Osaka Beer Brewing Company is established. (November)

The Suita-mura Brewery, now Asahi Breweries’ Suita Brewery, is completed. (October)

Asahi Beer is launched. (May)

The company is reorganized into Osaka Breweries, Ltd. (February)

The first Asahi House beer hall opens for business. (July)

The company launches ASAHI DRAFT Beer, Japan’s first bottled draft beer.

Dai Nippon Breweries, Co., Ltd., is jointly established by Osaka Breweries, Ltd., Japan Beer Brewery, Ltd., and Sapporo Beer Co. (March)

Mitsuya Brand “HIRANO CHAMPAGNE CIDER” (carbonated drink) is launched.

EBIOS, a pure brewer’s yeast preparation tablet, is introduced. (May)

Asahi Breweries, Ltd., is established. (September) Tamesaburo Yamamoto becomes the company first president. Dai Nippon Breweries, Co., Ltd. is divided into Asahi Breweries, Ltd. and Nippon Breweries, Ltd., upon enactment of the Economic Decentralization Act. Headquarters: Tokyo Branch offices: Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Shikoku, and Kyushu Breweries: Azumabashi, Suita,Nishinomiya and Hakata

Shin Nippon Glass, later Asahi Beer Pax Co., Ltd., is established. (September) In June 2003, it merges with and becomes Ishizuka Glass Co., Ltd.

Asahi invests in NIKKA WHISKY Distilling Co., Ltd. (August)

Asahi introduces Japan’s first canned beer, under the Asahi label. (September)

Through a joint investment, Hokkaido Asahi Breweries is founded with local capital from Hokkaido. (April)

Asahi develops the world’s first outdoor brewing/storage tanks for installation at its breweries in Nishinomiya, Azumabashi, and Hakata. (March)

Japan’s first beer gift coupons are introduced. (June)

Asahi introduces Japan’s first aluminum-canned beer. (June)

Mitsuya Vending, now Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd., is established. (March)

ASAHI DRAFT KEG BEER (7 liter), Japan’s first beer in a small aluminum keg, is launched. (May)

The right to the trademark for Bireley’s is acquired. (November)

Tsutomu Murai takes office as president. (March)

Asahi signs a collaborative business agreement with Lowenbrau of Germany. (November)

The right to the trademark for WILKINSON carbonated drink is acquired. (January)

Chiba Chinese Herb Medicine Laboratory, now Asahi Food & Healthcare Co., Ltd., is established. (September)

Asahi announces its introduction of Corporate Identity (CI). (October)

NEW ASAHI DRAFT Beer is launched. (February)

Tsutomu Murai becomes chairman, and Hirotaro Higuchi takes office as president. (March)

Japan’s first dry beer, ASAHI SUPER DRY, is launched, becoming a mega-hit that brings about a revolution in the beer industry. (March)

Asahi signs a collaborative business agreement with Bass Exports, of the UK, for the importation and sale of Bass Pale Ale. (March)

A Monument to the Memory of Our Predecessors is established in Suita, commemorating the pioneering efforts of Asahi employees and other forerunners in the beer industry. (April)

Asahi acquires majority stock ownership of Nippon National Seikan Co., Ltd., thus entering the can-manufacturing business. (April) Later, Asahi transfers the stocks to Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.

Asahi Beer Winery is established. (July)

Asahi Beer Soft Drink Manufacturing Co., Ltd., now Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd., is founded. (November)

The corporation is renamed Asahi Breweries, Ltd. (January)

Asahi Beer Soft Drinks Co., Ltd., now Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd., is established. (September)

Asahi Beer Food, Ltd., now Asahi Food & Healthcare Co., Ltd., is established. (March)

Hirotaro Higuchi becomes chairman, and Yuzo Seto takes office as president. (September)

Asahi acquires shares in three beer companies in China?Hangzhou Xihu Beer Asahi Co., Ltd., Quanzhou Qingyuan Beer Asahi Co., Ltd. Fujian, and Jiaxing Haiyan Beer Xihu Asahi Co., Ltd?and signs technical and production licensing agreements with each of these companies. This marks Asahi’s full-scale entry into the Chinese beer market. (January)

Asahi Beer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., now Asahi Food & Healthcare Co., Ltd., is established. (March)

Asahi Breweries and Hokkaido Asahi Breweries are consolidated. (July)

Asahi concludes a comprehensive, multipurpose collaborative business agreement with Miller Brewing Company of the U.S. (July)

Asahi and Itochu Corporation jointly acquire the management rights for Beijing Beer Asahi Co., Ltd. and Yantai Beer Asahi Co., Ltd. (December)

Asahi enters a comprehensive business alliance with Bass Brewers of the UK. (May)

Asahi Beer Soft Drinks merges with Asahi Beer Soft Drink Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Hokuriku Asahi Beer Soft Drink Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and is renamed Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd., going into operation as a manufacturer and distributor of soft drinks. (July)

Asahi’s China Business Coordination Department is established in Beijing, China. (September)

Asahi Breweries Research & Development Center opens. (October)

Asahi Beer U.S.A., Inc., is established. (April)

Asahi Beer Europe Ltd. is established. (May)

Asahi achieves the leading market share in beer sales in Japan. (December)

Asahi launches ASAHI HONNAMA HAPPOSHU (low-malt beer). (February)

Sales departments of Asahi and Nikka are merged (April)

Asahi claims the No. 1 share in the Japanese beer/happoshu market. (December)

Shigeo Fukuchi becomes chairman, and Kouichi Ikeda takes office as president. (January)

Asahi Beer Food, Ltd., and Asahi Beer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., merge to form Asahi Food & Healthcare Co., Ltd. (July)

Asahi enters a comprehensive business alliance with ORION BEER Co., Ltd. (August)

The companies launch ASAHI ORION DRAFT. (November)

Asahi debuts a new total alcoholic beverage business structure by acquiring sales rights to brands of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., and Asahi Kasei Corporation, and by entering into a strategic sales alliance with Maxxium Japan K.K. (September)

Asahi Brewery announces the agreement for establishment of Tingyi-Asahi-Itochu Beverages Holding Co.,Ltd., jointly with Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Company, the largest Chinese packaged food and beverage company. (January)

Asahi acquires the Japanese sales rights of renowned Italian sparkling wine producer F.lli Gancia& C. S.p.a. (June)

Asahi raises its stake in South Korea’s Haitai Beverage Co., Ltd., making it a consolidated subsidiary. (July)

Asahi invests in the alcoholic beverages sales company of South Korea’s Lotte Group to establish Lotte Asahi Liquor Co., Ltd. (November)

Asahi acquires the stock of chilled beverage maker LB Co., Ltd. (Saitama) (May) and LB Co., Ltd. (Nagoya). (September)