Japanese beer brands:Which are most popular?

Name: Japanese beer brands: Which are searched most?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Asahi and Sapporo tie for the highest share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide, at 33.5% each in October 2026. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin and Yebisu showed up in every answer. Asahi was recommended most often, coming first in every response.

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Top Japanese beer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin and Yebisu appeared every time. Asahi was recommended most often, coming first in every answer. Sapporo was second, and Kirin was third.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Asahi	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Sapporo	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Kirin	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Yebisu	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Hitachino Nest	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Orion	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Suntory	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5

Asahi5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Sapporo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Kirin5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Yebisu5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Hitachino Nest4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Orion3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Suntory3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about Japanese beer brands

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which Japanese beer should I try?”
1. 1Asahi
2. 2Sapporo
3. 3Kirin
4. 4Yebisu
5. 5Hitachino Nest
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best Japanese beer brands?”
1. 1Asahi
2. 2Sapporo
3. 3Kirin
4. 4Yebisu
5. 5Hitachino Nest
6. 6Suntory
7. 7Orion
Asked ChatGPT
“What's a good Japanese beer to drink with sushi?”
1. 1Asahi
2. 2Sapporo
3. 3Kirin
4. 4Yebisu
Searched Google, AI Overview
“japanese beer”
1. 1Asahi
2. 2Kirin
3. 3Sapporo
4. 4Suntory
5. 5Orion
6. 6Yebisu
7. 7Hitachino Nest
Searched Google, AI Overview
“japanese beer brands”
1. 1Asahi
2. 2Kirin
3. 3Sapporo
4. 4Suntory
5. 5Orion
6. 6Hitachino Nest
7. 7Yebisu

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.

Which Japanese beer brands do people search for most?

This chart shows how often people search Google for each Japanese beer brand by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven Japanese beer brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide, by month

Month	Asahi	Sapporo	Kirin	Orion	Suntory	Yebisu	Hitachino Nest
Nov 2025	34.6%	34.6%	18.9%	4.7%	2.5%	3.8%	0.91%
Dec 2025	34.2%	34.2%	20.6%	3.8%	2.5%	3.8%	0.9%
Jan 2026	30.7%	37.4%	20.4%	4.1%	2.2%	4.1%	0.99%
Feb 2026	31.7%	38.5%	19%	4.2%	2.3%	3.5%	0.84%
Mar 2026	30.7%	37.4%	20.4%	4.1%	2.2%	4.1%	0.99%
Apr 2026	30.5%	37.1%	20.3%	5%	2.7%	3.3%	0.98%
May 2026	33.2%	33.2%	22.2%	4.5%	2.4%	3.7%	0.87%
Jun 2026	38.9%	31.7%	19.5%	4.3%	1.9%	2.9%	0.84%
Jul 2026	29.6%	36%	22.1%	5.9%	2.2%	3.2%	0.95%
Aug 2026	30.4%	37.3%	20.3%	6.1%	2.2%	2.7%	0.8%
Sep 2026	31.3%	38.4%	19.2%	5.1%	2.3%	2.8%	0.82%
Oct 2026	33.5%	33.5%	20.5%	5.5%	3%	3%	0.89%

Rank	Brand	Share of searches	Estimated monthly branded searches	vs prior month	Share change
1, moved from 2nd to 1st	AsahiAsahi Beverages	33.5%	135K	+22.7%	+2.2 pointsmoved from 2nd to 1st
2, moved from 1st to 2nd	Sapporo Sapporo Breweries	33.5%	135K	0%	-4.9 pointsmoved from 1st to 2nd
3, held 3rd	Kirin	20.5%	82.6K	+22.2%	+1.3 points
4, held 4th	Orion	5.5%	22.2K	+22.7%	+0.4 points
5, moved from 6th to 5th	Suntory	3%	12.1K	+49.4%	+0.7 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th
6, moved from 5th to 6th	Yebisu Sapporo Breweries	3%	12.1K	+22.2%	+0.2 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th
7, held 7th	Hitachino Nest	0.89%	3.6K	+24.1%	+0.1 points

1.Asahi
33.5%
Moved from 2nd to 1st. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.
2.Sapporo
33.5%
Moved from 1st to 2nd. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -4.9 points.
3.Kirin
20.5%
Held 3rd. 82.6K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +1.3 points.
4.Orion
5.5%
Held 4th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
5.Suntory
3%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, +49.4% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
6.Yebisu
3%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
7.Hitachino Nest
0.89%
Held 7th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, +24.1% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Which brand is most popular in search among Japanese beer brands worldwide?

7 brands

Asahi and Sapporo tie for the highest share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide, at 33.5% each in October 2026.

Global Japanese beer brands, last 12 months ending October 2026
Brand	Share of searches	Peak	Low	Rank
Asahi	34.6% → 33.5%	38.9%Jun 2026	29.6%Jul 2026	1st
Sapporo	34.6% → 33.5%	38.5%Feb 2026	31.7%Jun 2026	2nd
Kirin	18.9% → 20.5%	22.2%May 2026	18.9%Nov 2025	3rd
Orion	4.7% → 5.5%	6.1%Aug 2026	3.8%Dec 2025	4th
Suntory	2.5% → 3%	3%Oct 2026	1.9%Jun 2026	6th → 5th
Yebisu	3.8% → 3%	4.1%Jan 2026	2.7%Aug 2026	5th → 6th
Hitachino Nest	0.91% → 0.89%	0.99%Jan 2026	0.8%Aug 2026	7th

Each finding as a sentence

Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Asahi’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide decreased from 34.6% to 33.5%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sapporo’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide decreased from 34.6% to 33.5%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Kirin’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide increased from 18.9% to 20.5%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Orion’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide increased from 4.7% to 5.5%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Yebisu’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide decreased from 3.8% to 3%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Asahi’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide peaked at 38.9% in June 2026 and was lowest at 29.6% in July 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sapporo’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide peaked at 38.5% in February 2026 and was lowest at 31.7% in June 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Kirin’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide peaked at 22.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 18.9% in November 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Orion’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide peaked at 6.1% in August 2026 and was lowest at 3.8% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Suntory’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide peaked at 3% in October 2026 and was lowest at 1.9% in June 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Yebisu’s share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide peaked at 4.1% in January 2026 and was lowest at 2.7% in August 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Suntory rose from 6th to 5th among Japanese beer brands worldwide.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Yebisu fell from 5th to 6th among Japanese beer brands worldwide.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Hitachino Nest held steady: its share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

How did search popularity change for Japanese beer brands worldwide in October 2026?

6 changes

In October 2026, Asahi overtook Sapporo to become the leader among Japanese beer brands worldwide, with 33.5% of the searches.
In October 2026, Suntory overtook Yebisu to rank 5th among Japanese beer brands worldwide, with 3% of the searches.
In October 2026, Kirin gained share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide, from 19.2% to 20.5%.
In October 2026, Sapporo lost share of searches among Japanese beer brands worldwide, from 38.4% to 33.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Orion worldwide rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 14.8K to 22.2K in October 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Hitachino Nest worldwide rose 24.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 3.6K in October 2026.

How are branded searches counted for Japanese beer brands?

8 search terms

Each brand's share of searches among Japanese beer brands comes from the terms listed under its name. When people mostly search for a brand because of something else it sells, only the searches that name this product count here.