“Nagoya sightseeing celebration”, Nagoya Station, Nagoya, c. 1910.

Nagoya Station, Nagoya, c. 1910. Stamped “Nagoya Sightseeing Celebration”, including an image of the iconic kinshachi (tiger-headed carp) that adorns nearby Nagoya Castle, The original structure opened in 1886 but was extensively damaged in an 1891 earthquake and was completely rebuilt (seen here). In view to the left are vertical advertising signboards for Asahi Beer (left) and a local brew, Kabuto Beer.

The Marusan Brewery Company was established in 1887 by the Kohashi family of Handa, Japan, a small city south of Nagoya. Its brand name, “Kabuto”, refers to the traditional Japanese samurai kabuto helmet, in the modern day a symbol of strength and tradition which was illustrated in the brand’s logo and marketing identity.

Kabuto Beer gained popularity as part of the emerging beer market in Japan post-Restoration, competing with other breweries such as Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin by differentiating itself through unique branding and product quality, and establishing footholds in both local and export markets. But, despite some early success, the brand faced challenges as the market grew more competitive at the turn of the century and breweries consolidated operations.

Kirin and Asahi became industry giants, leaving smaller breweries like Kabuto struggling. The brewing of Kabuto beer would cease in 1921 when the company folded.

The original Marusan brewery still stands in Handa. After closing as a brewery the building was used to warehouse cornstarch and other dry goods. The red brick structure survived the Pacific War, and was restored by the local government in 2006 and, for a brief time, beer production was revived. It is now open to the public only a few times each year, during city and summer festivals including Handa’s famous annual dashi [float] parade in October.