Japanese beer had its start during the Edo Period when the
Dutch opened beer halls for the sailors who worked on the trade
route between Japan and the Dutch Empire. Japanese-style
commercial brewing has been exported to much of southeast Asia and
factories are spread throughout the world.
Beer is the most favored alcoholic drink in Japan. It was
introduced in the early Meiji period from Germany. Major makers
are Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo while small
local breweries supply distinct tasting beers. Lager beers are
most common but beers made with lower grain contents called "Happoushu"
(low malt beer, sparkling alcoholic drink) have captured a large
part of the market as tax is lower on these products. Drinking
beer with salted boiled beans, edamame, is known as a favorite
summer pastime for adults.
Courtesy of http://www.wikipedia.org
Japan 
