The campaign features award-winning actress Anna Sawai and historic Chiso Kimono House to honor modern Japanese art through whiskey, nature and kimono art.
NEW YORK, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Maison Suntory, the founding house of Japanese whiskey, announces the first global campaign for Hibiki Whiskey, “The masterpiece of Japanese art“, inviting consumers around the world to discover key elements of Japanese culture through whiskey, nature and contemporary art. Featuring internationally renowned and award-winning actress Anna Sawai in her debut as Hibiki’s first global ambassador, the campaign bridges tradition and modernity through a rare collaboration with one of Japan’s oldest kimono houses and the pinnacle of luxury, Chiso Kimono House.
At the heart of the campaign is a cinematic hero film that draws parallels between kimono-making and whiskey mixing, two crafts shaped by time and precision. Sawai appears as Hibiki’s global ambassador, wearing a kimono from the historical film. Homemade kimono face, made using traditional yuzen dyeing techniques and seasonal designs inspired by the landscapes of Japan. In the hero film, a butterfly rests on Anna’s hand, echoing the patterns of the Chiso kimono. Subtle but symbolic, it becomes the common thread of the campaign. The butterfly, a kokimurasaki (purple) motif, echoes Hibiki’s iconic kokimurasaki shade, found on the neck of the bottle, and is one of Japan’s noblest colors.
Embodying both global influence and a deep appreciation of Japanese heritage, Sawai serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, interpreting the quiet strength of Japanese culture for international audiences.
“Becoming Hibiki’s first global ambassador feels natural as we share the same respect for Japanese art and the beauty found in patience, balance and detail.“, Sawai said. “Hibiki represents a kind of quiet mastery, something that is refined over time with care and intention. As an actor, I am drawn to that same philosophy of craftsmanship, where every choice is deliberate and every moment counts. Representing a brand that embodies the harmony between nature, time and human art is incredibly meaningful to me.“.
The hero film is complemented by two behind-the-scenes feature films exploring Sawai’s discovery of the beauty behind Hibiki and kimono-making, and how elements like water and time shape both.
The film follows Sawai to the famous washi paper artist’s Kyoto studio. Eriko Horiki, who handcraft the washi labels adorning every Hibiki bottle since 1989. A hallmark of the brand’s visual identity, these labels give Hibiki its “face”, transforming water, fiber and time into something quietly beautiful and durable. The other offers an intimate glimpse into the historic Kyoto workshop of the Chiso kimono house, where Sawai sees an intricate kimono that she wears in the hero film and in key campaign visuals.
Celebrated for its refined and complex flavor, Hibiki whiskey is a meticulous blend from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries, reflecting the Japanese concept of “wa”, balance and harmony, through careful blending.
Campaign content will launch in key markets including the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Northern Europe, Mainland China, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan region, South Korea, Spain, India, Canada, Brazil and Mexico.
For more information on the new campaign and to watch the heroes film, please visit us online here.
Instagram @suntorywhisky_hibiki | #ThemasterpieceofJapaneseart
About La Maison Suntory
Suntory is known as the founding house of Japanese whiskey, since Shinjiro Torii established Japan’s first malt whiskey distillery in Yamazaki in 1923 and continued by his son, Keizo Saji, founder of the Hakushu and Chita distilleries. Through generations of Suntory master blenders, Suntory Whiskey remains committed to heritage and innovation.
Today, Suntory continues to craft award-winning spirits including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Chita®, Kakubin®, Hibiki® and Suntory Whiskey Toki™. All 100% distilled, aged and bottled in Japan, in full compliance with the standards of the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA). House Suntory also includes Roku™ Japanese Gin, Haku™ Japanese Vodka and Kanáde Japanese Liqueur, reflecting the same dedication to craftsmanship, quality and innovation that has defined Suntory for over a century.
In 2025, Yamazaki® made history at the International Spirits Challenge as the first brand to win the title of Supreme Champion Spirit three years in a row, and in 2024, head blender Shinji Fukuyo was named Master Blender of the Year. Continuing this legacy of excellence, craft distillery Osaka Spirits & Liqueurs, home to Roku Gin, Haku Vodka and Kanáde Japanese Liqueur, has been awarded the 2025 Liqueur Producers Trophy from the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Maison Suntory will open the Osaka craft distillery to the public for the first time in 2026.
About Suntory Global Spirits
As a global leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its expertise in premium whiskeys, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskeys, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scottish brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ gin and Sipsmith®, and is a global leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands including -196™ (minus one-nine-six) and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive lasting change and positively impact the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com And www.drinksmart.com.
Enjoy responsibly.
Hibiki®, 43% Alc./Vol. ©2026 Suntory Global Spirits, Inc. 11 Madison Ave 12th Fl, New York, NY 10010
Media Contact:
Nairobi Jeanniton
Global PR Manager
nairobi.jeanniton@beamsuntory.com
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SOURCE Suntory Global Spirits
