Shibusawa Eiichi was born in 1840 in what is now Saitama Prefecture. He died in 1931 after founding or co-founding more than 500 modern Japanese companies. His work included Japan’s first national bank, the country’s first insurance company, and many industrial and financial institutions.
In 2024, his portrait appeared on Japan’s new ¥10,000 note. He replaced educator Fukuzawa Yukichi, whose portrait had appeared on the note for about 40 years.
The Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set from Nippon Beer’s themed line celebrates that legacy. The gift pack contains 24 bottles in total. It includes 12 pilsners and 12 black beers, with both styles listed at 7.0% ABV.
The presentation is designed for gifting as well as drinking. For people living in Japan, it offers a way to connect Japanese beer with the country’s modern history.
A tribute to Japan’s founding industrialist
Nippon Beer produces the Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set as part of its themed series. The set honours Shibusawa Eiichi (1840–1931) through two different beer styles.
The brand is Ōkuma Shigenobu. The name references another Meiji-era statesman and the founder of Waseda University. This gives the collection another connection to Japan’s modern history.
The gift pack contains 12 bottles of pilsner and 12 bottles of black beer. The two styles offer a clear contrast.
The pilsner has a pale appearance and a clean malt character. Its hop bitterness gives it a crisp finish.
The black beer offers a darker profile. Roasted malt brings deeper flavours and a fuller character.
Having both styles in one pack makes the set suitable for different tastes. It also works well when several people are sharing drinks at home.
Both expressions are listed at 7.0% ABV. That makes them better suited to slower drinking than quick refreshment.
The Shibusawa-themed presentation also gives the set a formal character. It can suit occasions linked to Japanese business culture, history, or traditional gifting.
How the Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set is enjoyed at home
Kanpai (乾杯) (KAHN-pie) is the familiar Japanese toast before drinking. It is common at nomikai, home gatherings, dinners, and celebrations.
The same written characters appear in Chinese gānbēi and Korean geonbae. The pronunciation differs, but the shared characters reflect a broader East Asian drinking tradition.
With the Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set, the two beer styles create different options around the same table.
Two styles, two occasions
Edamame is an easy starting point for either beer. Its saltiness works naturally with a cold pilsner. It can also balance the richer character of a black beer.
Yakitori gives you another pairing option. The char and grilled fat complement both styles in different ways.
The pilsner’s bitterness helps cut through the richness of tare-glazed chicken. Its clean finish also refreshes the palate.
The black beer takes a different approach. Its roasted malt can complement the charred flavours from the grill.
Other otsumami work well during a longer nomikai. Try pickled vegetables, fried snacks, dried seafood, or other small plates.
The two styles also suit different parts of a seasonal gathering. During hanami in spring, the pilsner can work well during the warmer afternoon. The black beer can suit a cooler evening.
When to drink the two beers in Japan
The pilsner is a natural choice for spring and summer. April through September often brings warmer conditions, making a crisp pale beer appealing.
The black beer can work particularly well during autumn and winter. From October through March, its darker malt character suits cooler evenings.
Together, the two styles provide options throughout the year.
The historical theme also gives the set a distinctive role as a Japanese beer gift. It can be considered for occasions connected with Japanese business culture, modern history, or Shibusawa Eiichi’s appearance on the new ¥10,000 note.
Two pairings to try
For an easy convenience-store-inspired pairing, try the pilsner with a chicken salad onigiri. The beer’s clean malt character can complement the mild filling.
For the black beer, try a nikuman. The savoury pork filling provides a richer match for the beer’s roasted character.
At home, you can take the pairings further.
Serve the pilsner with chilled soba noodles. The light tsuyu and buckwheat flavours work well with the beer’s dry finish.
For the black beer, try braised beef short ribs. The rich meat and reduced soy-based sauce provide a stronger flavour match for the darker beer.
These pairings show the advantage of having two styles in one gift set. You can change the beer according to the food and the occasion.
Get the Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set delivered in Japan
Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set is available from Omori Mart as a 24-bottle set (12 Pilsner and 12 Black Beer), delivered nationwide across Japan.
- Free shipping on orders over ¥15,000
- Pay at FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, or Lawson — or by bank transfer or card
- Nationwide delivery to any address in Japan
Rakuten and Amazon Japan do not carry this label. Omori Mart is where residents in Japan find the themed beer sets that connect modern brewing to Japanese history — including the one honouring the man on the new ¥10,000 note.
[Shop Eiichi Shibusawa Beer Set →]
https://omorimart.com/product/eiichi-shibusawa-beer-set-24-bottles-12-pilsner-12-black-beer/
Twelve pilsners and twelve black beers, a Meiji-era industrialist on the label, and the new ¥10,000 note in the wallet. The toast was always going to be Kanpai.
No products in the cart.