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Keanu Reeves and Sofia Coppola work with the House of Suntory
Hollywood icons Keanu Reeves and Sofia Coppola have teamed up with the House of Suntory for the company’s 100th whisky-making anniversary.
The tie-up — which will include a video tribute, a documentary short and photography — has been created 20 years after Coppola filmed Lost in Translation which saw the actor Bill Murray’s character depicting the meaning of “Suntory Time”.
Now, Coppola has returned to Japan to create the Suntory anniversary tribute which features Reeves, a big fan of Suntory Whisky and who previously appeared in a Suntory Reserve advertising campaign in 1992. The tribute involves Reeves starring in a series of documentary shorts titled ‘The Nature and Spirit of Japan’ and explores Japanese whisky culture inspired by harmony with nature (Wa), Japanese craftsmanship (Monozukuri) and the art of enjoying an authentic Japanese cultural experience (Omotenashi).
Speaking about the documentaries, Reeves said: “I’m honoured to partner with Suntory Whisky again thirty years after our Suntory Reserve campaign. I’m a huge fan of Suntory Whisky, so it’s very special to collaborate in honour of this milestone anniversary. My admiration for the whisky goes beyond tasting the whisky. It is the elevated Japanese craftsmanship and attention to every detail that makes Suntory Whisky so special. As an actor honing and perfecting my own craft, sharing this process in a docuseries is a thrill.”
House of Suntory managing director Jon Potter added: “As the pioneer of Japanese whisky, the House of Suntory played a significant role in shaping culture and leading craftsmanship in Japan over the last century. To mark this historic milestone, partnering with Sofia and Keanu, who are Suntory Whisky fans, makes perfect sense. From our fifth generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo’s striking blends to Sofia and Keanu’s unique cinematic creations, this commemoration has surpassed all expectations to celebrate our iconic Japanese whiskies.”
In addition to the partnership with Reeves and Coppola, the Japanese spirits company releasing several limited-edition whiskies including Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt whiskies and limited 100th anniversary labels of the flagship Yamazaki 12 Year Old and Hakushu 12 Year Old.
The House of Suntory also recently revealed it is investing JPY10 billion (US$77 million) to enhance its Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries which are currently closed for renovation and scheduled to reopen this autumn.
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