Drinking In Japan

[ViciousBrutality]

I'm 16 and I might be going to Japan this summer on an exchange program. I was curious about the laws and my ability to drink while in Japan. What are the laws and how closely are these laws followed? Will I be able to drink in bars or on the street, or am I would that be seriously frowned upon?

 

[mad pierrot]

If you're under 20,

it's illegal.

However, this law isn't as strictly enforced as it would be in America. Afterall, Japanese beer is sold in public vending machines. In general, Japan takes a laid-back approach to underage drinking. While I was a college student in Japan, I went drinking with of my Japanese friends, only to find out later that half of them were underage. With that in mind, I don't think you will have any problems, BUT you have a responsiblity to obey the laws of the country you reside in. It's your choice, but be prepared to accept the consequences, however unlikely they may be.

 

[Tateishi]

I go drinking with my underage friends all the time, but a few times a couple of bars wouldn't let us in, but then we just go to the bar down the street. But I wouldn't go crazy on the drinks while in Japan, at least until you're 20.

 

[Kei_Shugojin]

ah. I thought Japan didn't have a drinking age... oh, well.

Well, what about buying alcohol in something like a small shop and bringing it back to your house and drinking it there, instead of out in a public bar? is that allowed?

 

[Brooker]

Japan is very relaxed about alcohol (at least compared to the U.S.). I wasn't carded once in the fifteen months I spent there. Granted I was 25 and kind of look old anyways. Most Japanese people thought I was in my 30's or something. Now that I'm back in America I get carded all the time and I'm only two years older. I would imagine that anyone who looks older than 14 could easily buy alcohol from shops and vending machines and probably go to bars as well. Just be safe and sane.

 

[Glenn]

But I wouldn't go crazy on the drinks while in Japan, at least until you're 20.

I wouldn't go crazy on the drinks at any age. I've been drinking for years, and one thing that I've learned is it's important to know your limits. I usually like to stop at the lower limits: sounding like an idiot and forgetting the topic of conversation.

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

I seriously doubt any of my Japanese high school or university students regularly experiment with alcohol in the same way as I did at that age. Those familiar with the near-permanent stench of beer in UK students' union buildings would be very surprised to discover that Japanese universities only very rarely have on-campus bars - and even then these are restricted to academic staff and perhaps their invited graduate student guests. Consequently, the 'experimenting' with alcohol that is a fundamental part of campus life in most European and North American universities just doesn't happen in Japan. Group drinking behavior only becomes the norm once you're employed. It's a ridiculous situation that Japanese students can't legally get binge-drinking out of their system before graduation.

A note about beer vending machines. These actually switch off at eleven o'clock every night. You can still buy alcohol at the local convenience stores. The law was changed a few years ago in theory to prevent high school students from purchasing beer. In reality, actually finding a beer vending machine these days is a task and a half - they are no longer a common sight. Furthermore, high school students are far more likely to buy beer during the early evening hours than they are to break their nine or ten o'clock curfew! Of course I live in a rural city so I'm happy to be corrected if it's a common sight to seen seventeen year-olds out and about at drinking establishments in Roppongi and Akasaka to the wee small hours.

 

[Brooker]

When I lived in Tokyo and worked in Yokohama it seemed I could get a beer anywhere and everywhere and at any hour of the day or night. Man, I drank a lot. It was great!

 

[ragedaddy]

I seriously doubt any of my Japanese high school or university students regularly experiment with alcohol in the same way as I did at that age. Those familiar with the near-permanent stench of beer in UK students' union buildings would be very surprised to discover that Japanese universities only very rarely have on-campus bars - and even then these are restricted to academic staff and perhaps their invited graduate student guests. Consequently, the 'experimenting' with alcohol that is a fundamental part of campus life in most European and North American universities just doesn't happen in Japan. Group drinking behavior only becomes the norm once you're employed. It's a ridiculous situation that Japanese students can't legally get binge-drinking out of their system before graduation.

A note about beer vending machines. These actually switch off at eleven o'clock every night. You can still buy alcohol at the local convenience stores. The law was changed a few years ago in theory to prevent high school students from purchasing beer. In reality, actually finding a beer vending machine these days is a task and a half - they are no longer a common sight. Furthermore, high school students are far more likely to buy beer during the early evening hours than they are to break their nine or ten o'clock curfew! Of course I live in a rural city so I'm happy to be corrected if it's a common sight to seen seventeen year-olds out and about at drinking establishments in Roppongi and Akasaka to the wee small hours.

I don't know about high school students in Tokyo, but I know there are many Japanese college students who like to party up like rock stars. When I was going to Sophia University, I joined a ski club, and I happened to be the only foreigner there. It was the springtime, so obviously we couldn't do any skiing there. However, every week we would have training once or twice as well as other social events. We would usually hit up an izakaya-san that offered the options of a "noumihoudai" (All you can drink), and man I was suprised by the some of the little girls who had an incredible tolerance for drinking. These Japanese crew I was with would party as hard as an other groups of Americans that I would go out with. Then they would have something called the "Ni-kai" I believe it was called, and it was basically like the after party, or continuation of the first party (I guess you could almost equivalate it to being seen as almost "Bar-hopping"). All of my Japanese buddies would still be drinking away like there was no tomorrow.

Also when Sakura came around, that gave everyone on campus a reason to sit under the trees and party up. That was a pretty wild experience as well, because we would go from tarp to tarp and party with various college students. It would go until the wee hours into the night, and so that was pretty much a blast. We didn't need beer machines, because there was conbinis all around that were open 24-7, so you could virtually buy alcohol anytime of the day. Ah yes, those were some good times.....

 

[Brooker]

@ragedaddy...
Those sound like some fun experiences. I wish I'd had more of a chance to do things like that while I was in Japan.

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

"nijikai" is what you wanted to say - yes it does mean second event. Most often used in reference to an evening party after the more formal lunchtime reception at a wedding. An invitation to a ﾂ'nijikai' can also be politely refused – whereas an invitation to the afternoon event cannot. If you can't go it's not uncommon to send your wife in your place.

I don't doubt that Japanese university students can party - what is lacking though, certainly compared to UKland colleges, are the on-campus social events. Dance parties, graduation balls, jazz gigs, toga parties, other themed parties etc. Certainly at my college revenue from the student bars was essential for providing grants and subsidies to societies - sporting and cultural. I'm sure there are secret dorm parties – but that's the thing – they have to be secret. UKland students have a legal right to drink themselves paralytic every Friday night – and according to many of my fellow alumni: a legal obligation too!

The behavior of Japanese sararimen out drinking after work reminds me of university students on a RAG week pub crawl. Though I probably drank even more after graduation than before I couldn't have gotten away with the same lewd antics. Being bullied by your dorm friends to go out drinking is one thing - when it's your section boss and you have a busy schedule the next day it's unacceptable and basically immature. Which pretty accurately describes most Japanese sararimen anyway. Kanpai!

 

[MeAndroo]

I seriously doubt any of my Japanese high school or university students regularly experiment with alcohol in the same way as I did at that age. Those familiar with the near-permanent stench of beer in UK students' union buildings would be very surprised to discover that Japanese universities only very rarely have on-campus bars - and even then these are restricted to academic staff and perhaps their invited graduate student guests. Consequently, the 'experimenting' with alcohol that is a fundamental part of campus life in most European and North American universities just doesn't happen in Japan. Group drinking behavior only becomes the norm once you're employed. It's a ridiculous situation that Japanese students can't legally get binge-drinking out of their system before graduation.

A note about beer vending machines. These actually switch off at eleven o'clock every night. You can still buy alcohol at the local convenience stores. The law was changed a few years ago in theory to prevent high school students from purchasing beer. In reality, actually finding a beer vending machine these days is a task and a half - they are no longer a common sight. Furthermore, high school students are far more likely to buy beer during the early evening hours than they are to break their nine or ten o'clock curfew! Of course I live in a rural city so I'm happy to be corrected if it's a common sight to seen seventeen year-olds out and about at drinking establishments in Roppongi and Akasaka to the wee small hours.

Similar to ragedaddy...As far as on-campus events not promoting drinking, that's what I thought circles were for. I joined a basketball circle and while we did play 2, 3 times a week, there was also a ton of partying to be done. Just because you don't necessarily drink on campus doesn't mean there aren't alcohol-minded people getting together on campus. I couldn't get away from alcohol during my stint at Waseda (not that I wanted to), one of the so-called prestigious private universities. Guys running around naked, "jungle fire," vomit bags...circles and clubs at the college level are nuts.

As far as the beer vending machines...I can't remember how late we'd buy from them, but there were situations near Waseda where the vending machines were INSIDE THE DORMS. We also had machines that had the low-quality sake containers...ahh, drinking in front of the clock tower. I've got nothing to say about HS kids...the only time I spent with them, none of them drank.

 

[Brooker]

What's up with all these American college students going to school in Japan? I'm jealous!!

 

[Suki-Yaki]

still under age ..

It makes you feel so young to know even though you're 18 , you are still under the drinking age in japan !!!

It's enough to know getting drunk isn't resented in Japan just to know the Japanese point of view to it !

 

[mad pierrot]

The best and worst drink in Japan: Cup Sake!

 

[Suki-Yaki]

does this refer to Cup noodle in any way ???

 

[mad pierrot]

Naw, it's an awful but cheap brand of sake you can buy anywhere. It's been such along time since I had any, but I think the proper name is "OneCup." It's the choice drink of all the bums in Osaka!

 

[playaa]

It is illegal, but as long as you do not look under the age of 15 and you have a more mature self control on how you act/dress.. There shouldn't be any problem.