Drinking? Don't carry. Carrying? Don't drink. (Part 1) 飲む？持つな。持つ？飲むな。

This mantra (if you plan on having alcohol, don't carry your laptop with you) was drilled into me when I first joined the Big-4 consulting company I would spend 3 years at in 2015. This training as well as the accompanying article shows that although after-work drinking culture has started changing recently, these types of accidents still happen.

This week I'll concentrate on the drinking part of the story, come back next week to read more about safe data management!

The origin of heavy drinking among salarymen can be traced back to Japan's post-war economic boom in the 1960s and 70s. At that time drinking was often a way to celebrate corporate success and build relationships.

Salarymen were expected even pressured into joining these often late night parties which led to a culture where excessive alcohol consumption was normalized.

When I was in this high powered environment, the pressure to join was much less and it was perfectly ok to say no to alcohol. But still, alcohol is seen as an ok way to relieve pressure - and I have to say I was surprised at the number of drinks some of my colleagues (and especially superiors) managed to consume. Let alone having to deal with the the next day hangover at work, I would never drink to excess when out with colleagues.

Does your company have a policy in place about alcohol consumption or other (un)suitable behavior after work? Is it the same as at your Japan HQ? Do you inform new hires or expats of this policy?

If you've never thought about it, it may be time to ask for help 😊

Here's where we can help! We have plenty of experience training companies with Japanese DNA who need help with new hires or expats. Reach out today for a free assessment and bespoke training based on your needs!Want to know more?

At Japan Consulting Office, we specialize in equipping professionals to thrive in cross-cultural environments. Whether you’re looking for group training or one-on-one sessions, we’ve got you covered!

If you want to learn more about bridging language and cultural gaps in Japanese business, why not join one of our sessions! Here’s the link to upcoming sessions (make sure to select your timezone

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/02/japan/society/japan-youth-employment-workplace/