World's biggest wealth fund puts Kirin Holdings on watch list over Myanmar link

So Kirin will give up a 1.7 billion investment because the Norwegian Trust fund has 222 million in stock holdings. That is one heck of a haircut to extract yourself from an unfortunate tieup.

Meanwhile china still has large influence over the situation in Myanmar and no one blinks an eyelid, the olympic committee still pushes forward with hosting the winter games in china even with its rotten record on human rights issues at home and abroad.

The major Japanese companies are all talking up ESGs and pledging commitment to them, and yet when Myanmar starts killing pro-democracy demonstrators, the corporations drag their feet and oppose decisive action by Western countries like sanctions.

Kirin also said it still wanted to keep selling beer in Myanmar.

Of course it does! No matter what happens.

The Norwegian central bank said on Wednesday it had put Kirin Holdings Ltd Co on a watch list for possible exclusion from its $1.3 trillion sovereign wealth fund over the beverage giant's business ties to Myanmar's military.

Denmark has excluded companies placing their headquarters in tax havens like the Cayman Islands, as many companies do including some of the largest, from receiving any tax breaks or corporate welfare.

This is a practical approach and probably counts for more than just empty virtue signaling.

You can do whatever you want to do, but it does not influence my decision to like and drink Kirin Beer.

@Bjorn Tomention China is the sugar daddy and thus untouchable for these Europeans.

Western powers flexing their economic muscles...

After all, they spent a lot of effort and money getting their lady in place!

Now I understand why Kirin was so eager in cutting ties before.

Kirin is in a very tight spot, with no easy way out.

Bungle ? Chinese beer ? better than Japanese ? ROFL!

You can't be serious!!

They only sell Tsingtao and it's putrid!

Bungle it sounds like you would know what amber liquid that has passed through a urethra tastes like so we will have to take your word for that

China is the sugar daddy and thus untouchable for these Europeans.

Yep, Norwegians are very careful with China after they got pissed about the Peace Price of 2010 (Liu Xiaobo) and refused to buy Norwegian salmon for 8 years straight (it’s a bigger deal than it sounds). Because of this, Norway wouldn’t meet with Dalia Lama when he visited, and they had to send the king to China to make them happy again.

Bjorn Tomention: "Meanwhile china still has large influence over the situation in Myanmar and no one blinks an eyelid"

Ah, so in your deflection, you're saying Japan should be more like China... or that we should just allow Japan to be as bad and turn a blind eye. Okay, got it.

"Bungle it sounds like you would know what amber liquid that has passed through a urethra tastes like so we will have to take your word for that"

No better retort than "I know you are but what am I" or the equivalent? You haven't addressed the fact that Japan is engaged in the very behaviour you scorn China for, and that other posters cheered Japan on when one company left Myanmar, but became silent on Kirin and Nissan still doing business there (at least until it was shown clearly to them they can't have it both ways like they always want to). So, stop talking about China to deflect from this Japanese company doing what it is has done and rightfully being called out.

Oh, he's right, though -- Japanese beer is not that great. Better than Korean beer, but Chinese beats Japanese beer hands down.

Cancel Culture...

@smithinjapan

As for Chinese Beer - if you're referring to Mainland China , then you are totally wrong, 100% dead wrong. The only reason for drinking Chinese beer - like their snow brand, is that its probably safer than water, and is so weak that you won't get drunk on it.

That said, Japanese beer isn't great - it pretty much tastes the same. Asahi Super Dry is probably the best of the Standard beers, with Ebisu being the most distinctive of the group. Then you have small boutique beers from brewers - but they're few and far between and... lack distinction. Japan Brewing laws are terrible, you can't even home brew legally in this Country.

mmwkdwMar. 4  10:48 pm JST

 Asahi Super Dry is probably the best of the Standard beers

Kirin Ichiban Shibori used to be a far better beer. Then, during the financial crisis in 2007-2008 they changed it from 5.5% to 5% with absolutely no announcement (as well as increasing the price), and its never been the same since; Lost all its balance, just to save a few yen. Kirin Classic is a good brew, if a little light and Heartland (only in bottles) is probably their best current effort.

mmwkdwMar. 4 10:48 pm JST

Asahi Super Dry is probably the best of the Standard beers, with Ebisu being the most distinctive of the group.

You mean the Asahi Super Dry, silver tin? As you said, quote "Brewing laws are terrible", Asahi Super Dry can't be considered a beer. Look at the ingredients - rice.korn.starch. Asahi Super Dry tastes really sweet and ends quite flat, like many US beers. And great headache. If you're someone comming from Europe with beer culture (say, Belgium, Germany or Czech) and like beer, Ebisu is roughly 1:1. Sapporo used to be fine as well, but changed somewhere during last 10 years.

Kirin Ichiban Shibori used to be good as well, but changed witout any announcement.