NEW YORK (May 11, 2026) — The House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese whisky, has launched its first-ever global campaign for Hibiki Whisky: “The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry.” The campaign introduces award-winning actress Anna Sawai as Hibiki’s inaugural Global Ambassador, celebrating the intersection of Japanese nature, time-honored kimono art, and the meticulous craft of whisky blending.
Central to the campaign is a collaboration with the historic Chiso kimono house, one of Japan’s oldest luxury ateliers. The campaign’s hero film draws a poetic parallel between the yuzen dyeing techniques of kimono-making and the blending of malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries.
“Becoming Hibiki’s first Global Ambassador feels natural because we share the same reverence for Japanese artistry and the beauty found in patience, balance and detail,” says Sawai. “Hibiki represents a quiet kind of mastery, something refined over time with care and intention. To represent a brand that embodies the harmony between nature, time and human artistry is incredibly meaningful to me.”
The campaign will run throughout 2026 across major international markets and includes a high-profile kimono installation at JFK Airport in New York.
Listen to Bourbon Lens on your favorite podcast app or stream on Spotify. If you’d like to support Bourbon Lens, join our Patreon, sign up for our “Weekly Pour” Newsletter, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
- James B. Beam Distilling Co. Announces Fall and Winter 2026 Bourbon Events
- King of Kentucky 2026 Unveiled: 14-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon
- The House of Suntory Unveils Hibiki Japanese Harmony Limited-Edition with Kyoto Kimono House Chiso
- Keeper’s Heart Launches Triple Pot Distilled Straight Rye Whiskey
- ROW 94 Bourbon Named Official Bourbon of The VINE Amphitheater at Chenault Vineyards for 2026-2027
- Underwater Moonshine Festival Brings Adam Duritz’s Underwater Sunshine to Kentucky Bourbon Country Oct. 9-10
