Research and development is the life source of a manufacturer. This concept can be described as Suntory’s starting point, dating back to the Company’s foundation. In the process of developing various products, starting with the production of alcoholic beverages, the Suntory Group has strived to deepen its use of microorganisms and enzymes and its distillation technology. By accumulating technologies and expertise in such areas as food-processing and analysis, we will continue to challenge ourselves to use that base as a platform for constantly creating new value.

IYEMON, Kuro Oolong Tea, Kaku Highball, Horoyoi, All-Free

There are numerous examples of well-known products we have developed which have become highly respected or leaders in their respective market categories, such as Suntory Oolong Tea, BOSS canned coffee, IYEMON green tea, and Kuro Oolong Tea which is able to reduce body’s absorption of fat from meals (FOSHU* approved), and among alcoholic beverages, Yamazaki and Hibiki whiskies, The Premium Malt’s beer, All-Free non-alcoholic beer-flavored beverage and Horoyoi chu-hi cocktail.

* FOSHU refers to Food for Specified Health Uses, a Japanese standard of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/foodsafety/fhc/02.html

Having adopted "Suntory, Bringing Water to Life" as our corporate message, we have established the Institute for Water Science. The Institute conducts basic research on water, a valuable resource present in all of our products. In striving for the actualization of water sustainability, the Institute is devoting efforts to basic research of the water cycle and formation of water quality, as well as activities based on major research themes such as the protection of water sources via forest conservation. In addition, the Institute serves as a provider of the latest information regarding water.

Trial test to confirm sesamin effectiveness in humans.

The Suntory Group has for many years devoted its energies to the development of technologies related to plants, which are the ingredients of our products, and microorganisms such as the yeast used for fermentation. Those activities have led to business developments in new fields, such as research into new health ingredients and health effects, as well as the development of new varieties of flowers and ornamental plants. Suntory has identified health as a major research theme for the next generation. We are pursuing the development of health foods made with original materials such as sesamin and arachidonic acid. Furthermore, research of various aspects of health, including antioxidation and blood flow promotion, is carried out at the Institute for Health Care Science. We have recently come up with creative products such as Prodia, a health supplement containing the Lactobacillus pentosus S-PT84 discovered by Suntory.

Applying breeding technologies we have cultivated over the years, we have developed and brought to market over 100 garden plant varieties that can easily be brought to bloom, even in the hands of inexperienced users. The popular Surfinia, for example, which sparked a gardening boom in Japan, has established a place as a staple flower across the world. We have furthermore employed biotechnology to succeed in developing the world’s first blue rose, something that had always been considered impossible. Since 2009 it has been available to consumers with the name SUNTORY blue rose APPLAUSE. The blue rose represents the product of two decades’ worth of challenge to realize a dream from 1990, the year which saw the commencement of this marvelous adventure. In 2008 we entered the greenery business with the independent development of Pafcal, a new sponge material that serves as a soil substitute for growing plants. Suntory Midorie, Ltd. was established in 2009 to manufacture and sell wall greenery systems, contribute to the prevention of global warming, and provide comfortable indoor and outdoor green spaces.

All these original creations demonstrate how we at Suntory take the fruits of our diverse R&D activities to continue to challenge ourselves to provide consumers with high-quality, dream-inspiring products from an assortment of different fields.