Sustainability

1979

Start of the Come Back Salmon Campaign

Takara Shuzo launched the Come Back Salmon Campaign with the sale of a Hokkaido-only version of Takara Shochu Jun in a special commemorative bottle. A part of the sales of this product were donated to the Sapporo Sake-no-Kai together with funds collected at donation boxes throughout Hokkaido, as this initiative turned into a community-based public relations activity.

1982

Start of the Protect Japan’s Pine Trees Campaign

Takara began the Protect Japan’s Pine Trees Campaign in support of the Nihonno-Matsu-no-Midori-wo-Mamoru-Kai (“Protect Japan’s Pine Trees Organization”).
A part of the sales from Sho Chiku Bai sake with labels bearing the campaign’s slogan was donated. This was a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the need to protect and nurture Japan's pine trees, which were at risk of being wiped out by damage caused by environmental pollution and pine weevils.

1983

Start of the Protect Japan’s Bamboo Trees Campaign

Takara provided support for the Nihon-no-Take-wo-Mamoru-Kai (“Protect Japan’s Bamboo Trees Organization”), which was started by a group led by Soshitsu Sen, grand master of the Urasenke School of the Japanese tea ceremony, launching the Protect Japan’s Bamboo Trees Campaign.

1985

A corporate philosophy seeking harmony between nature, society, and individuals

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Takara, a new corporate philosophy was adopted, stating Takara’s intent to contribute to the creation of a vital society and a healthy lifestyle through our fermentation technology and biotechnology in a way that achieves harmony with nature. The corporate philosophy was most recently revised in 2001.

The Takara Harmonist Fund charitable trust

Having recognized the importance of environmental activities through initiatives like the Come Back Salmon Campaign, Takara resolved to create a charitable trust.

Takara Harmonist Fund

A pamphlet to encourage responsible drinking: The Say No! Reader

This pamphlet was issued to encourage a proper understanding of alcohol and responsible drinking. In 1995, the title “Say No! Reader” was changed to “Say No! Press.”

1989

Sports drink PADI features Japan’s first stay-on tab

Takara launched Japan’s first canned beverage with a stay-on tab, contributing an immediate solution to the problems caused by pull-tabs. Thereafter, the stay-on tab quickly became the standard means of opening Takara Can Chu-Hi and other canned products throughout Japan.

1991

The 1st Takara Clean Can Walking event

The "TaKaRa Clean Can Walking" event was held from 1991 as a citizen-participation environmental volunteer event. Local volunteer groups, general consumers, people involved in distribution, and Takara Shuzo employees worked together to collect empty cans and garbage. In addition, since 1992, the "Chikyu Pika-Pika Daisakusen" campaign ("Clean Earth Campaign") was carried out under the leadership of the company's labor union at business sites nationwide.

1992

The 1st Takara Great Outdoors Adventure

This event was held at Youteizan Nature Park, campsites in the Tomakomai area, the Minamifurano Kanayama Lakeside Campsite, and other sites throughout Hokkaido, where children could come in contact with the great outdoors on a two-day, one-night adventure that included field seminars, cooking outdoors, canoeing, and other activities.
The fees for participating in this event were donated to the Hokkaido Shimbunsha Yasei Seibutsu Kikin (“Hokkaido Newspaper Wild Animal Fund”) and used to help preserve Hokkaido’s nature areas.

1994

In Hokkaido, first use of returnable bottles for Takara Shochu Jun and Jun Legend

Start of return of 720-ml bottles. For the first time in 17 years, a new design was applied for Takara Shochu Jun bottles.

Start of the Hokkaido Firefly Project

In conjunction with the relaunch of Takara Shochu Jun in returnable bottles, the "Hokkaido Firefly Project" supporting the "Firefly Friends Hokkaido Campaign" run by the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper was launched.
As part of the Hokkaido Firefly Project, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the new returnable bottle version of Takara Shochu Jun was donated to the project under the slogan "Fireflies teach us about JUN nature" ("JUN" being the Japanese word for "pure"). Further, a wide range of activities, including the provision of information on the environment where fireflies live and activity-type classes for observing fireflies in flight, were conducted.

1995

Dispatch of volunteers to provide support in the aftermath of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

Establishing a special unit to coordinate Takara’s response, donations and volunteers were sent to provide support.

Takara products labeled “alcohol”in braille

As part of its efforts to help people avoid mistakenly imbibing alcohol, for the first time in Japan, Takara began to label the tops of Takara Can Chu-Hi with the word “alcohol” in braille. Also, in 2002, this relief was added for the first time in Japan to the plastic caps of paper cartons containing alcohol.

1997

Start of Eco-Challenge 21, a companywide environmental initiative

The Eco-Challenge 21 initiative was created to tackle two major issues: environmental issues arising within planning for production facilities and tracking what happens to the empty containers left when Takara products have been consumed.

1998

Start of recycling of waste liquid from shochu distillation at the Takanabe Plant (currently Kurokabegura) for use in the manufacture of cement

Takara installed equipment for recycling waste liquid from shochu distillation as raw material for cement.

Development of Eco-PET

Takara developed a PET plastic bottle, called Eco-PET, which conforms to the voluntary design guidelines for Class II designation PET bottles.

Introduction of the ISO 14001 environmental management system

Yujiro Ishihara Memorial Box goes on sale

Proceeds from sales are donated to Marine Rescue Japan and the Japan Marine Recreation Association.

Establishment of a corporate policy for environmental activities

Takara established a corporate policy for environmental activities, calling for efforts to reduce the burden on the global environment that accompanies production activities. The policy also encourages efforts to contribute to community-based nature preservation activities as a means of returning to society the profits earned through corporate activities.

2000

Received “Chikyu Kankyo Forum Excellence in Business” in the Global Environment Awards

Received an Award for Excellence in the Toyo Keizai Inc. Green Reporting Forum Environmental Report Awards

2001

Earth Day Tokyo 2001

Takara participated in Earth Day Tokyo 2001 in April sharing information with NGOs and the local community about eco-products and other activities.

Industry’s first in-house natural gas refilling station installed at the Fushimi Plant

With the conversion of our forklift fleet to natural-gas-powered motors, a naturalgas refilling station was built at the Fushimi Plant.

2003

Takara Organic Hon-Mirin conforms with Type III Environmental Declarations requirements

Takara adopted the Type III Environmental Declarations standard in order to provide consumers with the information they need to select products with a low environmental burden. Takara Organic Hon-Mirin became the first food product worldwide to adopt labels that conform to the requirements of EPD Type III Environmental Declarations.

Opening of the Takara School of Rice and Sake

In cooperation with the environmental NPO School of Forest, Takara established the Takara School of Rice and Sake for children who have reached elementary school age and their parents. The school holds four events a year to provide opportunities to experience farming, observe the natural environment, and study the rules of responsible drinking. The school’s goal is to enhance understanding of environmental issues and social norms.

Cautions about drinking alcohol while pregnant

Takara began to add cautionary content against drinking alcohol while pregnant to its alcohol products.

Comprehensive acquisition of ISO 14001 certification at 17 business sites

Inaugural Takara Shuzo Cup Go Championships

Takara teams up with the Nihon Ki-in to hold an event designed to promote enjoyment of the game go and sake, in which people compete to win the Takara Shuzo Cup.

2009

The Drinking Responsibly Reader

This reader was issued to promote a proper understanding of alcohol and responsible drinking and entailed a full-fledged revision of the original “Say No! Press” pamphlet into the “Drinking Responsibly Reader.”

Sho Chiku Bai Ten begins sales in convenient pouches

Takara Shuzo Farm School is recognized with a special award from the Corporate Philanthropy Awards

2012

Opening of Takara Shuzo Eco-School

The Takara Shuzo Eco-School opens, offering a hands-on program where children and their parents can learn about environmental issues related to refuse and its disposal.

2013

Cosponsoring Japan’s first domestically developed Velotaxi

Takara cosponsored the development of a Japanese-built Velotaxi designed specifically for use on Japanese roads.

2014

Takara Shuzo Farm School is awarded a Review Committee’s Special Prize by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Award for Corporate Sponsorship of Youth Activities

Takara donates land used for emergency housing to the City of Shirakawa in Fukushima

In June 2011, Takara loaned land on the site of the former Shirakawa Plant to the City of Shirakawa for use as the site of emergency housing for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. This land has since been donated to the City of Shirakawa for use by the local community.

Takara receives the Prime Minister’s Award at the Awards for Distinguished Services in Promoting the 3 R’s

In recognition of its long-term efforts to promote solutions for the recycling of empty bottles, Takara received the Prime Minister’s Award.

2016

Donation for the Kumamoto Earthquake. Support of water supply in affected areas

2018

Donation for torrential rains in July 2018

Donation for the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake

2019

Donation for the 2019 East Japan Typhoon

2020

Donation for the reconstruction of Shuri Castle

To support the rebuilding of Shuri Castle, a World Heritage Site in Okinawa Prefecture that was largely destroyed by fire, Takara Shuzo donated a portion of the sales of its products in the Okinawa and Kyushu areas to Okinawa Prefecture.

2022

Donation for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine

We donated to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Association (United Nations WFP Association), which operates for civilians fleeing conflict in Ukraine and neighboring countries.

2024

Donation for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake