The unbearably hot and humid summer is peak beer season in Japan. Here are some facts about the nation's beer market and its taxes, as well as regulations related to the alcoholic beverage:
How many beer products does Japan produce, and how much is consumed? How does Japan compare with other countries?
Japanese brewers produced a combined 6.36 million kiloliters of beer in 2005. According to an annual survey by Kirin Brewery Co. of brewery associations around the world, that places Japan seventh on the list of beer producers after China, the United States, Germany, Brazil, Russia and Mexico.