The name "Orion" was originally the name of the beer sold by the company, which had been determined by inviting the public to name the beer. The public invitation to name the beer was placed in newspapers on November 1, 1957, with prizes offered. The prizes were 10,000 type B military yen ($83.40) for the first place, 3,000 type B military yen ($25) for the second place, and 2,000 type B military yen ($16.70) for the third place. The high-value prizes attracted more than 2,500 entries with 823 names. Of these, 810 names were screened, and "Orion" was selected for its association with Okinawa and level of appeal to consumers.
Orion is, needless to say, the name of a constellation. Orion is a constellation in the southern sky and matches the image of the southern island Okinawa. Stars are often used as a symbol of dreams and aspiration. And the commander of the U.S. forces governing Okinawa at that time was wearing the three-star emblem. These are the main reasons for the selection of the name.
