Anna Sawai, the New Zealand-born Japanese actor and singer, has been announced as the first-ever global ambassador for Hibiki, the premium whisky brand from The House of Suntory. Best known for her breakthrough role in the American television series Shōgun, Sawai will now be the global ambassador for Suntory’s Hibiki brand. The brand made this announcement through a campaign, “The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry”.
Roughly translated as ‘resonance’, ‘Hibiki’ is one of the most iconic brands under The House of Suntory’s portfolio.
The new campaign by Hibiki has been dubbed “The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry”. It stars award-winning actor and singer Anna Sawai dressed in the traditional Japanese kimono. Sawai, with utmost elegance, is photographed holding a bottle of Hibiki Japanese Harmony, one of the house’s most decadent blends. She also stars in the brand’s short film. The short film traces the connection between kimono-making and whisky blending, two crafts that are shaped by time and presence.
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Anna Sawai’s choice comes off as no surprise – the actor-singer was a well established personality well before her breakthrough in global media. With blockbusters like “Pachinko” and “Shogun” to her credits, the actor thrust her into the global spotlight.
In a press release, The House of Suntory says Sawai embodies “both global influence and a deep appreciation for Japanese heritage”. It also added that she “serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, interpreting the quiet strength of Japanese culture for an international audience”.
The new campaign, starring Anna Sawai,, was shot with the actor donning a custom kimono from Chiso, one of Japan’s oldest-run kimono houses. It is crafted using traditional yuzen hand-dyeing techniques, with the silk kimono being hand-painted with motifs inspired by Japanese landscapes.
There is also a purple butterfly adorning the kimono collar, with its purple color echoing Hibiki’s signature kokimurasaki hue seen on each bottle’s neck. The Hibiki bottles are also no less than a work of art. Each bottle features handcrafted washi labels from washi artist Eriko Horiki, whose labels have been wrapped on every Hibiki whisky since 1989.
Sawai commented, “With Hibiki, the taste can vary depending on the barrels, just like every scene or take I do,” she explains. “It’s nuanced, very personal and a little different each time. That, to me, is the beauty of artistry”.
The House of Suntory says Sawai’s campaign will run through 2026 across multiple markets and media channels. Along with it, there will also be a kimono installation at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. This installation will be timed to the opening of the new Terminal One, which will be the airport’s new international hub.
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The House of Suntory’s Hibiki, a premium whisky brand, has appointed actor-singer Anna Sawai as its first-ever global ambassador. The well-established actor and singer will be the next voice championing the brand’s philosophy on a much larger scale.
