The Real Reason Japanese Salarymen Drink So Much

Summary

The video explains Japan’s nomikai—after-work drinking gatherings—as an informal extension of the workplace. Although attendance is not officially mandatory, employees may feel pressure to go because missing gatherings can make them seem distant from the team.

Common customs

• Groups often order beer first so everyone can start together.
• A senior person typically gives the toast: “Kanpai!”
• Junior colleagues may be expected to notice when others’ glasses are empty and offer to refill them.
• Pouring your own drink can be seen as a sign that others aren’t looking after you.

The speaker connects the culture to tatemae (the public face people are expected to show) and honne (their private thoughts and feelings). In this account, nomikai became a place where workers could voice frustrations and be more candid than they might be at work. The video also links after-work drinking to long-term company loyalty and, historically, lifetime employment.

Reasons people may drink more

• Peer pressure: Refusing repeated offers can feel like rejecting the person offering.
• Convenient alternatives to driving: Many people use trains, subways, or taxis to get home.
• Social status: Being able to drink a lot without appearing affected may be seen by some as a sign of toughness or camaraderie, and could indirectly influence workplace relationships.

How the custom is changing

The video says the custom is changing. It cites a decline in workplaces holding nomikai, surveys suggesting many workers no longer see them as necessary, and legal protections against pressuring or punishing employees over drinking. It also points to non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks as ways to take part in the social ritual without alcohol.

Its closing message is that refusing a drink—or a gathering—should be increasingly acceptable.

Notable details

• Location: Tokyo, where the video mentions a bar serving only non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks. The bar is not named.
• Products and drinks: Beer, sake, non-alcoholic beer, and low-alcohol cocktails.
• Speaker: Sasuke, host of Japan Hub with Sasuke.