A Proud Tradition of Lifestyle Enrichmen

"Making people’s lives brighter" has been our aim at Suntory since the Company’s establishment, and we have adopted this phrase for the opening of our corporate mission statement.
The origin of our social and cultural concerns dates back to the "Principle of Dividing Profits Three Ways" espoused by Suntory’s founder, Shinjiro Torii. Shinjiro firmly believed that profits from business operations should be employed to enhance customer service and to make a return to society as well as for business expansion. He exhibited this commitment in his passion for social contribution activities, as exemplified by his establishment of Hojukai, a social welfare organization that operates a special nursing home for the elderly and a nursery school in Osaka, in 1921.
This desire to return something to society has been passed down to Shinjiro Torii’s descendents and heirs, Keizo Saji, Shinichiro Torii and Nobutada Saji, the current president. Deeply rooted in our corporate culture, it provides motivation for our wide-ranging social and cultural activities, including operation of the Suntory Museum of Art, Suntory Museum Tempozan, Suntory Hall, Suntory Music Foundation, Suntory Foundation and Research Institute for Next Generation.

Suntory "Kids' Dream Project"

In 2004, we initiated the Suntory "Kid’s Dream Project", a program that provides learning through actual experience for the children who will provide leadership for the next generation, as part of our social and cultural activities. We are focusing on expanding the possibilities available to children through a variety of experiences. This includes providing opportunities for them to experience fine music and art through our Subscription Concerts for Children at Suntory Hall and our Family Gallery Tours at Suntory Museum Tempozan, implementing the "Mizuiku" (water-related education) nature experience and study program to instill knowledge of the importance of water and the forests that foster it, and organizing programs in which they can enjoy sports with top athletes.

Suntory Museum of Art: Rediscovering the Beauty around Us
(Currently closed temporarily in preparation for relocation)

Founded in 1961 to conduct activities developing the theme of "Art in Life", the Suntory Museum of Art will emerge as a new museum of art in Tokyo’s Roppongi district in spring 2007. A variety of programs, including special exhibits featuring selected pieces from the museum’s collection of some 3,000 Japanese antiques, marvelous glass artifacts and other works, are being planned to offer a more intimate and pleasing new world of beauty.

Suntory Museum Tempozan: Creating Beauty and Emotional Impact in a Waterfront Setting

The Suntory Museum Tempozan opened its doors in 1994 in the Tempozan district of Osaka, Suntory’s birthplace. The museum is a cultural complex with a gallery that hosts special exhibitions on the theme of art and design and an IMAX Theater capable of showing immense three-dimensional images as well as a gallery shop, café and lounge. The museum was designed by internationally celebrated architect Tadao Ando, an Osaka native.

Suntory Hall: Fostering a New Music Culture

Tokyo’s first facility devoted exclusively to hosting classical music concerts, Suntory Hall was constructed in 1986 as a venue dedicated to achieving “the most beautiful sounds in the world”. Throughout the years since, outstanding performances by top artists from Japan and overseas have unfolded daily at the hall, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2006. Besides hosting guest performances, the hall organizes Hall Opera and other performances on its own initiative, motivated by a desire to participate in shaping the development of musical culture employing its original vision.

Suntory Music Foundation: Supporting Japanese Musical Activities

Founded in 1969, the Suntory Music Foundation conducts a wide range of activities organized to cultivate a Western-style music culture in Japan. It presents the Suntory Music Award, for example, the Keizo Saji Prize for ambitious performances and the Akutagawa Award for Music Composition to boost the careers of promising composers. The foundation also organizes Summer Festival concerts and promotes works by Japanese composers.

Suntory Foundation: Promoting International Cultural Exchange

The Suntory Foundation was established in 1979 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Suntory’s founding. The foundation promotes international and interdisciplinary research on society and culture and provides encouragement for talented people. It gives grants for academic research and overseas publication, presents the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities and the Suntory Prize for Community Cultural Activities and organizes international symposia.

Research Institute for Next Generation: A Focus on Children, Young People and Their Society

The Research Institute for Next Generation (the former Research Institute on Continuity and Change in Life) was established in March 2005 to investigate various issues concerning the children and young people who will shape Japan’s future. What should adult society do to give the next generation a dream to live for? The institute is exploring the real feelings of children and young people and moving forward with survey-based research on the families and social environment that foster them. We plan to disseminate the results of its research widely through publications and other means.