Vast quantities of it have been consumed during the World Cup, but thousands of liters more will be drunk as the heat and humidity of summer kick in. Nothing beats a cold beer on a hot summer day.
Forget what you've heard about sake being Japan's national drink. By any reckoning, it's beer. By far the most popular alcoholic beverage, beer is served in a wider range of establishments than any other tipple. And that's not even including sake, which is technically a beer as it is brewed from a grain (rice).
Perhaps modern Japan's embrace of this alien and globally popular brew made from malted barley, hops and yeast is simply because of its flavor. Better than sake, beer matches the wide variety of foods now comprising the national diet. From sushi to spaghetti, stir-fry to steak and couscous to camembert, beer is consumed with them all.