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Suntory Co., Ltd. has announced the upcoming nationwide launch of -196 Kiwi, a limited-edition extension of its established -196 ready-to-drink (RTD) canned chuhai brand.
Scheduled for release on 13 October 2026, the 5 per cent ABV product incorporates kiwifruit-infused spirit produced via Suntory's proprietary -196°C freezing technology, combining regional fruit provenance from Ehime Prefecture with high-throughput canned beverage manufacturing.
Proprietary Freeze Processing
The development of -196 Kiwi relies on Suntory's flagship -196°C Manufacturing Method, an operational process that freeze-crushes whole fruit at ultra-low temperatures using liquid nitrogen before infusing the resulting fruit powder into neutral spirit.
To highlight ingredient quality and regional origin, the packaging explicitly calls out fruit sourced from Ehime Prefecture ("Grown in Ehime"). By leveraging whole-fruit processing, the formulation is engineered to deliver a crisp, bursting fruit profile while maintaining a clean, refreshing palate finish.
Product Specifications and Packaging Formats
The limited-time line extension enters commercial distribution across two standard aluminium packaging configurations, providing flexibility across impulse and home-consumption channels.
The product lineup features the following specifications and pricing tiers:
🥝 350ml Standard Can: Formulated at 5 per cent ABV, offered at a suggested retail price of ¥171 (excluding tax).
🥝 500ml Large Can: Formulated at 5 per cent ABV, offered at a suggested retail price of ¥232 (excluding tax).
Commercial Distribution
First launched in 2005, the -196 brand forms a core pillar of Suntory's fruit-forward chuhai business. The addition of the limited-edition kiwi SKU follows recent seasonal flavour extensions within the portfolio, enabling the manufacturer to stimulate consumer trial and increase category engagement across Japanese retail networks.
Suntory confirmed that retail pricing will remain flexible, allowing independent off-premise trade partners, convenience store chains, and supermarket networks to determine local shelf pricing.
Commercial distribution for both the 350ml and 500ml configurations of -196 Kiwi will commence across physical and digital retail channels throughout Japan on 13 October 2026, available for a restricted promotional period while stocks last.
