The history of Kirin Ichiban began in Yokohama in 1869, when the Kirin Brewery Company was founded as Japan's first state-owned brewery, making Kirin the oldest beer brand in the country today. Since then, Kirin has developed into a global brand and is now part of the Mitsubishi Group. The name "Kirin", which was introduced in 1888, is derived from a mythical creature that is half horse and half dragon and is regarded as a symbol of good luck in Japanese culture. "Ichiban" means "number one" and underlines the brewery's claim to offer the highest quality and unique flavour.
