Per capita soft drink consumption volume in Japan 2022, by type

Mineral water was the most consumed non-alcoholic beverage in Japan in 2022, with a per-capita volume of more than 35 liters. Tea-based beverages followed as a combined category, carried by the popularity of green tea drinks. Green tea is also available as dried tea leaves and powdered preparations in Japan, but the per-capita purchase volume has been reaching decade-lows in favor of ready-to-drink (RTD) products.

Soft drinks in Japan – between convenience and health

Soft drinks are widely available in Japan and distributed in all types of retail stores and vending machines. Bottled products are common companions outside of the home, favored for the possibility to close it again after opening. A Japanese household spends on average around 54 thousand Japanese yen on non-alcoholic beverages, with coffee and tea being the main expense categories. To cater to health-aware consumers, beverage manufacturers have expanded to the health food market with sugar-free and fortified options.

A market between stalemate and innovation

The non-alcoholic businesses of three of the four Japanese beer brewers Asahi, Kirin, and Suntory dominate the Japanese soft drink market. While other brands under The Coca-Cola Company, Ito En, and Kagome have successfully secured a market share in their respective segments, the brand landscape shows low fluctuations. As manufacturers build business strategies around their existing core brands with new product lines, expansion into other market segments is barely explored. Instead, innovations focus on the improvement of production processes and product formulas, with relaunches and limited editions keeping the market constantly in motion.