Dai-Nippon Beer Is Divided into Asahi and Nippon Breweries

In September 1949, Dai-Nippon Beer was divided into Asahi Breweries and Nippon Breweries under Japan’s postwar policy against excessive economic concentration. The restructuring formed part of the economic reforms pursued during the Allied occupation. It dismantled the combined brewing organization established in 1906 and redistributed its breweries between two successor businesses. Nippon Breweries initially promoted a new Nippon Beer brand rather than immediately restoring all its inherited names. It later revived Sapporo beer and changed its company name to Sapporo Breweries in 1964. The breakup therefore created the corporate foundations of postwar competition between Asahi and Sapporo, alongside Kirin, while the familiar modern brand landscape emerged gradually. It was a change in ownership and market organization, not the founding of the original Sapporo or Asahi brewing traditions.