Corporate History

1957	May	Okinawa Breweries, Ltd. is established with capital of 50 million yen (B yen).
1958	January	“Orion” is decided as the beer name through a public contest.
	November	Construction of Orion Breweries Nago Factory is completed amid the beautiful landscape of Nago Town (now Nago City).
1959	May	Product launch begins.
	June	The company name is changed from “Okinawa Breweries, Ltd.” to “Orion Breweries, Ltd.”
1960	June	Orion Breweries Sales Co., Ltd. is established.
	July	Bottled draft beer is launched.
1963	November	First factory expansion: Annual production capacity is expanded to 10,800 kL (60,000 koku).
1965	March	Second factory expansion: Annual production capacity is expanded to 18,000 kL (100,000 koku).
1966	March	First beer exports to Taiwan
1967	September	Capital is increased to $900,000.
1970	May	Third factory expansion: Annual production capacity is expanded to 27,000 kL (150,000 koku)
1971	May	The soft drink “Orion Cider” is launched
	November	Absorption merger of Orion Breweries Sales Co., Ltd.
1972	May	Okinawa is returned to Japan.
	December	Head office is relocated to Gusukuma, Urasoe City
1973	April	Canned draft beer is launched.
	May	Capital is increased to 300,100,000 yen.
1975	June	“Hotel Seibu Orion” opens in Asato, Naha City, in a joint investment from the Seibu Distribution Group.p
	July	Fourth factory expansion: Annual production capacity is expanded to 36,000 kL (200,000 koku).
	July	Okinawa International Ocean Expo commemorative can is launched.
1976	June	First beer exports to the United States
		“Beer Festivals,” with participation by the general public, are held at eight venues in the prefecture.
1981	April	The soft drink “Orion Tomato Juice” is launched.
	June	500 mL canned beer is launched.
1982	June	25th anniversary: First outdoor “Beer Festival” is held.
	July	Capital is increased to 360 million yen.
1984	January	“New Year’s Money Donations” to children’s homes and mother-child support facilities begin.
1986	July	“Beer Festival” has a name change to “Orion Beer Fest.”
1987	February	30th Anniversary: International Flower Exchange
1988	July	“Orion Dry Beer” and “Orion Lemon Tea” are launched.
1989	June	New logo and slogan are launched in conjunction with introduction of CI
	July	Nago Factory expansion: Annual production capacity is increased to 60,000 kiloliters.
1990	July	Canned beer sales begin in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
1992	May	Canned beer sales begin in the Kansai region.
	June	Orion Pils Beer is launched.
1993	July	Addition of outdoor storage tanks to the factory; annual production capacity is expanded to 72,000 kL.
	October	The first Beer One-Day University is held.
1995	August	The soft drink “Chaganju” is launched.
1996	May	Beer sales begin in the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture.
1997	June	“Orion Black Draft Beer” and “Orion Aromatone” are launched.
1999	February	6-can multipack is launched,
2000	January	Kyushu-Okinawa Summit commemorative design beer is launched.
	December	New release of “Orion Special Dry Draft”
2001	June	Nago Factory obtains “ISO14001” Environmental Management System certification.
2002	January	Spring limited edition “Ichiban Sakura” is launched
	April	Orion Breweries concludes a memorandum of understanding for a comprehensive business partnership with Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
	August	Orion Senkai Draft (low-malt beer) is launched.
	September	The soft drink “Orion Aquabeat” is launched.
	December	Orion Arashiyama Golf Club Co., Ltd. is established, marking the start of the golf course management business.
2003	April	“Oji’s Pride Orion Beer” BEGIN Design Can is launched.
	May	Nago Factory begins licensed production and sales of “Asahi Super Dry” within Okinawa.
2004	February	“Orion Mugi Shokunin” (low-malt beer) is launched.
2005	July	“Orion Southern Star” (a new genre product) is launched.
	July	Orion Support Co., Ltd. is established.
2006	April	Hotel Seibu Orion is renamed “Hotel Royal Orion.”
2007	March	First exports to South Korea
	April	Asahi Orion Calpis Inryo Co., Ltd. is established through joint investment by the three companies.
	June	Orion Breweries Tokyo office opens.
	July	The soft drink “Granny’s Pride Sanpin Tea” is released.
	September	“Orion ZERO LIFE” (new genre product), a zero-sugar drink, is launched.
2010	July	“Orion Special X” (new genre product) is launched.
2011	May	“Orion Happy Park” Grand Opening at Nago Factory
2012	April	Limited release of “Orion Revival Beer” to celebrate 55th anniversary
2013	April	Non-alcoholic beer-flavored beverage “Orion Clear FREE” is launched.
	June	Summer limited edition beer “Orion Natsu Ichiban” is launched.
	July	Orion Breweries Osaka sales office opens.
	November	Hotel Orion Motobu Co., Ltd. is established.
2014	April	Mega solar power sales business begins in Nago City and other areas.
	April	Trust beneficiary rights to lifestyle center “TOMITON” are acquired.
	July	Large-scale resort “The Hotel Orion Motobu Resort & Spa” opens in Bise, Motobu Town.
	October	“Orion Beer Fest in Taiwan” is held for the first time in Taiwan.
2015	May	Orion Happy Park is inducted into TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame for Excellence.
	June	“Orion Draft” is revamped for the first time in eight years.
	October	“Orion STYLE” (new genre product) is launched.
2016	February	Orion Breweries Taiwan Representative Office opens.
	April	Orion Breweries receives the Intellectual Property Achievement Award and the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Award at the 2016 Intellectual Property Achievement Awards.
	August	Orionbeer Scholarship Foundation is established.
2017	February	New environmentally friendly facilities begin operation at the factory: Construction of LNG satellite tank (February) and wastewater aerobic treatment facility (April) is completed.
	March	Orion Breweries launches its first zero-sugar, zero-purine product, “Orion ZERO STAR” (low-malt beer).
	April	Orion Okiei LLC is established.
	April	The Orionbeer Scholarship Foundation transitions from a general incorporated foundation to a public interest incorporated foundation and begins scholarship programs.
	April	Orion Breweries receives the Food Industry Bureau Director’s Award in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Award for Excellent Export Businesses.
	May	Limited release of “Orion Draft Extra,” a special brew to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the company’s founding.
	June	JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Naha opens.
	October	“Orion Zeitaku Kibun” (new genre product) is launched.
2018	April	Nago Factory begins discharging 100% of wastewater into rivers through advanced environmentally friendly wastewater treatment.
	June	Four companies, Orion, Ryubo, Yugafu, and Katana set up a new company to plan a theme park in northern Okinawa.
	November	Orion Happy Park reaches 1 million visitors.
2019	March	Okinawa Breweries, Ltd. becomes a subsidiary of Ocean Holdings Co., Ltd.
	May	Orion Breweries’ first chuhai, “WATTA,” is launched.
	October	Limited release of “75beer” that is only available in Nago.
	December	Establishment of ORION WAY (Mission, Vision, Core Values)
	December	Premium craft beer “75BEER” becomes available throughout Okinawa.
2020	January	Factory office is relocated.
	February	Orion The Draft “Shurijo Castle Reconstruction Support Design Can” is released.
	April	Absorption merger of Orion Support Co., Ltd.
	May	Head office relocates to Tomigusuku City.
	May	Withdrawal from strong chuhai with 9% alcohol.
	July	Orion Breweries’ official online shopping site is launched.
	September	Regular home delivery service begins.
	September	WATTA Cocktail Competition held
	October	“Shurijo Castle Umui no Akari” project is launched in collaboration with other Okinawan companies to rebuild Shurijo Castle.
	October	“Orion Group Health Initiative – Declaration of Healthy & Productivity Management” is announced.
	December	The “Global Base Project for Integrated Agriculture and Fisheries Sustainable Land-Based Aquaculture Toward the Realization of a Resource-Circulating Coexistence Society,” in which the University of the Ryukyus, Orion Breweries, and others are participating, is selected as a development-type project for the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s (JST) “Co-Creation Space Formation Support Program (COI-NEXT).”
	December	Conclusion of “Industry-Academia Collaboration Agreement on SDGs” with the University of the Ryukyus Research Promotion Organization
2021	February	“Orion The Draft” wins the Social Products Award at the “2021 Social Products Awards” (sponsored by Association for the Promotion of Social Products).
	February	Career support program for single mothers in Okinawa (Orionbeer Scholarship Foundation) is launched.
	March	Certification as “KENKO Investment for Health 2021” (large corporation category)
	March	Nago Factory 500L plant “Orion Craft Lab co-labo75” is launched.
	May	10th Anniversary of Orion Happy Park
	July	Launch of “Orion The Draft First Brewing” using Ie Island’s barley grown in a fully recycled environment
	September	Orion Breweries receives the “Regional Food Industry Contribution Award” at the 9th Regional Food Industry Contribution Awards (sponsored by Japan Food Journal Co., Ltd.).
	October	Conclusion of comprehensive partnership agreement with JA Okinawa regarding preferential use of agricultural and livestock products, etc.
	December	Orion Chura SUN Office wins the “55th Okinawa Japan Sign Design Award” sponsored by Japan Sign Design Association.
2022	January	Orion The Draft “Okinawa and Amami World Natural Heritage Registration Commemorative Design Can” is released.
	February	The “Global Base Project for Integrated Agriculture and Fisheries Sustainable Land-Based Aquaculture Toward the Realization of a Resource-Circulating Coexistence Society,” in which the University of the Ryukyus, Orion Breweries, and others are participating, is selected for the JST “COI-NEXT Full-Scale Type” project.
	February	Nago Factory adopts Okinawa Electric Power’s “Uchina CO2 Free Menu.”
	March	Orion The Draft “Okinawa Reversion 50th Anniversary Design Can” is released.
	March	Orion Arashiyama Golf Club closes.
	March	Orion The Draft “World Natural Heritage” TV commercial wins the Okinawa Advertising Association Advertising Awards Grand Prix.
	March	Orion Breweries receives the runner-up prize in the health promotion business category of the 2021 Okinawa Prefecture Health Promotion Awards (Ganju Sabira Awards).
	April	The Hotel Orion Motobu Resort & Spa Restaurants start to offer “Ryudai Miibai” grown with Orion Breweries’ “malt lees” on their menus.
	April	Nago Factory acquires ISO22000 certification.
	July	Awamori Highball, using aged liquor from Ishikawa Brewery Co., Ltd. is launched.
	July	Straight fruit juice chuhai “natura” is launched.
	August	First successful cultivation and harvest of Okinawa-grown hops in joint research with the University of the Ryukyus
	September	Certification as “Excellent Business Operator for Complete e-Tax and Cashless Payment”
	October	“Orion The Premium” made with Okinawan beer yeast is launched.
	November	Buddhist pine seedlings are planted in Yambaru National Park in collaboration with Kunigami Village, the Kunigami Village Forestry Association, and the Naha branch of the Norinchukin Bank.
2023	January	Donation of Buddhist pine seedlings to Motobu Town
	March	Orion Breweries is contracted to operate Itoman City Tourist Farm Sake Brewery Facility.
	March	Urasoe Warehouse redevelopment project begins.
	July	Orion Beer Fest is held for the first time in four years.
	August	Orion Breweries becomes an event sponsor for Okinawa group stage of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
	October	Participation in the “Children with Learning Difficulties Support Project”
	November	Participation in tree planting and wood education activities to promote the reconstruction of Shuri Castle and the expansion of the use of domestic timber
	November	Hotel Royal Orion is renamed to “The Orion Hotel Naha” and reopens after renovations.
	December	Orion Breweries’ first official store, “Orion Official Store Naha,” opens.
2024	March	“Orion The Draft” is revamped.
	March	The new slogan “Naturally, with nature,” and new logo are announced.
	March	Orion Breweries’ first fruit wine “Southern Cross Winery Passionfruit” is launched.
	April	The Hotel Orion Motobu Resort & Spa changed its name to The Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa and reopened
	April	Orion Breweries’ first regional collaboration, the “Dosanko-Shimanchu Project,” launches Orion WATTA Melon & Mango.
	April	“A Bar that Takes You to Okinawa in Seconds, by Orion” opens for a limited time during Golden Week in Shibuya.
	June	Capital and business alliance begins with Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.
	June	Orion Beer Fest is held in Kaohsiung.
	July	Second installment of “Dosanko-Shimanchu Project,” Orion WATTA Haskap & Guava, is launched.