In the US, where I buy Japanese beers, all are either brewed in the US or Canada under license. If it's brewed in Canada, it's marked up as imported. I doubt it's any different in other countries or for other brands.

That is common in all countries. Budweiser in the uk is brewed in the uk and tastes nothing like Budweiser in the us.

'Fosters' the Australian beer, is not really found at all in Australia. Where it is found, it is usually brewed locally.