“I don’t understand why you have articles about overseas beers in a Japanese craft beer magazine.” K.T. in Saitama

You are hardly alone in your criticism, but we think our decision will make more sense over time.

First, let me qualify that this is not a Japanese craft beer magazine so much as a craft beer magazine in Japan whose primary focus is support of the craft beer industry here. For the record, we have had long articles on Czech beer, Belgian beer and, with this issue, California beer. Still, most of our content is on Japanese beers and breweries.

It is our intention to show that the Japanese craft beer scene is part of a much larger craft beer scene worldwide, and that the various craft beer communities are connected in important ways. We have a lot to learn from successes elsewhere, as the industry here is still quite young. By showcasing this material and providing potentially valuable information, we actually are supporting Japanese craft beer. Finally, I think a magazine only about Japanese craft beer would become rather dull. Brewers and drinkers alike are curious about what’s happening elsewhere. Many people want to drink when they travel, and we are providing useful material to that end.

On a related note, I am discovering that a lot of breweries are feeling anxiety about imports, which we sometimes feature. Perhaps breweries see them as harmful competition in a fledgling market. Perhaps some know they have inferior brews. Either way, the truth remains that these imports are only going to increase because of growing customer demand. Perhaps brewers should be drinking more of these, to see what they’re up against. And also because one day the tables will be turned, and more Japanese breweries like Hitachino and Isekadoya will be exporting their brews to compete overseas.

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This article was published in Japan Beer Times # () and is among the limited content available online. Order your copy through our online shop or download the digital version from the iTunes store to access the full contents of this issue.