"December Sales Down 30%"... Drinking Year-End Parties Disappear in Japan

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Pubs "Sales Decline" in Tears... Rapid Increase in Izakaya Closures

As the year-end party culture, symbolized by people drinking alcohol, changes, the Japanese food service industry is taking a hit.

An image of a Japanese bar street, unrelated to the article content.

On the 24th, TV Asahi's morning program 'Wide Scramble' reported on the year-end party scenes in Tokyo's bustling districts. According to the report, on the 23rd, marking the year-end party season, a skewer specialty restaurant in Shimbashi, Tokyo, was lively, but the groups enjoying year-end parties were small in size.

A woman in her 60s said, "It's okay if you can't come, and the atmosphere is that only those who want to drink do so. Compared to the past, it's really different." A man in his 50s said, "I want to have a year-end party, but I'm worried it might be seen as bullying if I suggest it. It seems that drinking gatherings themselves are becoming increasingly difficult." A man in his 40s firmly stated, "I don't have year-end parties." The opinions of young people met on the street were similar. A man in his 20s said, "Large gatherings involve seniors and juniors together, so there are many things to be mindful of. That's why I think enjoying smaller groups is more fun."

According to a survey by the marketing research company 'Cross Marketing,' 65.9% of respondents said they "will not have" or "do not plan to attend" year-end parties this year. Two out of three people answered that they would not have year-end parties. As the year-end party culture changes, there are also changes regarding alcohol, which is indispensable to year-end parties. A man in his 30s said, "Soft drinks or non-alcoholic beverages can sufficiently create the atmosphere," adding, "We also do activities like karaoke or bowling. It feels like hanging out with friends, not like a year-end party." A woman in her 30s said, "I prefer gatherings centered around delicious food," and added, "You can enjoy it even without drinking alcohol."

The change in social perception of year-end parties is also having a significant impact on the local economy. The media reported, "As a result of covering the streets, gatherings where people do not drink or drink less have been increasing recently," and "As a result, local izakayas' sales have sharply declined, putting them in a difficult situation."

A representative of 'Nemuro Shokudo,' which has been operating in front of Shimbashi Station for 20 years, said, "In previous years, the ratio was 60% food and 40% alcoholic beverages, but recently it has changed to 70% food and 30% alcoholic beverages," adding, "December sales have decreased by 30% compared to previous years, and it is difficult to expect good performance next year. We plan to close the Shimbashi store." Nemuro Shokudo is planning to relocate to Shibuya due to the high rent in Shimbashi.

According to a survey by 'Teikoku Data Bank,' the number of izakaya closures reached 203 cases by November this year, greatly surpassing the 189 cases in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is expected to set a record high.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.