Japan Breweries History: Sapporo Breweries, Ltd.
In 1869, the new Meiji government set about developing Hokkaido,
establishing a Kaitakushi (the national government Hokkaido Development
Commission). Thereafter, over more than a decade until the post was abolished,
many businesses were developed on this northern Japanese island. One of them
was the brewing of beer. In June 1876, Seibei Nakagawa, who had recently
returned from Germany where he studied the art of beer making, was chosen
as brewmaster to oversee construction of a beer factory. That September,
the Kaitakushi Brewery was completed. The following year, Sapporo Lager
was born, prominently displaying the Pioneers' symbol, the North Star.
In 1886, with the establishment of the Hokkaido government,
the Sapporo Brewery Factory, as it was renamed, was sold to a private
company, the Okura Trading Company (Kihachiro Okura). In December the
following year, a group of entrepreneurs led by Eiichi Shibusawa and
Soichiro Asano, bought the factory from the Okura Trading Company,
and established Sapporo Beer Company, laying the foundation for major
growth in beer brewing in Japan.
At one time, there were several dozen breweries spread across Japan.
In the latter half of 1897, four companies, Sapporo, Japan, Osaka (Asahi Breweries)
and Kirin, were embroiled in a fierce battle for market share. In 1906,
Kyohei Magoshi, head of the Japan Beer Brewery Company, merged Sapporo,
Japan and Osaka breweries to form DaiNippon Beer Company Ltd., with a 70%
of the Japanese beer market. Throughout the Taisho period, and into the
Showa period, beer demand grew. During a time of robust economic growth
in Japan, DaiNippon Beer Company Ltd. played a major role in the industry
in improving brewing techniques and the natural ingredients used.
In September 1949, the DaiNippon Beer Company Ltd. was divided into
two companies, Nippon Breweries, Ltd. and the Asahi Breweries, Ltd. upon
application of the Law for Elimination of Excessive Concentration of
Economic Power. Although Nippon Breweries, Ltd. was the rightful successor
to Sapporo Beer and Yebisu Beer, the company restarted its business by
introducing a new brand name, Nippon Beer. Notwithstanding, beer lovers
clamored for Sapporo Beer. In 1956, answering those calls, Sapporo Beer
was revived in its birthplace, Hokkaido. The following year, it was
distributed throughout Japan once again. In January 1964, Nippon Breweries,
Ltd. changed its name to Sapporo Breweries, Ltd.
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