Some of Australia’s best-known exports come in the form of amber nectar, with the logos of Foster’s and Victoria Bitter among the most recognisable brands the country has produced. 

Less known is that the local brewing industry is in effect owned by two Japanese companies — Asahi and Kirin — which now own eight of the top 10 selling beer brands in Australia after consolidating the industry in recent years. Even Coopers, the one large brewery that has stayed independent, has joined the club by brewing Sapporo beers in Australia. 

It is a sign of Japan’s heavy investment in Australia, which has stretched far beyond the “stubby” beer bottle into renewable energy, finance, software and other consumer-focused areas such as insurance, cosmetics and vitamin pills.