A liquor industry group in Japan says it will ask the government to legally clarify what conditions should be met for a whisky to be marketed as "Japanese whisky."



The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association says some products fully made abroad are labeled as Japanese whisky in overseas markets, due to the popularity of brands actually produced in Japan.



Japan last year exported roughly 290 million dollars' worth of whisky -- about four times the amount recorded in 2016.



Association officials said at a news conference last week that they will push the government to set a legal definition of what can be marketed as Japanese whisky.



The group's own guidelines require any Japanese whisky to be made with water sourced from Japan, and fermented, distilled and aged for more than three years in Japan. Officials believe such measures will help increase the profile of Japanese whisky.



The head of the association, Tsukahara Daisuke, said it's becoming increasingly difficult to discern what is Japanese whisky and what is not. He said legal guidelines will help establish Japanese whisky as a brand and add to its value.