The House of Suntory has unveiled Hibiki Whisky’s first global campaign, titled “The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry,” featuring Emmy award-winning actor Anna Sawai as the brand’s inaugural Global Ambassador. The campaign, which will run throughout 2026, draws connections between Japanese whisky blending and traditional kimono-making through a collaboration with Chiso, one of Japan’s oldest-run kimono houses.
At the center of the initiative is a hero film that draws parallels between the art of kimono-making and whisky blending, two crafts shaped by time and precision.
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Sawai appears in the film wearing a kimono from the historic Chiso kimono house, crafted using traditional yuzen dyeing techniques and seasonal motifs inspired by Japan’s landscapes.
A recurring butterfly motif threads throughout the campaign. The kokimurasaki (purple) design echoes Hibiki’s signature hue, found on the neck of the bottle and considered one of Japan’s most noble colors.
“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,” said Sawai. “Hibiki represents a quiet kind of mastery, something refined over time with care and intention.”
Sawai added: “As an actor, I’m drawn to that same philosophy of craft, where every choice is deliberate, and every moment matters. To represent a brand that embodies the harmony between nature, time and human artistry is incredibly meaningful to me.”
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Two behind-the-scenes features complement the hero film, exploring Sawai’s discovery of the craftsmanship behind both Hibiki and kimono-making.
One film follows Sawai to the Kyoto studio of renowned washi paper artist Eriko Horiki, who has handcrafted the washi labels for every Hibiki bottle since 1989. These labels, a hallmark of the brand’s visual identity, are made from water, fiber, and time.
The other offers an intimate look inside Chiso’s historic Kyoto atelier, where Sawai is shown the kimono she wears in the campaign visuals.
Hibiki Whisky is a blend drawn from Suntory’s three distilleries — Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita — reflecting the Japanese concept of “wa,” meaning balance and harmony.
The House of Suntory traces its roots to 1923, when founder Shinjiro Torii established Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki. His son, Keizo Saji, later founded the Hakushu and Chita distilleries. Today the house produces a portfolio that includes Yamazaki, Hakushu, Chita, Kakubin, Hibiki and Suntory Whisky Toki.
The global campaign will span key markets including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Northern Europe, China, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain, India, Canada, Brazil and Mexico.
A kimono installation at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York will coincide with the opening of the airport’s new terminal, forming part of the campaign’s physical activations.
Sawai, who has gained international recognition for her acting work, was selected to bridge tradition and modernity, interpreting Japanese cultural values for a global audience.
The campaign marks a significant step for Hibiki as it seeks to deepen its cultural storytelling on a worldwide stage.
