Soft drinks
Kenko / Eiyo Drink :: Health / Energy Drinks
Commonly found in drug stores and convenience stores in an array of small bottles, there is a vast market in Japan for drinks which can give you a burst of energy for those long working days or for recovering after a night of drinking. An aging population and increasing health awareness has driven the boom in health drinks. Varieties include those with added royal jelly and vitamin C. Recently, fruit-flavoured drinking vinegar has become popular because of its perceived health properties.
Mineral Water :: Mineral Water
The demand for mineral water in Japan has increased rapidly in recent years and although it does not yet export a significant amount, Japan has a number of fine varieties. Japanese mineral water tends to be soft, with limited amounts of calcium and magnesium. Water filtered through the volcanic rock so common in Japan's mountain ranges is imbued with a rich blend of minerals and is naturally purified. Fresh water bubbling from the ocean bottom also sells well, as it is believed to be particularly pure.
Soft Drink :: Canned and Bottled Soft Drinks
In Japan, vending machines can be seen on almost every street. There is a large market for soft drinks, due in part to the extreme heat and humidity of the Japanese summer. In addition to the kind of fizzy drinks also common in the West, a vast range of hugely-popular tea-based drinks exists. These include a variety based on Japanese tea and Chinese tea, which do not contain sugar and therefore go well with food. A range of English tea-based drinks with or without sugar, milk and lemon is also available, and coffee-based drinks are also popular.
