To evaluate whether green tea consumption provides protection against stomach cancer death, relative risks were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis in the Japan Collaborative Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk, sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (JACC Study). The study was based on 30 370 men and 42481 women aged 40-79. After adjustment for age, smoking status, history of peptic ulcer, family history of stomach cancer along with certain dietary items, the risks associated with drinking one or two, three or four, five to nine, and 10 or more cups of green tea per day, relative to those of drinking less than one cup per day, were 1.6 (95% Cl: 0.9 - 2.9), 1.1 (95% Cl: 0.6 - 1.9), 1.0 (95% Cl: 0.5 2,0), and 1.0 (95% Cl: 0.5 - 2.0), respectively, in men (P for trend=0.669), and 1.1 (95% Cl: 0.5 - 2.5), 1.0 (95% Cl: 0.5 - 2.5), 0.8 (95% Cl: 0.4 - 1.6), and 0.8 (95% Cl: 0.3-2.1), respectively, in women (P for trend=0.488). We found no inverse association between green tea consumption and the risk of stomach cancer death. (C) 2002 Cancer Research UK.