Keanu Reeves Helps House of Suntory Whisky Celebrate 100 Years

Marking its centennial milestone, the House of Suntory has begun rolling out a stylised campaign that encapsulates the rich cultural history and nostalgia of the Japanese whisky distiller. Created by production company The Directors Bureau, the multifaceted campaign encompasses a tribute short film directed by Sofia Coppola, and a mini-documentary series creative directed by Roman Coppola. Like the spirits it celebrates, the project is meticulously crafted, conveying the House’s pioneering journey and encompassing philosophy through meaningful visuals. 

The Suntory Anniversary Tribute, which features actor Keanu Reeves, a lover of Suntory Whisky and who previously appeared in a Suntory Reserve ad campaign in 1992, tells the remarkable story of the brand’s heritage and whisky-making legacy over the last 100 years. It debuted during the Suntory Time 100th Anniversary Global Premiere event, and can now be viewed on the House of Suntory website here. 

Keanu also stars in the companion documentary shorts series from Roman Coppola, 'The Nature and Spirit of Japan,' which will be released later this year. Striking a balance between travelog and entertainment, the series aims to foster a deeper exploration of the House of Suntory and Japanese culture overall. 

The collaboration between the House of Suntory and The Directors Bureau marked a somewhat full-circle moment for the Coppola filmmaking family. Academy Award-winning director, and parent of siblings Roman and Sofia, Francis Ford Coppola both starred in a 1980 Suntory Whisky commercial and directed Keanu in 'Bram Stoker’s Dracula,' which Roman second unit directed. Suntory Whisky was also featured in Sofia’s Academy Award-winning drama 'Lost in Translation.' 

“Making a documentary is about discovery, and it was fascinating to uncover the history of Suntory Whisky through the eyes of Keanu. I felt lucky that Suntory trusted us to follow our intuition, and I think we found a fascinating story about how harmony and many aspects of Japanese art and culture reverberate through whisky,” shared Roman Coppola. “Interestingly, we also found themes that we were exploring in our own work. Like whisky begins with raw materials – barley and water, we honed and shaped our footage, and the project gradually unfolded as a reflection of the crafts we observed. We learned so much and are grateful to Suntory for allowing us to share this insightful journey with the world.”