Getting Drunk?
 

was looking through some write-ups of Japanese culture and I came across some stuff that I thought was pretty intresting. Is it really a big thing to go to a bar with co-workers and friends? I know that yes, even in other countries "Bar fun" is popular but the write up made it seem like it means something special in Japan. Am I just over thinking this? (like I do with most things)

Yes, it is quite common to have dinner and drinks with colleagues or business partners after work. There is an after-5 business culture that exists in Japan that doesn't in the US. I don't know if it is "special" and I don't know if it is always "fun" but it does exist

If you wouldn't mind, could you please go into the detail about the "after-5" buissness culture?

There have been books written about it. Basically, in Japanese business culture there is a sense of needing to know a person you are doing business on a personal level. This takes time and much one-on-one face time. Sharing food and alcohol is one way to speed up the process. You can know a person's true self after a few drinks, and the "social lubricant" can benefit or (or destroy) a business relationship.

Sometimes Westerners make the mistake of going to Japan to do business, and turn down offers of dinner, thinking "after 5 is my time". It isn't uncommon for the REAL business to start then. It isn't uncommon for important decisions to be made over drinks rather than in a boardroom.

Thats pretty intresting. Any books you would reccomend? Thanks for the quick responses and sorry if i'm asking to many questions. =X

I like "Saying Yes to Japan" but if you search "Japanese Business Culture" on Amazon you can find a bunch. Just don't buy something more than a few years old.

Thank you for all the help!

Wow all this sounds so interesting! I might have to go read up about it! :)

I was at one of these a few weeks ago. All the teachers who knew each other roasted one another, even the principal and vice principal, and then I had to stand up and sing in Japanese while mocking everyone's English skills.

This is COMPLETELY different from any business dinners I had ever gone to with companies in the states.

Uh-oh! I wonder what they would think of someone that came out to one of these dinners but didn't drink any alcohol... I don't drink alcohol at all!

You are a growing breed, so these days it wouldn't be something to worry about as much. If you are from the older generation it might have been a bit of a barrier. Although you might not get invited as much if you sit in the corner and drink tea, would you really enjoy hanging out with a bunch of drunkards? (Not that every company dinner is a drunk-fest...)

Several teachers drank only tea, but they were still expected to participate in the silliness. It might have been easier for them; they could mock the rest of us with their wits untarnished by alcohol consumption.

Thats a relief! As for the hanging around a bunch of drunkards, lol, I don't mind at all... I do it often with friends in London. It's actually a lot of fun pretending to be drunk; it's cheaper and you don't get the after effects! Plus, I'm always the designated driver, or at least, designated take everybody home person!