The House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese whiskey, celebrates its 100th anniversary of whiskey innovation: a major milestone not only for Suntory’s history but for Japanese spirits culture as well.
In honour of this centennial, the house has released its Suntory Anniversary Tribute, as imagined by Academy Award-winning director Sofia Coppola and starring actor Keanu Reeves, as well as exclusive 100th anniversary editions of its world-renowned whiskies.
More than 20 years after filming Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola returned to Japan to create the tribute. Coppola brings her artistic genius and admiration for Suntory whiskies to life to honour Suntory’s illustrious past, present and future.
The Suntory Anniversary Tribute tells the remarkable story of the brand’s heritage and whiskey-making legacy over the last 100 years, depicting the meaning of “Suntory Time” through the eyes of its creator.
Actor Keanu Reeves, a lover of Suntory whiskey and who previously appeared in a Suntory Reserve advertising campaign in 1992, debuted at the global premiere event in New York City recently.
“As the pioneer of Japanese whiskey, the House of Suntory played a significant role in shaping culture and leading craftsmanship in Japan over the last century,” said Jon Potter, Managing Director of the House of Suntory.
“From our fifth-generation Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo’s, striking blends to Sofia and Keanu’s unique cinematic creations, this commemoration has surpassed all expectations to celebrate our iconic Japanese whiskies,” Jon added.
Reeves is slated to star in another creative project in partnership with the House of Suntory: a series of documentary shorts from filmmaker Roman Coppola titled: The Nature and Spirit of Japan. The docuseries will strike a balance between education and entertainment, aiming to foster a deeper exploration of the House of Suntory and Japanese culture overall.
In honour of the centennial, the House of Suntory is releasing several limited-edition whiskies that highlight the unique Japanese craftsmanship at Suntory’s whiskey distilleries and their meticulous art of blending, including Yamazaki 18-YO, Mizunara and Hakushu 18-YO peated malt whiskies. Limited 100th anniversary labels of the flagship Yamazaki 12-YO and Hakushu 12-YO will also be released for the centennial.
“Hakushu and Yamazaki whiskies are gifts from our past handed down by generations,” said Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. “It is fitting to release limited editions as part of this incredible milestone, as they represent our relentless pursuit of quality and symbolise our promise to carry our philosophy on for the next 100 years and beyond.”
This landmark anniversary is a significant milestone for the House of Suntory and its home country of Japan. As a first step toward its promising future, the House of Suntory is investing US$ 77 million to enhance its Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, which are currently closed for renovation and scheduled to reopen this fall.
The House of Suntory is also inviting fans to join its new global membership programme (limited invitations) that enables them to receive priority consideration for invitations to consumer experiences and gain early access to content. To sign up, visit https://house.suntory.com/email-signup.
Japanese whiskey-making culture is inspired by harmony with nature (Wa), elevated by Japanese craftsmanship (Monozukuri) and enjoyed as an authentic Japanese cultural experience (Omotenashi).
