Economy Japan's struggling izakaya

[thomas]

Rising costs, staff shortages, and a teetotaling youth: The Guardian on a struggling institution, Japan's izakaya.

Izakaya have faced crises before. In early 2003, in the aftermath of the dotcom bubble bursting, the number of bankruptcies amongst firms operating izakaya topped 20 for the first time, according to data from Tokyo Shoko Research. Much stricter drink-driving laws, making establishments jointly liable if they served a patron who then caused an accident, led to 39 going to the wall in the same period in 2007. Fifty more went under after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown caused people to forgo socialising out of respect for the victims. But in January to April of this year, an all-time high of 88 went out of business, an increase of more than 50% on the corresponding figure for 2025.

Izakaya economics: Japan’s traditional night out fights tooth and ale for survival

Hard times – and British-style pubs – are squeezing restaurant-bars that once thrived in cities everywhere. Can they innovate to keep pace with change?

www.theguardian.com

 

[Ukigumo]

Adapt and survive!

 

[Grandpa Frank]

 

[Ukigumo]

If the issue is fewer young people drinking alcohol, then change the emphasis; coffees like those served in Starbucks etc together with cakes/brownies and the like.

I think the issue is young people just don't have the financial resources to sit in an izakaya all evening drinking and maybe they don't like the ambience. I really dislike dark British pubs with dark timbers, horse brasses, dark red patterned carpets, low beams and the stink of stale ale (the smell of British pubs became noticeable when the indoor smoking ban came in and it no longer masked spilled sugary drinks and ales ). Update!