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.
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