Indulgences

1. 日本酒

   Nihonshu

   Sake (Japanese rice wine)

   Usage

   Brewed and filtered from rice, rice kōji and water, typically around 15% ABV. Drinking under the age of 20 is prohibited in Japan

   Grammar Note

   Its legal category name is "seishu", which is what you will see on labels and shop shelves. Note that Japanese "sake" means alcohol in general

2. 焼酎

   Shōchū

   Shochu (distilled spirit)

   Usage

   A distilled spirit made from sweet potato, barley, rice, buckwheat or brown sugar, varying widely by region. Under-20s may not drink

   Grammar Note

   The law distinguishes single-distilled shōchū (aromatic, also called honkaku shōchū) from continuously distilled shōchū (neutral). Served with water, hot water or on the rocks

3. 泡盛

   Awamori

   Awamori (Okinawan distilled spirit)

   Usage

   Okinawa's traditional distilled spirit, made only from black-kōji rice, giving it a rich aroma. Under-20s may not drink

   Grammar Note

   Aged three years or more it is called "kūsu" (old liquor). It is strong, so it is normally cut with water or ice

4. 梅酒

   Umeshu

   Umeshu (plum liqueur)

   Usage

   Green plums steeped with shōchū and rock sugar. Sweet and relatively low in alcohol, but still alcohol — under-20s may not drink it

   Grammar Note

   Served on the rocks, with soda or with hot water. Alcohol-free versions are now sold too, so check the label

5. ビール

   Bīru

   Beer

   Usage

   Izakaya default to draft ("nama bīru") from the keg; bottles are ordered as large or medium. Under-20s may not drink

   Grammar Note

   ⚠ Shelves also carry happōshu and "new genre" drinks — legally distinct, cheaper, low-malt products that look almost identical. Check the label if you specifically want beer

6. ハイボール

   Haibōru

   Highball (whisky and soda)

   Usage

   Whisky with soda water over ice — as standard as beer in an izakaya. Under-20s may not drink

7. チューハイ

   Chūhai

   Chuhai (shochu highball)

   Usage

   Shōchū with soda, flavoured with fruit juice or syrup. Canned versions are sold in convenience stores. Under-20s may not drink

   Grammar Note

   Short for "shōchū highball", also written 酎ハイ. ⚠ Despite tasting like juice it is alcoholic, and some cans run to around 9% ABV

8. 熱燗

   Atsukan

   Atsukan (hot sake)

   Usage

   Sake served warmed on the hot side, a winter standard, poured from a tokkuri flask into small choko cups. Under-20s may not drink

   Grammar Note

   Sake is named by serving temperature: "nurukan" is lukewarm, "hiya" is room temperature and "reishu" is chilled

9. 抹茶

   Matcha

   Matcha (powdered green tea)

   Usage

   Shade-grown tea leaf (tencha) stone-ground to a powder. Whisked and drunk in the tea ceremony, and also used to flavour sweets

   Grammar Note

   The tea ceremony distinguishes thick koicha from frothy usucha. Matcha is not "brewed" but "whisked" (tateru)

10. 煎茶

    Sencha

    Sencha (steamed green tea)

    Usage

    Green tea from young leaves that are steamed, rolled and dried. Japan's most-produced tea, and a common choice as a gift

    Grammar Note

    Brewing at 70–80°C rather than boiling water keeps the astringency down. The higher grade "gyokuro" is grown under shade

11. たばこ

    Tabako

    Cigarettes / tobacco

    Usage

    ⚠ Smoking under the age of 20 is prohibited by law. Under the revised Health Promotion Act most premises are non-smoking indoors, and smoking is confined to signposted smoking rooms

    Grammar Note

    ⚠ Many municipalities ban smoking on the street by ordinance, some with on-the-spot fines. Look for a designated "kitsuenjo" even outdoors. No one under 20 may enter a smoking area

12. 加熱式たばこ

    Kanetsushiki tabako

    Heated tobacco product

    Usage

    ⚠ Prohibited under the age of 20. The revised Health Promotion Act treats these separately from cigarettes; some premises allow them only in a dedicated heated-tobacco smoking room

    Grammar Note

    The sign at a smoking room's entrance states which type it is for. Cigarettes may not be smoked in a heated-tobacco-only room

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