is a soft drink company founded in 1982 and headquartered in the Azuma-bashi district of Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries. The company sponsors the Asahi Soft Drink Challengers, an American football team in the Japanese X-League, as well as a futsal team.

History

In 1884, (later called "Mitsuya Cider") began being sold. After becoming an Imperially licensed beverage company in 1909, Mitsuya Champagne Cider began being sold. In November 1951, Asahi Bakushu (now Asahi Beer) acquired the rights to manufacture and distribute Bireley's Orange and Wilkinson Ginger Ale from General Foods and Ellis Wilkinson Ltd., respectively; both drinks are still sold in Japan despite being discontinued in their original countries. By April 1953, Mitsuya Cider was manufactured using only sugar for sweetener.

Bireley's began being sold in cans in March 1959. In March 1972, Mitsuya Vending Corporation was established, and Asahi Bakushu entered the beverage vending machine business. Mitsuya Coffee, sold in cans, was introduced in October 1981. Mitsuya Foods Corporation was established in March 1982, and the Mitsuya Vending Corporation was merged into this new company. This is considered the beginning of Asahi Soft Drinks. The Mount Fuji manufacturing plant opened in April 2001.

Tokoro George began doing commercials in October 2002 for Wonda Morning Shot, which was previously named Asahi Sen'yō (lit. Asahi Private). Shot & Shot, a low sugar variety of Wonda, was introduced in January 2005, and a caffeine-free variety of Asahi Jūrokucha was introduced in February. Commercials for Asahi Jūrokucha featured the child actors Ei Morisako and Kakeru Totani, and veteran actor, comedian and singer Ichirō Zaitsu, as well as music by Agnes Chan. A new commercial for Wonda Morning Shot featuring Yukie Nakama and a new commercial for Wonda Shot & Shot featuring Yūsuke Santamaria were both released in September 2005.

Takarazuka Revue actress Yūki Amami appeared in a February 2006 commercial for Asahi Jūrokucha. In April, the unsweetened black canned coffee Wonda 100-nen Black was introduced. In September, Daizō Harada starred as Neptune in a commercial for Wonda Shot & Shot 69, and in November, Gyugyutto Shimikomu Collagen Water was debuted.

Also in 2006, Asahi Soft Drinks published results of a study on naturally occurring vanadium in drinking water and its effect on mice with diabetes. The study was done in conjunction with Asahi Breweries, Nihon Pharmaceutical University, and Tokyo Medical University, and found that it prevented weight gain and allowed the mice to use glucose more effectively. In 2007, Asahi Soft Drinks transferred most of its vending machine operations to its sister company LB, also owned by Asahi Breweries.

Products

right|thumb|Bireley's Orange in Japan.Asahi Soft Drinks produces a large number of drinks, including the following:

  • Benifūki Ryokucha (green tea, limited release)
  • Bireley's (バヤリース)
  • Bireley's Orange
  • Bireley's Apple
  • Bireley's Sarasara Tomato
  • Bireley's Bottle Breakfast series
  • Cafeo (a café au lait)
  • Dodekamin (vitamin drink)
  • Fauchon (a black tea)
  • Fiber 7500
  • Fine Straight Tea
  • Gyugyutto Shimikomu Collagen Water (a "diet" water containing collagen)
  • Ichigeki (sports drink)<!--一撃-->
  • Ikkyūchappa Ūroncha (Oolong tea made from top grade leaves)
  • Jūrokucha (十六茶, a blend of 16 teas)
  • Kōcha Pūarucha (a pu-erh tea)
  • Kuchidoke Cocoa ("kuchidoke" means "melts in your mouth", only sold during winter)
  • Kuromugicha (a rye tea)
  • Mitsuya Cider
  • Sansōsui (oxygen water)
  • Super H²O (sports drink)
  • Tōchō Ūroncha (Oolong tea sold at 7-Eleven stores)
  • Vanadium Tennen Mizu (natural mineral water containing vanadium)
  • Wakamusha (若武者, meaning "young samurai," a green tea)
  • White Milk Tea
  • Wilkinson
  • Ginger ale (dry and golden)
  • Tonic water
  • Tansan sparkling water (from 炭酸 tansan - carbonated)
  • Wonda (canned coffee, under license from AGF)
  • Wonda Morning Shot
  • Wonda Shot & Shot 69
  • Wonda 100-nen Black

Discontinued products

  • Cha-Tea (a black tea)
  • Mitsuya Coffee/Nova/J.O. (coffee, became Wonda)
  • Ocha Dōzo (a green tea introduced at the same time as Jūrokucha)
  • Tea Quality (a black tea)
  • TeaO (a black tea)
  • Umacha (a green tea, replaced by Wakamusha)
  • Nigorase Umacha

See also

  • Asahi Breweries

References

  • Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd
  • Asahi Voice Park (information about Asahi Soft Drink commercials