Even as Japan's top Kirin Brewery Co returned to the top as Japan's largest brewer, it has denied media reports of a proposed merger with third-placed Suntory.

Long-time market leader by sales  in the Japanese beer market, Kirin beat its longtime arch-rival Asahi Breweries Ltd, to return as the market leader after three years in the beer and beer-like alcoholic beverages segment in the first half of 2009.

Kirin once again the top seller in the January-June period, capturing a market share of 37.5 per cent, according to reports.

Kirin's product range include Ichiban Shibori draft beer, followed by Kirin Tanrei happo-shu, and ''new genre'' Nodogoshi Nama beverages.

The sales of Kirin's lower-priced ''third-category beer'' products, including Nodogoshi Nama and the new 100-per cent malt Ichiban Shibori beer led to the company's shipment rising 2.5 per cent to 81.46 million cases from a year earlier.

Rival Asahi fell to the second place capturing  a market share of 36.9 per cent. The company's shipment fell 1.3 per cent to 80.09 million cases due to the drop in the conventional beer market, where it has a strong hold.