Izakaya

Izakaya
An is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks. are casual places for after-work drinking, similar to a pub, a Spanish tapas bar, or an American saloon or tavern.
Etymology
The word entered the English language by 1987. It is a compound word consisting of ("to stay") and ("sake shop"), indicating that originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises to drink. are sometimes called ('red lantern') in daily conversation, as such paper lanterns are traditionally found in front of them.
History
Anecdotes and songs that appear in the show that -style establishments existed in Japan at the early 700s. There is a record dating to 733 when rice was collected as a brewing fee tax under the jurisdiction of the government office called . In the , written in 797, there is a record of King Ashihara who got drunk and was murdered in a tavern in 761.
The full-scale development of began around the Edo period (1603–1867). At liquor stores that used to sell alcohol by weight, people began to drink alcohol while standing. Gradually, some began using sake barrels as stools for their customers, and gradually began to offer simple snacks called . Historian Penelope Francks points to the development of the in Japan, especially in Edo and along main roads throughout the country, as one indicator of the growing popularity of sake as a consumer good by the late 1700s.
An in Tokyo made international news in 1962, when Robert F. Kennedy ate there during a meeting with Japanese labor leaders.
and other small pubs or establishments are exempted from a smoking ban that was passed by the National Diet in July 2018 and fully enforced since April 2020.
Dining style
are often likened to taverns or pubs, but there are a number of differences.
Depending on the , customers either sit on tatami mats and dine from low tables, as in the traditional Japanese style, or sit on chairs and dine from tables. Many offer a choice of both as well as seating by the bar. Some restaurants are also style, literally translated as "drinking while standing".
Usually, customers are given an (wet towel) to clean their hands; the towels are cold in summer and hot in winter. Next, a tiny appetizer, called an in the Tokyo area or in the Osaka-Kobe area, is served. It is local custom and usually charged onto the bill in lieu of an entry fee.
The menu may be on the table, displayed on walls, or both. Picture menus are common in larger . Food and drink are ordered throughout the course of the session as desired. They are brought to the table, and the bill is added up at the end of the session. Unlike other Japanese styles of eating, food items are usually shared by everyone at the table, similar to Spanish tapas.
Common styles of dining in Japan are ("all you can drink") and ("all you can eat"). For a set price per person, customers can continue ordering as much food and/or drink as they wish, usually with a time limit of two or three hours.
dining can be intimidating to non-Japanese because of the wide variety of menu items and the slow pace. Food is normally ordered slowly over several courses rather than all at once. The kitchen will serve the food when it is ready, rather than in the formal courses of Western restaurants. Typically, a beer is ordered when one is sitting down before perusing the menu. Quickly prepared dishes such as or edamame are ordered first, followed with progressively more robust flavors such as or , finishing the meal with a rice or noodle dish to fill up.
Social Culture and Purpose
Izakayas itself are popular spots for socializing, drinking, and eating, and offer a wide variety of food and drinks in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Izakayas are often used to celebrate birthdays, work promotions, and other special occasions, as well as for after-work drinks and casual get-togethers.
One of the key features of izakaya culture is the emphasis on sharing. Izakaya food is typically served in small plates, which are meant to be shared by the group. This encourages people to socialize and interact with each other. Another important aspect of izakaya culture is the atmosphere. Izakayas are typically small and intimate, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. This makes them a great place to relax and catch up with friends or colleagues.
Izakayas vary greatly in style, price, menu, and atmosphere. Some izakayas are more traditional, with tatami mats and low tables, while others have a more modern and Western feel. Some izakayas specialize in certain types of food, such as yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) or sashimi (raw fish), while others have a more general menu.
Here are some specific examples of how izakayas are used for celebrations and gatherings:
Birthdays: Friends and family may gather at an izakaya to eat, drink, and socialize in honor of a birthday celebrant. For more formal birthday celebrations, companies or organizations may book a private room at an izakaya to host a party.
Work promotions: When a colleague is promoted, their team members may gather at an izakaya to toast to their success.
Other special occasions: Izakayas can be used to celebrate any special occasion, such as a wedding anniversary, graduation, or retirement.
After-work drinks: Izakayas are a popular place for people to unwind after a long day at work.
Casual get-togethers: Friends, family, or colleagues may meet up at an izakaya to catch up and socialize.
Typical menu items
offer a wide variety of dishes. Items typically available are:
Alcoholic drinks
Sake, a Japanese alcoholic beverage made by fermenting polished rice
Beer
Cocktails
Sour mix
Wine
Whisky
Some establishments offer a bottle keep service, where a patron can purchase an entire bottle of liquor (usually or whisky) and store the unfinished portion for a future visit.
Food
food is usually more substantial than tapas or mezze. Many items are designed to be shared. Example menu items may include:
Edamameboiled and salted soybean pods
various vegetables served with a sesame dressing
bite-sized fried chicken
grilled meat or vegetable skewers
Salads
Sashimislices of raw fish
chicken wings
Tofu
deep fried tofu in broth
chilled silken tofu with toppings
pickles
grilled noodles
grilled chicken skewers
Rice dishes such as and noodle dishes such as are sometimes eaten at the end to round off a drinking session. For the most part, Japanese customers do not eat rice or noodles ("staple food") at the same time as they drink alcohol, since sake, brewed from rice, traditionally takes the place of rice in a meal.
Types
were traditionally down-to-earth places where men drank sake and beer after work. However, modern customers are more likely to include independent women and students. Many today cater to a more diverse clientele by offering cocktails and wines as well as a sophisticated interior. Chain are often large and offer an extensive selection of food and drink, allowing them to host big, sometimes rowdy, parties. Watami, Shoya, Shirokiya, Tsubohachi, and Murasaki are some well known chains in Japan.
are often called ("red lantern"), after the red paper lanterns traditionally displayed outside. Today, the term usually refers to small, non-chain . Some unrelated businesses that are not also sometimes display red lanterns.
Cosplay
Cosplay became popular in the 2000s. The staff wear costumes and wait on customers. In some establishments, shows are performed. Costumes include those for butlers and maids.
Establishments specialising in are called . They usually take the form of street stalls with seating and are popular in winter.
are places in which customers sit around an open hearth on which chefs grill seafood and vegetables. Fresh ingredients are displayed for customers to point at whenever they want to order.
specialise in , grilled chicken skewers. The chicken skewers are often grilled in front of customers.
In literature, TV drama and film
appear in Japanese novels with adaptations to TV drama and film. They have also inspired manga and . A modern novel, is an example where the main character manages an ; in the film adaptation, Ken Takakura played the part of Chōji. A TV drama was produced in 1992 on Friday Drama Theater, Fuji Television. Another film starring Kenichi Hagiwara, is a comical ghost story; a typical in Yokohama is run by the owner, his new wife and the ghost of his former wife.
Images of in novels and films reflect the modern drinking and dining style of today sitting at tables. This was not often seen in countryside, aside from station towns along highways in the 17th to mid-19th century. Capacities at were restricted in major cities in the period that TV shows and films/movies set in Edo.
The 2006 manga series depicts the manager of a 12-seat in Shinjuku, Tokyo, that only opens from 12pm to 7am. The manga was later turned into a TV show, which was widely distributed throughout Asia and the internationally on Netflix, followed by two films. There were also several remakes made in countries such as China and Korea.
The 2012 manga series (Alternate World Bar "Nobu") depicted a new whose front door opened to a parallel world, vaguely reminiscent of 15th century Germany. The featured a wide range of food and drinks from Japan. An anime adaptation premiered in 2018 and a live-action adaptation premiered in 2020.
See also
Cuisine of Japan
List of public house topics
Ramen shop
References
Bibliography
Further reading
Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook (2008) by Mark Robinson, photographs by Masashi Kuma Kodansha International
Izakaya: Japanese Bar Food (Hardie Grant Publishing 2012), photographs by Chris Chen. .
Izakaya by Hideo Dekura (New Holland Publishers 2015). .
External links
Japanese restaurants
Japanese words and phrases
Pubs
Restaurants by type
Types of drinking establishment