#DrinkingCulture #Japan #Travel #AlcoholCulture
Is drinking culture in Japan as common as media portrays? 🇯🇵🍶
When it comes to the portrayal of drinking culture in Japan, the media often paints a picture of a society where alcohol consumption is not only prevalent but also deeply ingrained in various social settings. However, as with any cultural aspect, the reality may be more nuanced than what is shown in popular media.
Let’s delve into the intricacies of drinking culture in Japan and see if it truly lives up to the hype or if it’s simply a case of misconceptions.
###Historical context of drinking culture in Japan
1. **Sake**: Traditional rice wine has been a part of Japanese culture for centuries, often used in religious ceremonies and social gatherings.
2. **Izakayas**: These traditional Japanese pubs have been a staple in the country for generations, providing a social setting for friends and colleagues to unwind after a long day.
3. **Business culture**: Drinking plays a significant role in Japanese business culture, where after-work gatherings (known as “nomikai”) are considered an important opportunity for bonding and networking.
###The prevalence of drinking in Japan
1. **Legal drinking age**: In Japan, the legal drinking age is 20, which is younger than in many other countries. This may contribute to the perception of a more relaxed attitude towards alcohol consumption.
2. **Nomikai**: As mentioned earlier, after-work drinking sessions are a common occurrence in Japan, where colleagues come together to socialize outside of the office environment.
3. **Social etiquette**: Drinking in Japan is often seen as a way to build relationships and show respect to others. Refusing a drink from a superior can sometimes be considered rude or disrespectful.
###Misconceptions vs. reality
1. **Media portrayal**: The image of young Japanese people openly carrying alcohol on the streets or participating in excessive drinking on reality shows may give the impression of a widespread drinking culture.
2. **Cultural differences**: It’s important to understand that cultural norms around alcohol consumption vary from country to country. What might seem excessive or uncommon in one culture could be completely normal in another.
3. **Personal experiences**: While there are certainly instances of heavy drinking in Japan, not every individual engages in excessive alcohol consumption. Like in any society, there is a spectrum of behaviors when it comes to drinking habits.
###Final thoughts
In conclusion, the drinking culture in Japan is indeed nuanced and multifaceted. While there are elements of truth to the media portrayal of drinking in Japan, it’s essential to look beyond the stereotypes and understand the cultural context in which alcohol consumption takes place.
So, is drinking culture in Japan as common as media portrays? The answer may vary depending on who you ask and the experiences they’ve had. Ultimately, the best way to truly understand drinking culture in Japan is to immerse yourself in the local customs and practices firsthand. Who knows, you might even find a newfound appreciation for the art of sake and the camaraderie of a traditional izakaya. 🍻
For more insights into Japanese culture and travel tips, keep exploring our website! And don’t forget to share your own experiences and thoughts on drinking culture in Japan in the comments below. Kanpai! 🇯🇵🌸
>often see young Japanese people just openly carrying alcohol walking around the city or nightly drinkers
Never been to Japan, but not sure what is your concern there, kids openly carrying alcohol and people drinking every night is the norm in the west
Drinking culture as in drinking beer with colleagues afterwork in izakayas and diners? Yeah I can see that.
What country do you come from where “people drinking alcohol on the street” or “people drinking every night” is so unusual as to be fascinating? Either the US or a Muslim country I guess
For what you described, not really. You’ll catch the occasional older man with a drink in his hand on the walk from the station and you’ll catch groups of younger men standing in front of a convenience store to drink, but walking around with an open drink of any kind isn’t very common here. (I love my summer beers for the walk home too much to care)
That’s not to say drinking isn’t big here. 11AM is okay to start drinking at a picnic. Hanami season is a marathon of park drinking. Many restaurants and karaoke rooms offer all you can drink menus (e.g. ¥2000 for 2 hours, last order at 90 minutes). But it’s generally way more chill than the American or British “let’s destroy our bodies” culture. All you can drink isn’t about drinking as much as possible, it’s more “here’s the price, no need to worry about uneven drinking speeds”.
Drinking yes but drinking until you’re acting blackout crazy, no
When I visited japan I was surprised at just how common getting absolutely black out drunk and sleeping on the street was. We saw at multiple times men in nice suits, well dressed, sleeping or passed out on Shibuya streets or at the station.
100% yes, and almost all the time it’s peer pressure and not because they wall want to. It’s gotten so bad that there are now groups who are actively discouraging this type of social norm for health purposes.
Source: Spent a total of 9 months, across Hokkaido, Kanto, and Kansai.
I was in Tokyo a couple of months ago and did not see anyone carrying alcohol on the street. 🤷🏻♂️
Burst into the next booth at at izakaya, yell KANPAI and be the life of the party.
If you think not having to hide your beer when you drink outside is weird, you’re the weird one (I’m assuming you’re not Muslim). There are only two “main” countries where “public drinking” is heavily frowned upon and fined.
The ban on open containers is a strictly American thing, but the Japanese work culture where binge drinker after work is commonplace, that’s just a fucked up thing in Japan alone.
Young people are drinking less and less to the point where the government is [begging](https://www.npr.org/2022/08/25/1119480772/japan-is-urging-its-youth-to-drink-more-alcohol) young people to buy more in order to boost tax revenue
The vast majority of countries allow you to drink in public.
At any given time in Japan you are likely within 100 yards of a convenience store that sells beer and spirits. Including lethal rice spirit in a sealed cup for a couple of bucks (do not recommend…). I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
Japan has significant societal problems yes.
No. In fact you only have to [go back a little over a year ago](https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/japanese-government-worried-young-adults-aren%E2%80%99t-drinking-enough-alcohol) to see the Japanese government expressing concern that the younger generation aren’t drinking enough.
Now, if you’re a middle aged man working an office job you’re in a different situation. As after work drinks with your boss are 1. very normal and 2. necessary if you have any hopes for promotion.
Japanese = drink until blackout drunk for the boss
Chinese = drink only until you’re a bit drunk for the boss
My experience anyway
Saw many a 7-11 Ramen spewed across a sidewalk at 2 AM while someone in a business suit is being carried out of the Karaoke bar. Wlid wild scene 2-3AM.
No one walks around sipping from open alcohol containers. Not because it’s illegal, but in general it’s rude to walk and consume food and drink. You remain stationary. Even if you get a drink from a vending machine you typically stand there and finish it and throw it away in the little recycling hole that’s attached to the vending machine.
As for the image of drinking after work with coworkers, that’s true. It’s not as bad as it used to be, but it’s still certainly a thing.
Source: lived in Japan for many years
I lived in Japan for three years, drinking culture is everywhere. It’s their only vice (well, that and nicotine) that is really allowed. You’re allowed/able to drink pretty much anywhere, I drank beers while grocery shopping a couple times lol. Restaurants have all you can drink (nomihodai) and it’s pretty good fun. On any weekend night around last train the streets are littered with passed out salary men in suits sleeping on stairs and in hedges, people passed out on the trains. Club culture is also pretty big, I went to a ton of clubs where it’s all you can drink and people are wasted lol.
My buddy and I once got hammered and we slept on the street until the morning, I woke up with all my belongings and unbothered, it was a nice surprise haha.
The other thing is, trains stop at like 11-12 at night, so if you’re out and you stay past the last train, you and everyone else who’s there are basically in it for the long haul and can’t get a train home until like 5:30 am. So go to like shibuya and at midnight the people who are left are the ones that REALLY wanna party, and those nights get very wild
A while back in the NY branch of one of Japan’s largest banks, the NY locals could drink the Japanese expats under the table. The main cultural difference was the Japanese salarymen were drinking to counter the oppressive 24/7 work/social environment they lived in so their drinking was more like an act of despair. It seemed to hit them harder.
The NY locals would wake up and play basketball or softball or do something else to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor on the weekend.
While the expat salarymen would leave their wife and kids once again, go back into the office and clip their nails at their desk waiting for Tokyo to check in on them.
They drink and smoke s lot
Oh yeah, if your boss tells you to drink with them you have to drink otherwise it’s considered disrespectful.
In Japan, you do not walk around and eat or drink. You sit or stand. There are no garbage disposals in the streets.
Drinking is very common, especially after work, most places close early when compared to the rest of the world. You won’t find “bars” open at 11 pm, most people go to 7-11 and other convenience store to buy beer and drink at their hotel/home/apartment after hours.
Is it bad if it is?
Lol we have a suburb nearby where theres signs that say “ALCOHOL FREE ZONE – No public alcohol consumption allowed in this area”, funny thing is theres lots of bars there and you can 100% drink outside at venues, and theres a few liquor stores so people tend to drink on the streets.
Theres also a police station on the main strip there, cops drive past all the time and they generally wont fine you for drinking in public.
Thats the only suburb I know of around here out of about 40 nearby that has an alcohol free zone.
From Australia btw