In Japan, the term "beer" is reserved for alcoholic beverages made from at least 65 percent malted barley, with the remainder of the grains being rice and corn (including cornstarch). Plus the requisite hops, yeast and water. If it contains anything else, it is classified as something else, usually happoshu, which literally means "sparkling alcoholic beverage."
To most consumers, happoshu is that foamy yellow drink that's kind of like beer, but carries a lower price tag.
Beverages like these make up the vast majority of happoshu sold today, so a better translation might be "low-malt beer." Not only is happoshu taxed at a lower rate than beer, it is also made with cheaper ingredients. Various sugars and starches are used in place of more expensive ingredients like malted barley, which is the major flavor constituent of beer.