September 08, 2025
Suntory preserves precious water for the future
Water has nurtured life throughout our planet’s long history and sustained human society. Water is the most precious resource shared by all living beings.
Suntory Holdings Ltd. has for decades dedicated itself to conserving water sources and realizing sustainable water cycles to ensure that water is carried forward to future generations. At Expo 2025 in Osaka, the company presents this philosophy to the world.
Water is the lifeblood of Suntory’s business. Beer, wine, soft drinks and whisky alike cannot exist without high-quality water. Its source — groundwater — accumulates slowly, nurtured by forests over time.
To safeguard this precious resource for the future, the company has engaged in the conservation of water sources at 26 locations in 16 prefectures across Japan. This effort, which protects local ecosystems by fostering groundwater recharge through forest preservation and restoration, was launched in 2003 as the Natural Water Sanctuary initiative.
Today, the protected area has expanded to approximately 12,000 hectares. Guided by scientific research and close collaboration with communities, Suntory continues to cultivate forests with a forward-looking vision — one that spans decades, even half a century or more, into the future.
This summer, while global attention turns to Expo 2025, Suntory has transformed the expo grounds into a stage for a diverse array of programs. Alongside water-themed shows and dining experiences, the company hosted a Children’s Summit, an SDGs-focused initiative that invited younger generations to reflect on the future of water and air. Visitors also encounter Suntory products and services across the venue through food trucks and vending machines.
While the company has participated in three previous expos, each time with its own dedicated pavilion, its fourth appearance marks a new departure: a collaboration with air-conditioner maker Daikin Industries to create an innovative experience that combines the strengths of both companies.
The collaboration is deeply rooted in the origins and philosophies of both companies. Each was founded in Osaka, and over the years they have fostered a good relationship. Suntory is guided by its corporate message of “Sustained by Nature and Water” and Daikin by “Perfecting the Air,” both essential elements for life. Much like Suntory, Daikin has long pursued the science of air quality while addressing social challenges across more than 170 countries and regions. Against this backdrop, the theme of Expo 2025 — “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” — naturally resonated with their ideals, paving the way for co-creation.
“Preparations began more than three years ago, with discussions starting from what message we should convey about the future of life,” said Miyuki Maeba, senior general manager of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan promotion department of Suntory Holdings Ltd. “Through that process, we first decided to stage a water-and-air-themed show and later added the restaurant Suikuu and a next-generation environmental program. These three initiatives became the pillars of our overall plan.”
At the expo site, the Water Plaza hosts a large-scale water and air spectacle titled “Under the Midnight Rainbow.” Designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, the show conveys the interconnectedness of water, air and life itself. In the performance, wind, mist and shifting air currents resonate with fountains, light, imagery and music, immersing spectators in a sweeping narrative. As an international stage, Expo 2025 offers a vital opportunity to share the value of conservation with the world and carry it forward into the future.
What if water and air could tell us about what they have observed on Earth for billions of years, and offer humanity clues for the future? From this idea emerges a festive tale, vividly painted across the night sky after sunset. Its protagonists, a child named Ao and a mysterious bird called Dodo, meet beneath a mystical rainbow of the night, where a grand celebration of living creatures unfolds.
“As for the title ‘Midnight Rainbow,’” explained Maeba, “it comes from a rare natural phenomenon in which a rainbow — normally visible only in the brightness of day — appears at night when the air is rich with moisture. If we listen closely to water and air, which have quietly watched over the Earth throughout its long history, perhaps they can teach us the path humanity should follow. That idea lies at the heart of this story.”
Dinosaurs and other extinct creatures also appear in the show, quietly reminding the audience of the importance of carrying life forward without interruption. While intended to be enjoyed by visitors of all ages, genders and nationalities, Maeba hopes the message will especially reach the children who will shape the next generation.
At the Water Plaza West Marketplace, a selection of Suntory’s distinctive dining venues welcomes visitors, each offering menus that reflect strong commitments to water, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
Among them is Suikuu, a restaurant envisioned as a “highland retreat” where guests can savor a dining experience that evokes the sensation of being embraced by crisp alpine air. Incorporating advanced air-conditioning technology from Daikin, the space carefully regulates humidity and airflow to create an environment that gently engages the senses. Careful thought has also been given to how water is experienced. Each course begins with Suntory Tennensui mineral water, served not as a simple table drink but as an aperitif. “We want guests to recognize the intrinsic value of natural water itself, not just see it as ordinary water,” Maeba explained. Complemented by visual, acoustic and multisensory effects, Suikuu offers a rare harmony of serenity and delight — an experience that lingers long after the meal.
On the first floor, the Suntory Park Cafe offers a signature menu item: shaved ice made with Suntory Tennensui mineral water. Guests are encouraged to take their first bite without syrup so they can appreciate the taste of the ice itself. Inside the cafe, the tabletops, tableware and glasses are crafted from thinned wood sourced from forests in the Natural Water Sanctuary initiative. By incorporating materials harvested as part of sustainable forest management, guests are invited to reflect on the gifts of nature and the possibilities of a sustainable society.
Maeba shared her hopes for visitors: “Above all, I want everyone to simply enjoy themselves. And if that enjoyment — the delicious food, the beautiful water, the moments of delight — can naturally inspire a sense of value that carries into the future, then we have achieved something meaningful.”
Rain and snowmelt seep slowly through forest soil, filtered and purified over two decades before becoming groundwater that emerges as Suntory Tennensui mineral water. Reflecting on this long journey, visitors are reminded — both physically and emotionally — of the preciousness of water in daily life and for all living beings.
On the expo’s global stage, Suntory delivers a gentle reminder: Water, the very source of life, must be safeguarded and handed down to the future. To instill this awareness is Suntory’s mission — and a baton entrusted to each of us to pass on to generations yet to come.
