Japan: Four major brewers to ramp up production in May

The seasonal holiday is the first in three years without coronavirus-related restrictions on social outings, NHK.jp reported on May 2.

The country's four major brewers will be raising production in May, compared to the same period last year. Asahi will hike by around 400 percent, Suntory by 370 percent, Kirin by 300 percent, and Sapporo by 200 percent.

Even so, the output will be around half the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

The current trend may be short-lived. The beer makers aren't sure whether they will continue raising output after the holidays end.