A63 One segment comprises instant noodles, which is an oligopo-listic market sector with five companies controlling 90% of the market. These companies are Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd., Toyo Suisan Kaisha., Ltd., Sanyo Food Co., Ltd., Myojo Foods Co., Ltd., and Acecook Co., Ltd.

In 2006, a U.S. fund made the news when it tried to acquire the fourth-largest company, Myojo Foods, in a hostile takeover bid. It did not succeed and the result was that Nissin Food acquired the company. Further consolidation is expected in this highly competitive market.

The beer manufacturing sector is also an oligopoly involving four major manufacturers. Asahi Breweries, Ltd. and Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. are cut-throat rivals competing for the top position in the market. The other two key players are Sapporo Breweries Ltd., and Suntory Limited. Kirin was the market leader for a long time, but in 2001 Asahi replaced it as the market leader. This was due to the rise in shipments of beer and low-malt beer, but mainly because of the continued popularity of its hit product, Super Dry.

Nevertheless, Kirin is once more close on the heels of Asahi. In the soy sauce sector, five major manufacturers control 50% of the market. These are Kikkoman Corporation, Yamasa Corporation, Higeta Shoyu Co., Ltd., Higashimaru Shoyu Co., Ltd. and Marukin Shoyu K.K. The rest of the market comprises small and

medium-sized manufacturers. In the dairy products sector, there are three majors companies: Meiji Dairies Corporation, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. and Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.

In the confectionary sector, Lotte Co., Ltd., Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd., Morinaga and Co., Ltd., Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., Bourbon Corporation, Kameda Seika Co., Ltd. and Fujiya Co., Ltd. are caught up in a furious battle for market share. In the flour-milling industry, two major manufacturers-Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. and Nippon Flour Mills Co., Ltd.-control the majority of the market, the other two Big Four players being Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd. and Nitto Fuji Flour Milling Co., Ltd. In the bakery sector, which is supplied by the flour industry, the major manufacturers are Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. and First Baking Co., Ltd. The major players in the processed meats sec-tor are Nippon Meat Packers, Inc., Itoham Foods Inc., Marudai Food Co., Ltd. and Prima Meat Packers, Ltd. In the pre-prepared foods (retort-packed foods) and frozen foods sectors, many major manufacturers are competing for market share.