Okinawan brewer of Orion Draft, founded in 1957
With OSOBJoined OSOB’s sponsors in 2025.
Orion Breweries is based in Okinawa, Japan, and is best known for Orion Draft Beer. It was founded on 18 May 1957 by Sosei Gushiken, who believed the island's post-war recovery needed local manufacturing.
The name came from a public competition that drew more than 2,500 entries. The judges chose Orion because the constellation sits in the southern sky, which suits Okinawa, and because stars stand for dreams and aspiration.
Its brewery is in Nago, in the north of Okinawa Island, and its head office is in Tomigusuku. Orion sells most of the beer drunk in Okinawa, has brewed with Asahi since 2002, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September 2025. It has been on sale in Hong Kong since 2011.
