Let's Japan.org Debunking Eikaiwa and Ramblings in Japan

Drink happoshu:

More typical reactions included: "It's sort of out of focus" (Harrell on Tanrei); "It tastes like regular beer after 40 minutes" (Chujo on Tanrei); "Feels like I've just woken up and need to brush my teeth" (Chuwy on Reisei, a dai-san brewed from yellow-pea protein, 5 percent, ¥139); "It's like chewing paper. It's like they made beer but forgot to put the flavor in. If "Star Trek" made a machine that replicated beer but didn't quite get it right, it would taste like this" (Chuwy on Honnama, happoshu, 5.5 percent, ¥159). "Oooooh, that's not nice." (Kono on Style Free).

After a few rounds, the panel stopped commenting and switched to discussing why anyone would buy this crap.

I was reminded this article--and why I don't like happoshu-- after having a can of Tanrei foisted upon me at a party recently. As the article points out, happoshu and dai-san (third sector) "beer" came about in the 1990s as a way for brewers to skirt taxation. The brews have proven to be wildly popular, and their cheapness makes them all the more attractive during the current economic downturn. Who doesn't want to get drunk on the cheap? To that question, my reply is: Why would anyone buy this crap when you can have the real stuff instead? Regular Japanese beer is nothing to write home about, but it is at least drinkable. Moreover, why would you knowingly buy fake beer and then hope that it tastes like real beer? If your goal is to drink yourself silly, you're probably better off buying 4-liter jugs of Nikka Black or shochu.

Many of my Japanese friends drink happoshu because it's cheap, but every time I've had a can of the stuff I've wanted a chaser to get rid of the weird mouth feel and after taste. Why deprive yourself the pleasure of a good drink? Pinching pennies by drinking fake beer is only going to make you miserable.

If you really love beer, but lament the fact that microbrews are hard to find, take heart! The Great Japan Beer Festival is near and will be held on the following dates:

• June 6 & 7 at the Ebisu Garden Hall, Tokyo
• July 18, 19, and 20 at the Kyocera Dome Sky Hall, Osaka
• September 19, 20, and 21 at the Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama

I've gone the past few years and it's always a good time. There are over 100 microbrews to sample and they run the gamut. There's gimmicky:

Strange blue stuff:

And of course there's lots of good stuff:

Personally, nothing beats the heat like a cold wheat beer, and the Great Japan Beer Festival has plenty of them.

Tickets

Advanced tickets are ¥3800, and ¥4500 yen for same-day admission. Advanced tickets for the event in Tokyo cost ¥4300, and same-day admission is ¥4800. You can purchase tickets at most convenience stories or Ticket Pia outlets.