Japan represents 10 per cent of the world's market by value and according to ICO statistics, it comes fourth in volume share of imports.

Among the topics that are likely to be discussed are: Japan and the World of Speciality Coffee; Gourmet Coffee and the market in Asia; producing, processing and exporting with representatives of international coffee growers and importing, green trading. Besides seminars on the market; canned and ready-to-drink coffee; the speciality coffee retail market in Japan and Asia and a panel to consider the future for coffee in the next millenium will also be discussed.

An interesting part will be a special cupping session where attendees will be allowed to compare and contrast coffees from differentspeciality origins.

Many coffee experts will meet and dsicuss issues dogging the industry. Tatsushi Ueshima, chairman and president of UCC, Japan's largest roaster, and Takashi Matsumoto, president of the Speciality Coffee Association of Japan, will provide the opening address.