Culture Shock: The Japanese Institution of Public Drunkeness

Posted by Mike Richard on September 15, 2007
Filed under: Japan, Odds + Ends, Sidelines

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Mike over at Mike’s Blender introduces us to the idea of public drunkeness in Japan:

While most people in the West are content to toss their cookies in the privacy of their own home, here in Japan, the trains and train stations have somehow become the designated area for this pastime. Ride the last train pretty much any evening, and you’re bound to see some stumbling drunk salaryman making a valiant effort to get home before passing out completely.

Lovely. And I thought drunk American frat boys were the only a-holes beholden to such behavior. He goes on:

Public drunkeness is something of an institution here in Japan, the only time you’re allowed to take off your shell of dignity and politeness, with the trains being the main stage in the dramas that unfold. I once saw a guy in a deep drunken sleep, suddenly erupt and cover himself, the floor, as well as the people beside him in what looked to be his last ten meals without even waking up. This being Japan, no one as much as raised their voice, not even the people who got decorated. There was a mad rush for the exits though.

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. One more:

I once saw this poor girl, too embarrased to throw up on the floor of the train, quietly use her $1000+ Louis Vuitton handbag for said purpose. A hell of an expensive way to save a little face, and she didn’t even take out the bag’s contents first. Wonder if she’s still using it?

Just something to keep in mind if you happen to be in Tokyo.

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Vagabondish editor, Mike Richard, lives in Rhode Island - a spit of land in the northeastern U.S. He is a professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, camping, hiking and seeing the world. He enjoys knit hats, small, declarative sentences and speaking in the third person.



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Comments

nina
September 15th, 2007 - 2:35 pm

What a waste of a perfectly good cow. She should’ve just swallowed her vomit.


Mike
September 16th, 2007 - 11:29 am

But how do you really feel, Nina? =P