Drinking

The Japanese love a drink, beer whiskey and sake are just a few of the favorites, but like most countries the Japanese have a few customs which are polite to follow.

Now getting drunk isn’t very polite and considered bad manners in the formal restaurants in Japan as you would expect everywhere in the world, but if you are in a Izakaya or street cafe and not annoying anyone, no one cares, just remember to keep your wits about you and remember how you are going to feel in the morning. If you are going to have too much just remember you are in a different country, traffic, language, signs, local rules and people are all different to home, it’s much safer (although not always as much fun) to stay a bit sober. It’s not uncommon to see drunken office workers late at night tossing up whether to go home to the family or have a quiet sleep (and a few more beers) at the local capsule hotel.

If in a round of drinks with others you shouldn’t get stuck straight into the drinking until everyone at the table has been served their drink then there’s the toast- glasses are all raised and Kampai is called out. Kampai is the traditional toast, you might have your own but don’t use the Chin Chin one that’s used in some cultures, in Japan the Chin Chin is a slang word for men’s rude bits so it might not go down too well!

If you are drinking by filling your glass from a bottle, you need to serve your friend’s drink first, and he will serve yours before his. It’s considered rude to fill your own glass, and the idea is don’t let him or her run out, make sure you top them up before they get to the bottom. If your friend’s glass is getting a bit low you should get yours down quickly then fill theirs then yours.