The Unspoken Rule Tourists Should Know When Drinking With A Group In Japan

No matter where you are in the world, people can always be brought together by a drink. However, there are certain etiquette rules to follow in different countries. For instance, European countries have unspoken rules tourists should know about when drinking alcohol, while South Korea expects its tourists to behave a certain way when consuming alcohol in public.

In America, while social drinking is everywhere, solitary drinking is also common. Maybe when you get off work, you stop by the bar to grab a beer before heading home. Or, maybe you have a glass of wine with dinner to decompress from a stressful day. Even if you're in a group, it's expected that you'll pay for your tab and drink your libations at your own pace. In Japan, drinking is a primarily social activity, with group drinking being heavily embedded in the culture.

In Japan, drinking in a group, or nomikai, is an important aspect of life for groups of people to bond and have fun together. Friends and colleagues use this time to bond and facilitate more free-flowing conversations between coworkers. While this is typically an informal event, there are still common courtesies to keep in mind while drinking, and as a tourist, you'll want to brush up on the etiquette before making the trip to avoid embarrassing mistakes.

Respect is a deeply rooted value in Japanese culture, and drinking is no exception. When you drink in a group, the activity is a collective group experience, rather than an every-person-for-themselves ordeal. That's why it's considered disrespectful to top off your drink before everyone else. In groups, drinks come out in rounds. You wait for all of your peers to be done with their drinks before starting in on another one. If you're sharing a bottle of something, offering to top off your table mates' drinks first instead of yours is a sign of respect. Plus, if you pour for others, they'll reciprocate by pouring for you during the next round.

You should also take your time with your drink. Remember, it's not a race, and the point of this social drink is to do it together. Try to stay on pace with the rest of your group, or else you risk Japanese locals instantly knowing you're a tourist. Try not to jump the gun and start drinking before "cheers" or "kanpai" is said. Taking cues from your group and following Japanese etiquette is a huge sign of respect and is certain to go a long way with locals.