The Japan Craft Beer Association (JCBA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1994 after the de-regulation of the Japanese brewing market (which opened the market to small and medium sized breweries, previously banned from brewing beer). Our purpose is to promote and develop the appreciation of the new generation of craft beers, both from Japan and world-wide, which are now entering the local market.

The JCBA has been running the Great Japan Beer Festival (the largest such festival in Japan) since 1998 which is held every year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya & Yokohama as well as the "Grande Biere" Festival, held in Tokyo Midtown Hall every April.

Along with our beer seminars, as part of our commitment to the education of the Japanese public the JCBA has been running an assessed educational program since January 1995 through our sister organization, the Beer Taster Organization (BTO). This programme teaches members of the beer drinking public how to appreciate and evaluate beer as well as the culture, history and technology of the industry. Successful graduates receive an official "Beer Taster" license, and can continue to achieve the "Beer Judge" accolade which qualifies them to judge at the Japan Asia Beer Cup and International Beer Competition, as well as overseas competitions.

The two biggest beer competitions in Japan, the "International Beer Competition" (since 1996) and the "Japan & Asia Beer Cup" (since 1998) are both run by our experienced JCBA/BTO team headed by Mr Ryouji Oda.

The JCBA is also currently developing an Export Programme to assist Japanese craft breweries expand their distribution network overseas.