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Food Tradition

Izakaya Culture

Social and Ceremonial Dining Customs

Izakaya Culture centers on the izakaya, a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks, functioning as a casual after-work drinking spot comparable to a pub, a Spanish tapas bar, or an American saloon or tavern. Several varieties of izakaya exist across Japan, some serving a wider clientele than the traditional small izakaya or neighborhood pub, and the food served, typically fried or grilled, is meant to be shared among the group.

Facts
Origin Period, From (Year)Sourced to the subject's own account
from 700 1
Origin RegionSourced to the subject's own account
Japan. 1
Connections

Associated With

Tapas Culture, Food Traditions

Comparable casual shared-small-plates drinking-and-eating customs, izakaya in Japan and tapas culture in Spain.

Sources
1. Izakaya (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Etymology section
    It is a compound word consisting of iru ("to stay") and sakaya ("sake shop"), indicating that izakaya originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises to drink.
  • History section, first paragraph
    Anecdotes and songs that appear in the Kojiki show that izakaya-style establishments existed in Japan at the early 700s.
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