The Japanese market for happoshu, the low malt beer, leapt 31.5% in July compared to a year earlier, the country's major brewers announced today. Shipments of Happoshu had declined in June but good weather in July sparked a reversal of fortunes. Shipments of happoshu, similar to beer in taste and appearance but taxed at a lower rate due to its low malt content, rose to 235,211 kilolitres (kl) in July from 178,929 kl a year earlier, according to industry data.