The Dark Truth Behind Drunk Salarymen in Japan
Discover UBIGI, to stay connected while traveling: https://go.ubigi.com/vPQxLW
Install your eSIM and access 4G in more than 200 destinations around the world. With my code 'AINI', get 10% off your first plan!
Everyone's a drinker under Nomikai culture. This is how it happened, and why it's falling apart.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:38 Nomikai 101: Etiquette + Rules
3:55 Quick history session on Alcohol in Japan
5:15 ty Ubigi!
6:20 How Nomikai culture became inescapable
12:12 Pushback against Nomikai culture
15:07 Conclusion
---- xxx -----
Patron shoutout! Thank you Aaron, Allan Ngo, AngloCaesar, Arthur Wiedemann, AustinTim, Big Al, Bryan, David, Diego Rodrigo Duque S, Dylan L, Enes Kirimi, GalaxyRunner77, Harshaan Niles, jambo, Jim, Khai Huynh Ngoc, Kin, Liam, Min, Pei Yi, PhantomK92, Ray z, Rene, Ricardo Thered, SwiftStyle, Val K, Victor C, Wallace Xu, WongKarWaifu, xu yiming, ya Bum and Zavier from the "no, you have it" tier! And of course, a big big thank you to all my patrons :)
Come say hi at:
• patreon: / aini_
• ig: @aini.mov
• x: @aini0970
• tiktok: @aini0970
💌 business enquiries only: [email protected]
my gear!
note: below links are affiliate links that help me out but come at no extra cost to you :)
camera: macbook pro m4
mic: audio technica atr2100x https://amzn.to/4b1Y0Q9
teleprompter: neewer https://amzn.to/3QAVhVC
softbox: mountdog https://amzn.to/3UxNpp7
tripod: bosch https://amzn.to/44Icxyc
---- xxx -----
Academic References
Befu, H. (1974). An Ethnography of Dinner Entertainment in Japan. Arctic Anthropology, [online] 11, pp.196–203. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/40315815.
Hagihara, A., Tarumi, K. and Nobutomo, K. (2000). Work Stressors, Drinking with Colleagues after Work, and Job Satisfaction among White-Collar Workers in Japan. Substance Use & Misuse, 35(5), pp.737–756. doi:https://doi.org/10.3109/1082608000914....
Partanen, J. (2006). Spectacles of Sociability and Drunkenness: On Alcohol and Drinking in Japan. Contemporary Drug Problems, 33(2), pp.177–204. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0091450906033....
Wu, Y. (2023). Nomikai in Japanese Universities and Companies: a cultural analysis. Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University. [online] www.cmu.edu. Available at: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/lcal/aca....
References
Harrison, V. (2019). Japan’s workplaces rethink ‘drinking with the boss’. BBC News. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-505....
Larsen, B. (2019). Japan’s Toxic Drinking Culture No One Talks About. [online] GaijinPot Blog. Available at: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/japans-tox....
Sakamoto, K. (2015). Why Drinking With Coworkers Is So Important In Japanese Work Culture. [online] GaijinPot Blog. Available at: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/japanese-d....
Shukla, P. (2025). Booze breaks & hangover leave: Japan’s IT firm is redefining work culture. [online] Available at: https://www.business-standard.com/wor....
Uno, T. (2024). What will become of after work drinking parties? [online] Available at: https://digthetea.com/en/2024/04/tsun...
Visual sources (historical footage):
TRNGL / @trngl
Thanks for watching! If you made it this far down, here's an apple juice for you 🧃
Tags:
video essay, cultural commentary, social commentary, internet analysis, analysis video, japan, japanese culture, japan drinking culture, nomikai,japanese work culture, japanese history, japan social norms, nomikai culture,toxic work culture japan,alcohol in japan, japanese business etiquette, east asia, drinking, sake, japan trends, east asia, east asian, The Japan Reporter, aini
