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BCOJ
 
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  1. Background of BCOJ Establishment
2. Objectives
3. Organization
4. Activities of Each Committee
5. Main Activities to Date
Press Release of New International Isomerized a-acid Standard 112KB
6. Relationship with Foreign and Domestic Organization
7. Activities in 2010
8. 20th Annual Meeting
9. WBC2008 with active participation by BCOJ
 
 
  1. Background of BCOJ Establishment  
  The American Society of Brewing Chemists (=ASBC) and the European Brewery Convention (=EBC) were established in the United States and Europe, respectively, for the purpose of standardizing beer analysis methods. The analysis methods adopted by these organizations are still recognized as authoritative throughout the beer industry. In the past, there was no corresponding organization in Japan. Since the early 1980's, however, Japan's beer specialists achieved a steady improvement in their level of technical know-how. As the result, Japan gained international recognition for its high standard of beer brewing technology so that both the ASBC and EBC expressed a keen interest in the establishment of formal ties with the Japanese organization specializing in the beer brewing.

Under these circumstances, Japanese breweries initiated the efforts to standardize their beer analysis methods. As a part of the general trend toward closer mutual communication, a specialist committee, named the "Board Meeting," was established within the Brewers Association of Japan (=BAJ) in 1982. This marked the beginning of a process toward the standardization of beer analysis methods and led to the 1990 publication of the "Methods of Analysis of BAJ." After this, the Committee strengthened its international activities, beginning with the reorganization of the Brewery Convention of Japan (=BCOJ) in 1992 and has maintained active business relations with international organizations.
 
 
  2. Objectives  
 

(1)

To standardize analytical methods for the evaluation of materials and products adopted in beer brewing and other related industries.

(2)

To facilitate scientific and technological research through mutual communication among beer brewing industry specialists.

(3)

To work in collaboration with other foreign and domestic organizations with the same objectives.

 
 
  3. Organization  
  The BCOJ was established within the BAJ, the latter consisting of Japan's 5 major breweries, ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD., KIRIN BREWERY CO., LTD., ORION BREWERIES, LTD., SAPPORO BREWERIES LTD. and SUNTORY LIQUORS LTD.
The BCOJ comprises a Secretariat, Analysis Committee and Program Committee. Regional beer producers are not represented by the BAJ.
 

Brewers Association of Japan

Brewery Convention of Japan

Board of Directors

Secretariat

Analysis Committee

Program Committee

 
  4. Activities of Each Committee  
 
a. Board of Directors
Formulation of annual plans
Resolution of the Draft Budge
Endorsement of activity policies recommended by each committee.
Evaluation and resolution of other important matters.
b. Secretariat
Support for the smooth running of the Board of Directors' activities.
Planning and administration of the annual budget in line with Board of Directors' activities.
Activities to promote exchanges with overseas beer brewing organizations.
c. Analysis Committee
Organization and development of analysis methods (Domestic cooperative work)
Activities relating to international methods with the ASBC and EBC.
Participation in International cooperative work.
d. Program Committee
Planning and implementation of the Annual Meeting
At the Annual Meeting, both oral and poster presentation from BCOJ members which have been made at the ASBC, and EBC conferences and so on, are performed again in English.
In addition, since 1995, the Journal of Brewing Society of Japan has been promoting coming Meetings and providing details of lecture and information for public participation.
Planning and implementation of the lectures and meetings
 
 
  5. Main Activities to Date  
 
Execution of BCOJ Cooperative work (1989-)
Production of the Annual Report, and distribution to the ASBC & EBC (1989-)
Publication of "Methods of Analysis of BAJ" (1990)
Participation in ASBC and EBC Cooperative work (1991-)
Holding of the Annual Meeting (1991-)
Publication of "Methods of Analysis of BCOJ" (1996)
Publication of "Methods of Analysis of BCOJ(Revised edition)" (1998)
Participation in the International Subcommittee for Isomerised Hop-Aid standards (1998-)
Publication of "BCOJ Microbiology Methods" (1999)
Writing the manuscripts for the beer related section of "the Ingredients of Brewing Products(Revised edition)" (1999)
Publication of "BCOJ Sensory Analysis Methods" (2002)
Publication of "Brewing and Packaging" (2002)
 
     

BCOJ Microbiology Methods

Methods of Analysis of BCOJ
BCOJ Sensory Analysis Methods
Brewing and Packaging
BCOJ Microbiology Methods
Methods of Analysis of BCOJ(Revised edition)
BCOJ Sensory Analysis Methods
Brewing and Packaging
 
  6. Relationship with Foreign and Domestic Organization  
  Relationship with the ASBC
In 1983, a liaison contract (Official Technical Liaison) was signed between the ASBC and the BAJ. Under it, the parties engaged in the mutual exchange of annual reports and conference minutes. Further in 1998, a Cooperative Agreement was established between the BCOJ and the ASBC. Under this Cooperative Agreement, the parties concerned have been given an undertaking to publish "Mutual invitations of Chairpersons and Analysis Committee Chairpersons to conferences (Annual Meeting)", and the "Annual Report of BCOJ in the ASBC's Newsletter". In 2005, Dr. Gregory Casey, ASBC president, participated in the annual meeting of BCOJ for the first time. He and board members of BCOJ exchanged courtesies and opinions each other. He made a remarkable speech in the convivial meeting . Mr. Ohkochi, BCOJ president, participated in the meeting of ASBC held in June 2006. He made a speech at the Recognition Luncheon.

Relationship with the EBC
While no official document has been signed to formalize the relationship, the mutual exchange of annual reports and conference minutes are taking place on a voluntary basis. Both the EBC and the BCOJ signed A Declaration of Partnership in May 2001, in order to advance the relationship between the two parties. Mr. Vesely, EBC president, and Ms. Wijngaarden, Secretary General of EBC, participated in the annual meeting of the BCOJ in November 2003. They gave us speech at the convivial meeting. The BCOJ delegated twenty members to the meeting of EBC in May 2005. .

Efforts to establish an International Analytical Methods (IM) made through cooperation with the EBC and the ASBC
In 2006, to establish an internationally standardized analytical methods, the agreement of International Analytical Methods (IM) were signed between the three international organizations-EBC, ASBC and BCOJ. In case of an already existing method, one or both of the organizations carry out their own trials of this method and if the results of which are accepted, it will be accepted as IM. In case of new method, two or more of the organizations participate in the same collaborative trial and if at least two participating organizations accept the result, it will be accepted as IM. Co-participating organizations must provide results from at least two laboratories in order to qualify as co-owner of the joint venture.

Relationship with Japanese regional breweries
In April 1994, the legal minimum manufactured quantity of beer was reduced from 2,000KL/year to 60KL/year, which resulted in the emergence of small regional breweries. In July 1995, the "Japanese Craft Beer Association" and the "Japan Microbrewers Association" were organized. In March 1999, the "Japan Brewers Association", comprising 121 companies, which represented about half of the regional beer breweries, was established. BAJ(including BCOJ), has no direct relationship whatever with the regional beer associations. However, the BCOJ published such documents as the "Methods of Analysis of BCOJ" and the "BCOJ Microbiology Methods" in accordance with requests from the National Tax Administration and Public Health Centers of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The publications have made a large contribution to the advancement of management technology not only of our own breweries, but also of the regional breweries.
 
 
  7. Activities in 2010  
  a . Board of Directors
 
 

President

Tatsuro Shigyou

SAPPORO BREWERIES, LTD

 

Nobuyuki Fukui

SUNTORY LIQUORS, LTD

Junichi Nonaka

KIRIN BREWERY COMPANY, LIMITED

 

Takeshi Sasamoto

ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD

Masayoshi Kinjo

ORION BREWERIES, LTD

Secretary General

Hajime Kanda

SAPPRO BREWERIES, LTD

Chairperson of Analysis Committee

Koichi Harayama

ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD

Chairperson of Program Committee

Atsushi Murakami

KIRIN BREWERY COMPANY, LIMITED

Manager of BAJ

Nobuyuki Morinaga

Brewers Association of Japan

 
 
Fukui
Fukui
Nonaka
Sasamoto
Kinjyo
Kinjyo
Kinjyo
Kinjyo
Tatsuro
Shigyou
Nobuyuki
Fukui
Junichi
Nonaka
Takeshi
Sasamoto
Masayoshi
Kinjo
Hajime
Kanda
Koichi
Harayama
Atsushi
Murakami
*Click on the picture to view a bigger picture.  
 
 
Meeting Schedule
Sessions will be held in April, September, November and December 2010.
Collaboration with other foreign organizations (ASBC,EBC)
Organizing of the 20th Annual Meeting
 
 
  b . Analysis Committee  
 
Meeting Schedule
Sessions will be held in January, March, April, July, October 2010
Planning and organizing of the BCOJ Collaborative study

Participation in the International Collaborative study (Co-participation with ASBC or EBC)

Contribution of the 2009 Annual Report of BCOJ Analysis Committee to the Journal of ASBC
 
     
  c . Program Committee  
 
Meeting Schedule
Sessions will be held in February, March, July, October and December 2010.
Organizing of the 20th Annual Meeting
 
 
  8. 20th Annual Meeting  
 
Schedule
 
  Nov. 2010
Site
 
  Seiryo Kaikan
2-16-2, Nagatacho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo
TEL/ +81-3-3581-5650
 
 
  9. WBC2008 with active participation by BCOJ  
  Thank you for participation and contribution in WBC2008.
BCOJ will also join next WBC2012.
WBC HP Address: http://www.worldbrewingcongress.org/