen 7 In Korea Orion beer is marketed under the brand name Okinawa 17 Orion beer sponsors the Okinawan wrestler Menso re Oyaji 18 Akihito Yagi 8th Dan in Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate do which his late grandfather Meitoku Yagi created and who is the current chairman of the International Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate Association IMGKA is a spokesman for Orion beer Products edit nbsp A can of Orion s Pilsner BeerDraft beer 75 Beer Premium Series Pilsner 19 75 Beer Premium Series IPAIn popular culture editIn one episode of Wakakozake the main character Wakako tries out different restaurants to pair foods with drinks and pairs goya chanpuru with Orion beer 20 References edit a b Company Profile in Japanese Orion Breweries Retrieved January 22 2016 Company Overview Bloomberg Businessweek Bloomberg L P Retrieved January 22 2016 a b By Charles July 22 2010 Orion beer quenches Okinawa thirst Weekly Japan Update Retrieved January 22 2016 Negishi Mayumi September 14 2002 Okinawans look to tackle problems on own terms The Japan Times Retrieved January 22 2016 Forte Sarah November 17 2012 Orion Beer Factory Okinawa Hai Overseas Yes Retrieved January 22 2016 Frisch Eleanor August 20 2015 Japanese Beer A Short History and Guide FoodServiceWarehouse com FoodServiceWarehouse com LLC Archived from the original on July 17 2015 Retrieved January 22 2016 a b c Nomura and Carlyle to acquire Okinawa s Orion Breweries Nikkei com 18 January 2019 Natalie Wang Nomura Holding and Carlyle to acquire Japan s Orion Breweries Thedrinksbusiness com 1 February 2019 Orion Beer Releases First Chuhai Flavors Okinawa Org Retrieved 2019 06 26 Hayase Becomes Orion Breweries President Nippon com 22 July 2019 Yuta Hiratsuka Japan brewer withdraws range of strong alcoholic drinks dubbed destructive by expert Mainichi jp 22 June 2020 Eriko Tamaki Orion to cease production of 9 alcohol by volume Watta Strong chuhai due to health concerns Ryukyushimpo jp 23 April 2020 Orion Breweries CEO Quits for Personal Reasons 時事通信ニュース in Japanese Retrieved 2023 07 25 ssnp 2021 12 01 オリオンビール新社長に村野一氏 シック ジャパン社長など歴任 食品産業新聞社ニュースWEB in Japanese Retrieved 2023 07 25 Okinawa s Orion A chance to sample The Beer of Beers Stripes com 27 November 2005 Ou Ninouma Okinawa s most popular beer taps military ties to US Nikkei com 19 January 2019 Choi Moon hee Boycott of Japanese Products Causes Woes for Distributors Businesskorea co kr 26 July 2019 Gottlieb Matthew September 7 2010 Orion The National Beer of Okinawa The Beer Connoisseur Online Archived from the original on March 30 2012 Retrieved August 16 2011 Effort to establish a Material Circle Society in Okinawa Japan PDF ASEAN Japan Centre Vanessa Rose 10 Food Based Anime That Feature Real Life Brands Cbr com 7 May 2021External links edit nbsp Japan portal nbsp Beer portal nbsp Companies portalOrion official site in Japanese Orion official site in English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orion Breweries amp oldid 1194455885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
