Shinjirō Torii (鳥井 信治郎, Torii Shinjirō; 30 January 1879 – 20 February 1962) was a Japanese entrepreneur who founded the business that became Suntory. He began as an importer and seller of Western-style alcoholic beverages and later led early domestic whisky production efforts, including the establishment of the Yamazaki distillery in 1923. He is remembered as a pioneer in Japan’s Western liquor industry.
Early life
Torii entered Osaka Commercial School in 1890 and later joined Konishi Gisuke Shoten (later Konishi), where he learned blending techniques used in the era's imitation whiskies.
Career
Torii Shoten and Akadama Port Wine
In 1899, Torii founded Torii Shoten in Osaka as an import and sales business for Western alcoholic drinks. In the early twentieth century he developed and marketed Akadama port wine (often described in English-language business sources as a sweetened or fortified wine and later known under different labelling). The product became one of his best-known early successes.