I love your mannerisms Kyota-san! They way you speak, the way you gesticulate, the way you move your head and use your eyes... You are a very very effective communicator and story teller. An inspiring engaging person.
Yeah, I agree it's better to think of it as cover charge rather than paying for something you didn't order. We also have this culture in many restaurants and bars in Spain where they serve you a tapa with your drink. Although I'll have to investigate where it comes from because I've heard a couple stories but they don't sound too legit. In any case, thanks a lot for this longer format video! :)
@@kyotako1372 Depending of the city, but in Granada surely is! You may only worry about ordering the drinks - the tapas meals will keep going, and in decent sizes normally 😋
@@kyotako1372 Well. There are two different things in Spain. One thing is the small tapas you get served with your drink in some places. Those places have higher drink prices than the places that don't give you anything. So. You are actually paying for that food with a more expensive drink price. But there's also what it's called the "aperitivo". That's usually done in restaurants (not in bars) and it's pretty much the same thing than the otoshi. It's a small dish that you get served without asking when you seat at the table. And they usually charge you for it. It appears like "aperitivo" in the ticket. It's important not to confuse both things.
@@Songbirdstress It is not a tradition. It was/ and is the law. To prevent public drunkenness, all bars were/are required to serve food with their drinks or the government shuts them down.
Your english is perfect. Your explanations are splendid. Your pronunciation when you speak Japanese is crystal clear. The "nagare" of the show is perfect. It's an ippon!
my parents and i were always delighted when our local izakaya in melbourne placed the free pickled bean shoots on our table without us ordering anything. now i understand why they did that!
I grew up heavily immersed in the Victorian-era history of the United States, so I am always very intrigued to learn what was happening around the world during the 1800s, too! Thank you, and please keep up the great work! 🎉
@@kyotako1372 it will be amazing. It would actually make a great book, too…there aren’t really any good books that discuss “militaristic” macho Japanese alongside words we know. “kyotako’s Guide to Rough Language: a guide for understanding the speech and idioms of yakuza, ronin, and other characters.” I was watching Star Wars in Japanese, for example, and it took some time to look up stuff like “ryokai “ and the like.
I *REALLY* like this style of video. The bit of live language training in the middle is especially appreciated. People don't always realize how differently rhey speak when teaching someone, compared to how they speak when actually speaking to someone else in their language.
I love these deep dives into these kinds of quirks. I incorporate a lot of real world cultures into my Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, so these are a treasure trove of immersive details
I lived 3 years in Japan and still had no idea. How nice. And congratulations to Ninomiya-Mare for the involvement. Your channel is fabulous, a recommendation from you goes a long way.
The otoshi really reminds me of Portuguese restaurant culture. In traditional places we get bread, olives, butter and sometimes cheese and croquetes without asking for it. If you eat them they are charged in the bill ofc. It baffles the foreigners who visit us too. Japan and Portugal have quite a bit of history together, I wonder if that cultural quirk was influenced by each other
This used to be common in Portugal: almost every restaurant would have bread, butter, some kind of cheese and/or olives brought to the table. If you didn't want it you could leave them or send them away and you wouldn't pay, but everybody knew if you ate, you paid. Now there is a law that says if it's on the table it can't be charged, because tourists kept getting "caught"!
They still do this. Just got back from Portugal. They gave us olives and bread without us ordering and we just assumed it was like at other restaurants where they give you bread to eat for free. But then we were charged for it. Thankfully, we came from America so an extra €2 is no skin off our back. But still. Was a bit of a culture shock.
Wow, did not know about Otoshi. Lived in Japan for 5 years and loved going to izakaiya and snack bars. I was given all kinds of Otoshi and didn’t really understand other than thinking how nice it was that I could sit down and immediately enjoy something with my drink. I’m going back for a visit soon and now I know just a little bit more. Thank you! 🙌🏼💥
My husband and I visited Japan last year and went to a few Izakayas. We knew about Otōshi beforehand but were very confused when we, at our first Izakaya, were each served a single jumbo peanut with the first round of beer. We tried to take cue from the locals around us, to figure out if we were supposed to eat it or not, and most seemed to just leave their peanut by their drinks. We ate the peanut in the end, better to appear a bit whacky then rude 😆
Arigato, Kyota-sensei! Very interesting and helpful video! The more i learn about the Japanese culture the more i understand that i know nothing about it😂 but this is the most amazing part of learning 🤭
This is so well presented: plenty of information without belaboring the point too much, an engaging speaking style, and well edited visuals and text. You really nailed it.
Hey Kyota, doubt you will see this but I just wanted to commend one aspect of your videos. So many foreigners tend to think of Japan as one single monolithic culture that everyone in Japan instantly understands and appreciates, when obviously Japan is shattered into countless subcultures. Some of them are very common, some of them are much more niche, but pretty much no one knows and appreciates ALL of them no matter how much of a 日本男児 you are. It's good to remind people that often the stuff you can experience in Japan may be just as weird to Japanese people who didn't grow up with it. They may be familiar with it vaguely, but it's not like you are given a Japanese Culture book when you are born that explains everything of your own culture! It's a great way to remind people that Japan is just like any other country and Japanese people are just like any other people. I've noticed it's a pretty big theme in your videos, and appreciate it.
Thank you so much, for the thoughtful remark! Yes, there is always a first time for everyone no matter your nationality, and places that are just not your vibe no matter your nationality, and it’s okay ☺️ We modern beings have the luxury to choose a space and explore with our curiosity as a compass ✨
Great clip! Thank you for the history lesson. Yes, I learned about otoshi during my years in Fukuoka, Japan. Since I eat all except mochi I appreciated always the small dishes. Izakayas and simple yakitoris were my favourites. Now back in Romania I often treat myself with edamame with the first beer in the evening 😀
Hi Mr Kyota, thank you so much for this episode. Consider doing more of such videos on Japanese cultures with these tidbits of history and stories about it. I truly learn a lot from this.
The tourist board of Japan should pay you. You are such a good embassador! Btw this costume is similar to Spain tapas and also Mexico, usually they serve small food items with your beverage, but it is free, or already included on the price.
We have a saying "du tar seden dit man kommer" meaning you adopt to the customs where you are. Meaning that sometimes you have to take it on the chin in order to maintain and foster good relations. I admit that my knee jerk reaction was very Swedish the first time, part wondering if I was being scammed, part if I had messed up but mostly agonizing over how to broach the subject with the staff lol. Luckily they kindly explained that it was an old custom. This is however the first time I have heard the why and had its origin explained to me, very neat and cool. Peace
Thanks for sharing the stories of your culture. Your videos are so entertaining! I look forward to each different dip into the cullture of your country!
I agree with these comments as well - you have an interesting way of capturing the viewer’s attention, being very informative, and friendly as well. And, as I’m learning Japanese (which is much more a marathon than a sprint, for me at least), I really appreciate the Kanji and kana displayed as you speak as well. Thank you for all of your excellent content!
hello great content! learning a bit of tradition, history and language all at once is great. I like the slightly longer format of this vidéo too. 日本語を勉強しているし、日本文化も面白いから、そのチャンネルが役に立ってます。
You are surely become my favorite Japanese Author through to these youtube's vids. I am learning Japanese to experience these cultural experiment in some years first hand. Thank you for the tales, keep up the good work!
That will explain why in the manga and anime Isekai Izakaya Nobu that a otoshi is served with draft beer. I was wondering why there was a dish served with the drink. I will consider going to one someday if I ever make another trip to Japan. With a non-alcoholic drink. I am the most clumsy drunk when I have some alcohol in my body.
Thank you for such a thorough explanation. I definitely want to go to an izakaya when I one day visit Japan. Also, thank you for teaching us several phrases, especially for mentioning that there are foods you can't eat, that will really come in handy.
I absolutely love sake, it's one of my favorite alcoholic beverages! 🥰 I like it cold, warm, or even room temperature. 😅 I'm a classless heathen, I know. 😂🫶🏻
This is so interesting, I’ve been going back and watching some of your previous videos. This stuff is super intriguing, I’m looking forward to reading some of your books
I found it most easy to think of Otoshi as a table charge at Izakaya. In Europe, we have similar concepts such as the Italian Coperto or the Austrian Gedeck.
Wow… I could have never guessed that izakaya meant sake shop. I thought it was just a chain of Japanese restaurants. although I have never been to one , I have seen a lot here in Korea. This was quite informative.
Our local izakaya/sushi/April's tea House does not serve the added dish(maybe I need to order sake?) but they do cater to college students. It's a very nice atmosphere to go to after a long day of work and school, to relax and try some new food.
@kyotako1372 How many places have non alcohol, caffeine free, and sugar free drinks? Even if it's diet 7-up etc, will I have a problem finding somewhere to drink and eat? Love your videos❤
I don't think they have coffee. Most places I have seen have some sort of cold tea (usually uulong Cha), water, sometimes non alcohol beer and soft drinks. It's a night time attraction, it's menu not like a cafe. they mostly serve fish, alcohol, and side items. It really depends on the izakaya. In Japan nobody forces people to drink, go any izakaya you like and order food. @@pandarush.
Absolutely 100% valid. Though one thing I will mention is that there are some Izakayas that are known to scam both locals and tourists by giving them otoshi that are 2000-3000 yen when usually they're about 500-1000 yen. This is especially common in tourist trap areas. Feel free to correct me, however, this is just hearsay from other's videos and I dont know if this is technically true, since I have yet to go to Japan myself.
@kyotako1372 I've also heard in places like Kabuki-cho that there are people specifically hired to lure people in to have a few drinks, under the impression that it's super cheap, however, they've been lied to and to avoid a big scene, they're forced to pay a hefty bill. Or worse, they'll get them so drunk that they'll follow them to an ATM to get them to pull out and spend their life savings. It's absolutely awful.
Great video, I appreciate the chance to understand how the tradition developed :) I wonder if it might be possible to create a genre of Isekai Izakaya, where visitors from other realities find themselves in friendly Japanese Izakaya that serve tasty and unusual foods with good sake ;)
Great it was fun to watch. Can you please make a video about the recommendation system for the isakayas!? I don't know if it's still in place but it was around the XIX century.
Back in 2001 as a teen I went to Japan to go up Mt. Fuji with my father. While we were in Osaka we found a restaurant sort of based on this concept of Otōshi . . . maybe? Basically, you didn't order ANY food at all - the "menu" was just the list of food they served so long as you said you wanted food - you only ordered drinks. (They also asked you where you were from and put out a flag of your country at your table.) I don't know if that was just a unique restaurant or not, but the idea there seems like a kind of variation of Otōshi?
I’m curious as to how you attained such a natural and fluent tone and speaking style in English? I don’t think, based on your accent, that it’s your first language, and yet, the intonation and timing is perfect.
@kyotako1372 Wow! You speak so fluently that I did think it was your first language! I love your videos. You have such a wonderful way of speaking with great humor while being very informative 😊
Nice video. What kinds of places are you goin to that give shrimp? Around me they tack on about ￥300 and I get some bean sprouts with sesame seeds or something. I don't mind that at all.
I don't know the story of it, but I know in the land of Delia, otoshi is called *"pasapalo".* "Pasa" comes from the verb "pasar" meaning "go through", stating the purpose of the _pasapalo_ which is making the Palo go down easier. Now you won't find "Palo" as a translation for drink. Palo's translation is actually "stick", or more precisely to the case, "log". Palo is a part of an augmentative: when you say something is a "Palo de _" (a log of _) means it's the biggest/meanest version of it. Popular examples include "Palo de hombre" (a log of a man) used to describe what the internet today calls a giga Chad. A "Palo de agua" (a log of water) is a rainstorm that makes you feel you should grow gills, just in case. So what does any of these have to do with drinks? Well, when the alcohol is strong, people calls it a Palo de Ron or a Palo de Whisky. Wine and beer were initially considered too meek to enter this category, but eventually Palo became synonymous with just an alcoholic beverage. Some people's trying to make a Palo de Red Bull happen, but let's just hope that they don't succeed. So the food that helped people chase down the Palos became known as pasapalos. They range from very simple like salted peanuts, to pretentious shef stuff, to the national favorite/treasure: _tequeños._ So, if by no fault of your own, you find yourself in Venezuela and want some otoshi to go with whatever you're drinking, make sure to ask for pasapalos, preferably tequeños. Make sure you ask the traditional cheese ones, because shefs have gotten to them and now they're some filled with fruit or Nutella that are absolutely inappropriate to keep your drink company.
@@kyotako1372 tequeños are sticks of hard cheese, going anywhere from 5 to 30 centimeters (in which case it's called a tequeñón, but that's not a pasapalo, that's breakfast) so a stick of hard cheese wrapped helicoidally with a non-leavening wheat dough. They're traditionally deep fried, in which case they become puffy and nice, but they're good on the air fryer too.
6 дней назад
Sapporo black is my favoritetoo, but so hard to find in America
What I find weird is for them to bill it separately, like for korean bancham (which is basically the same thing), they never “charge” you for it, but obviously it is not free and we expect it to be included into the overall price of the rest of the dishes.
Indeed, plus some places, mostly in the south of Spain, they'll serve a few tapas, for free, with the drinks you order. Usually, you don't expect to be charged for something you haven't ordered.
Thanks for a wonderful video. I presumed at the beginning of the video that the otoshi would be part of the culture almost like paying a cover charge at a bar. I certainly have no problem spending what it takes to have a good time in Japan while fitting in. I’m aware of the fact, for instance, that as a tourist I am part of a heavy impact that Japan is feeling right now. I’ve been asking around some of the people I watch, what do I do if I don’t drink? Actually I shouldn’t drink with the medication I’m taking. And my friend can’t have gluten and not too many carbs. I’m wondering when we come to Japan how we can experience the culture and also accommodate our medical needs. I’m actually f hoping for my friends sake that we can find meals that are full of good seafood and meat and vegetables… he loves seafood! I think he will like that part of Japan.
This is great! I'm still intimdated by Ramen shops though. Especially those that only accept cash. 😅 maybe ill muster up the courage when I visit again.
@@kyotako1372 not exactly. I was not confident in my Japanese and I assumed they would be more strict to foreigners "(We only take Japanese Yen ergo less patient towards a bumbling American who knows little Japanese)"
Ichiran would be perfect for you if you feel intimidated by ramen shops. It's best for those who do not want to interact with others during the process. You would fill out a sheet, pass it to the server behind the curtain, they'll hand you your ramen without a word, and then you would eat, pay and leave.
At 21 years old I left Australia for japan. 1991.About six months in I walked into a tiny Ma and pa izakaya in Nishi Shinjuku and just like in the movies the music stopped and room fell silent except of course for the collective exclamation ,”Oh. Gaijin da!” There were two construction workers, three alcoholic pensioners , two salarymen , one OL ,two chimpira and one closeted gay guy and not one of them wanted me there until they heard me speak . I learned all my Japanese from women, train station announcements and Takeshi Kitano films so I must’ve sounded like a dyslexic gay robot hitman. That night we became family and I never ate at another izakaya again.
@@kyotako1372 sensei reply shite kurette arigatougozaimasu. Boku wa Kame to moushimasu (Cameron).Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu .Sensei no koto honto ni sonkei shite orimasu. Kotoba to etymology mo koi ni ochito zo! Nakama narou Ze !
So, should I compare Otoshi to something like Amuse-bouche? Difference is of course Otoshi is basically a cover charge, while Amuse Bouche is free (but expect you to pay a lot for the full course)
It’s not so strange- I’m old enough to remember when pubs had little bowls of salty ‘bar snacks’ on the bar, especially on Sundays. Usually peanuts or cubes of cheese in my local. Then someone tested some and proved that after a few pints people weren’t always washing their hands…
I think I can add 1 more thing: if you go to cheap izakaya (chain izakayas like hanbee) they literally give you chopped cabbage or cheap donki snacks that literally worth 50 yen 😂😂 So it's better to think of it as table money rather than snack money. Cuz even cheap places usually charge around 750~1000 yen.
I so enjoy your videos! But a question - I cannot drink alcohol (sad but true). Can I still eat in an izakaya or is there no point? Thank you for the kindness of your reply, sensei.
interesting. i always thought the otooshi is something like "service" so free of charge. but at the very minimum i'd probably be like "anoo, kyou no otoushi wa nan desshou ka?"
generally, i don't know why people would think it's a scam. because they got the food, it's not like the otoushi appears on your receit without you eating anything. so if you get something you didn't get served and you don't like to eat it, you can voice your concerns. i wouldn't even perceive it as particularily quirky, like in an italian or greek restaurant i also get served bread for example, or little panini, that even ARE free of charge because... it's bread. it's cheap so who cares 😆 but of course those otoushi are more than just wheat flour to stuff your tummy, so of course they'd charge for them
Honestly I'd just tell the server/ waitor/ waitress " I apologise for the inconvenience, but I have food allergies to ( X, Y and Z example) foods. Please don't serve me any of those foods." and just enjoy the meal.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I love your mannerisms Kyota-san! They way you speak, the way you gesticulate, the way you move your head and use your eyes... You are a very very effective communicator and story teller. An inspiring engaging person.
Thank you so much 🥹✨✨✨
Yeah, I agree it's better to think of it as cover charge rather than paying for something you didn't order. We also have this culture in many restaurants and bars in Spain where they serve you a tapa with your drink. Although I'll have to investigate where it comes from because I've heard a couple stories but they don't sound too legit. In any case, thanks a lot for this longer format video! :)
I learned through the comments that Spain has a similar culture, although their tapas are free 😋✨!!
@@kyotako1372 Depending of the city, but in Granada surely is! You may only worry about ordering the drinks - the tapas meals will keep going, and in decent sizes normally 😋
@@kyotako1372 Well. There are two different things in Spain. One thing is the small tapas you get served with your drink in some places. Those places have higher drink prices than the places that don't give you anything. So. You are actually paying for that food with a more expensive drink price. But there's also what it's called the "aperitivo". That's usually done in restaurants (not in bars) and it's pretty much the same thing than the otoshi. It's a small dish that you get served without asking when you seat at the table. And they usually charge you for it. It appears like "aperitivo" in the ticket. It's important not to confuse both things.
@@kyotako1372 I love this tradition. A way of making sure you don't drink on an empty stomach.
@@Songbirdstress It is not a tradition.
It was/ and is the law.
To prevent public drunkenness, all bars were/are required to serve food with their drinks or the government shuts them down.
Your english is perfect. Your explanations are splendid. Your pronunciation when you speak Japanese is crystal clear. The "nagare" of the show is perfect. It's an ippon!
Ippon 😆✨✨✨!! Arigatou gozaimasu!!
my parents and i were always delighted when our local izakaya in melbourne placed the free pickled bean shoots on our table without us ordering anything. now i understand why they did that!
I grew up heavily immersed in the Victorian-era history of the United States, so I am always very intrigued to learn what was happening around the world during the 1800s, too! Thank you, and please keep up the great work! 🎉
the 1800s seem to be a very interesting time for many cultures ☺️✨!!
Your channel is quickly becoming one of my favourites on youtube keep up the good work! im so fascinated by these topics.
Thank you so much 😆😆✨✨✨!!
Agreed. I still hope one day he’ll make a “talk like a samurai “ language series :)
@@done.6191 😂😂😂 Okay definitely making that one 😂
@@kyotako1372 it will be amazing. It would actually make a great book, too…there aren’t really any good books that discuss “militaristic” macho Japanese alongside words we know. “kyotako’s Guide to Rough Language: a guide for understanding the speech and idioms of yakuza, ronin, and other characters.”
I was watching Star Wars in Japanese, for example, and it took some time to look up stuff like “ryokai “ and the like.
OMAGOSH same!!! learning about culture n stuff is just SO cool
I *REALLY* like this style of video. The bit of live language training in the middle is especially appreciated. People don't always realize how differently rhey speak when teaching someone, compared to how they speak when actually speaking to someone else in their language.
This is why I appreciate your vids. Knowing the history behind things helps you enjoy visiting even more. Thank you 😊
That’s right! Knowing history amplifies the experience multiple-folds 🤩✨!
Love the concept of explaining a cultural phenomenon from the place where it happens - great job!
History is a beautiful thing to know and appreciate. Thank you for teaching us!
Thank you for watching ☺️✨✨!
I love these deep dives into these kinds of quirks. I incorporate a lot of real world cultures into my Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, so these are a treasure trove of immersive details
Oh wow putting knowledge into use 🤩✨!
I love your videos there so interesting for some from Sweden
I lived 3 years in Japan and still had no idea. How nice. And congratulations to Ninomiya-Mare for the involvement. Your channel is fabulous, a recommendation from you goes a long way.
I’m glad it helped! Most Japanese people don’t know of the history either 😁✨!
I cannot afford to travel but I love learning about other cultures! thank you!
Me too
VERY slowly learning Japanese and it saddens me more and more when I think about my seafood allergy.
Also. Thank you for teaching us!
The otoshi really reminds me of Portuguese restaurant culture. In traditional places we get bread, olives, butter and sometimes cheese and croquetes without asking for it. If you eat them they are charged in the bill ofc. It baffles the foreigners who visit us too.
Japan and Portugal have quite a bit of history together, I wonder if that cultural quirk was influenced by each other
This used to be common in Portugal: almost every restaurant would have bread, butter, some kind of cheese and/or olives brought to the table. If you didn't want it you could leave them or send them away and you wouldn't pay, but everybody knew if you ate, you paid. Now there is a law that says if it's on the table it can't be charged, because tourists kept getting "caught"!
They still do this. Just got back from Portugal. They gave us olives and bread without us ordering and we just assumed it was like at other restaurants where they give you bread to eat for free. But then we were charged for it. Thankfully, we came from America so an extra €2 is no skin off our back. But still. Was a bit of a culture shock.
That also happens in Argentina! But by the time I went there, a lot of restaurants serve the bread without charge.
Wow, did not know about Otoshi. Lived in Japan for 5 years and loved going to izakaiya and snack bars. I was given all kinds of Otoshi and didn’t really understand other than thinking how nice it was that I could sit down and immediately enjoy something with my drink. I’m going back for a visit soon and now I know just a little bit more. Thank you! 🙌🏼💥
My husband and I visited Japan last year and went to a few Izakayas. We knew about Otōshi beforehand but were very confused when we, at our first Izakaya, were each served a single jumbo peanut with the first round of beer. We tried to take cue from the locals around us, to figure out if we were supposed to eat it or not, and most seemed to just leave their peanut by their drinks. We ate the peanut in the end, better to appear a bit whacky then rude 😆
He grew that peanut in his backyard dude!
So incredibly helpful, ESPECIALLY the part about the allergies. I was like "YES! THIS! THANK YOU!!" :-)
Arigato, Kyota-sensei! Very interesting and helpful video! The more i learn about the Japanese culture the more i understand that i know nothing about it😂 but this is the most amazing part of learning 🤭
This is so well presented: plenty of information without belaboring the point too much, an engaging speaking style, and well edited visuals and text. You really nailed it.
Hey Kyota, doubt you will see this but I just wanted to commend one aspect of your videos. So many foreigners tend to think of Japan as one single monolithic culture that everyone in Japan instantly understands and appreciates, when obviously Japan is shattered into countless subcultures. Some of them are very common, some of them are much more niche, but pretty much no one knows and appreciates ALL of them no matter how much of a 日本男児 you are. It's good to remind people that often the stuff you can experience in Japan may be just as weird to Japanese people who didn't grow up with it. They may be familiar with it vaguely, but it's not like you are given a Japanese Culture book when you are born that explains everything of your own culture!
It's a great way to remind people that Japan is just like any other country and Japanese people are just like any other people. I've noticed it's a pretty big theme in your videos, and appreciate it.
Thank you so much, for the thoughtful remark! Yes, there is always a first time for everyone no matter your nationality, and places that are just not your vibe no matter your nationality, and it’s okay ☺️
We modern beings have the luxury to choose a space and explore with our curiosity as a compass ✨
Great clip! Thank you for the history lesson. Yes, I learned about otoshi during my years in Fukuoka, Japan. Since I eat all except mochi I appreciated always the small dishes. Izakayas and simple yakitoris were my favourites. Now back in Romania I often treat myself with edamame with the first beer in the evening 😀
Really love this kind of video. You are extremely engaging. More please!
Hi Mr Kyota, thank you so much for this episode. Consider doing more of such videos on Japanese cultures with these tidbits of history and stories about it. I truly learn a lot from this.
The tourist board of Japan should pay you. You are such a good embassador! Btw this costume is similar to Spain tapas and also Mexico, usually they serve small food items with your beverage, but it is free, or already included on the price.
We have a saying "du tar seden dit man kommer" meaning you adopt to the customs where you are. Meaning that sometimes you have to take it on the chin in order to maintain and foster good relations. I admit that my knee jerk reaction was very Swedish the first time, part wondering if I was being scammed, part if I had messed up but mostly agonizing over how to broach the subject with the staff lol. Luckily they kindly explained that it was an old custom. This is however the first time I have heard the why and had its origin explained to me, very neat and cool.
Peace
I agree with this philosophy. Or in English “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”
Thanks for sharing the stories of your culture. Your videos are so entertaining! I look forward to each different dip into the cullture of your country!
Thank you for the information. I'm going to Japan not only for the food sensory experience but for Shintaro Fujinami as well.😍
😍✨✨✨
@@kyotako1372, by the way I'm the one from instagram who loves Fujinamisan hahaha.
Omg! You're in Kobe! 🎉 Thank you for visiting our humble city (I think you're usually in Tokyo, so it's nice to see you in Kansai!) ありがとう😆💕✨
I would fly back to Kansai in no time 😆✨!
Thank you for the hard work, this channel has quickly become one of my favorite, I always learn something watching ur videos
I have been reading the manga Isekai Izakaya Nobu, and this video helped with some of the atmosphere or feel of the story.
That grunt when sitting - I felt it lol.
Thanks for sharing a very interesting history of otoshi!
I agree with these comments as well - you have an interesting way of capturing the viewer’s attention, being very informative, and friendly as well. And, as I’m learning Japanese (which is much more a marathon than a sprint, for me at least), I really appreciate the Kanji and kana displayed as you speak as well. Thank you for all of your excellent content!
Thank you so much 🥹 I’m happy to hear you find these videos enjoyable in many ways!
Great topic. Special kudos for doing a location video (other than an office/generic wall on the background), which isn't a common choice.
hello
great content! learning a bit of tradition, history and language all at once is great.
I like the slightly longer format of this vidéo too. 日本語を勉強しているし、日本文化も面白いから、そのチャンネルが役に立ってます。
ありがとうございます🥹✨ I’m glad you liked the mix!
I love these videos. And I love what I have read of your books. Thank you for sharing your words and humor.
You are surely become my favorite Japanese Author through to these youtube's vids. I am learning Japanese to experience these cultural experiment in some years first hand. Thank you for the tales, keep up the good work!
Exciting plans 😍✨✨✨!!
What a beautiful explanation of the otoshi system. I love the history behind it’s inception 🍶🍣
That will explain why in the manga and anime Isekai Izakaya Nobu that a otoshi is served with draft beer. I was wondering why there was a dish served with the drink. I will consider going to one someday if I ever make another trip to Japan. With a non-alcoholic drink. I am the most clumsy drunk when I have some alcohol in my body.
Thank you not only did I learn about this practice but learned a lot about izakaya in general!
The shirt your wearing is very nice! And the information you're sharing is helpful too😊
Thank you for sharing. Nice to know.
Glad you liked it ☺️✨✨
Thank you for such a thorough explanation. I definitely want to go to an izakaya when I one day visit Japan. Also, thank you for teaching us several phrases, especially for mentioning that there are foods you can't eat, that will really come in handy.
Wonderful video! Thank you for the map!
I absolutely love sake, it's one of my favorite alcoholic beverages! 🥰 I like it cold, warm, or even room temperature. 😅 I'm a classless heathen, I know. 😂🫶🏻
I feel exactly the same 😆✨
Very fascinating. Thank you for this very educational content full of beautiful art.
This is so interesting, I’ve been going back and watching some of your previous videos. This stuff is super intriguing, I’m looking forward to reading some of your books
Thank you so much 😆✨! If you like the content of these videos, I can guarantee you will like the books ☺️✨
I found it most easy to think of Otoshi as a table charge at Izakaya. In Europe, we have similar concepts such as the Italian Coperto or the Austrian Gedeck.
Wow… I could have never guessed that izakaya meant sake shop. I thought it was just a chain of Japanese restaurants. although I have never been to one , I have seen a lot here in Korea. This was quite informative.
Thanks for the interesting history. Great video, keep up the excellent work 👍
Had to pause the video to comment on what a great head of hair you have, and that that haircut and hair style suit you very well. 👌
Please keep making videos such as these, thank you.
Will do ☺️✨✨
That was great content, thanks!
I’m glad you liked it ☺️👍
Such an interesting video, thank you very much!
I’m glad you liked it ☺️☺️✨✨
Will go back to Kobe for sure! Went there blind and sightseeing. Next time ill be there for solely food trips
You will have a culinary blast 🤩✨!!
Utterly fascinating, thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Our local izakaya/sushi/April's tea House does not serve the added dish(maybe I need to order sake?) but they do cater to college students. It's a very nice atmosphere to go to after a long day of work and school, to relax and try some new food.
That sounds like a izakaya loved by locals 🥹🥹🥹
Even if you don’t drink, can you still enjoy otoshi and Izekayas?
They’ll all have non-alcoholic drinks too, and I think most izakayas give you an otoshi anyway (and charge you for it) ☺️
@kyotako1372 How many places have non alcohol, caffeine free, and sugar free drinks? Even if it's diet 7-up etc, will I have a problem finding somewhere to drink and eat?
Love your videos❤
I was about to ask this, too. I don’t drink alcohol, but I’ll drink green tea all day long!
I don't think they have coffee. Most places I have seen have some sort of cold tea (usually uulong Cha), water, sometimes non alcohol beer and soft drinks. It's a night time attraction, it's menu not like a cafe. they mostly serve fish, alcohol, and side items. It really depends on the izakaya. In Japan nobody forces people to drink, go any izakaya you like and order food. @@pandarush.
Just ask for water, you will be all set to go
Kyota Koさん、このビデオをありがとう！
喜んでいただけてよかったです☺️✨✨
Absolutely 100% valid. Though one thing I will mention is that there are some Izakayas that are known to scam both locals and tourists by giving them otoshi that are 2000-3000 yen when usually they're about 500-1000 yen. This is especially common in tourist trap areas.
Feel free to correct me, however, this is just hearsay from other's videos and I dont know if this is technically true, since I have yet to go to Japan myself.
I haven’t run into those kinds of places, fortunately 😫!
@kyotako1372 I've also heard in places like Kabuki-cho that there are people specifically hired to lure people in to have a few drinks, under the impression that it's super cheap, however, they've been lied to and to avoid a big scene, they're forced to pay a hefty bill. Or worse, they'll get them so drunk that they'll follow them to an ATM to get them to pull out and spend their life savings. It's absolutely awful.
Great video, I appreciate the chance to understand how the tradition developed :)
I wonder if it might be possible to create a genre of Isekai Izakaya, where visitors from other realities find themselves in friendly Japanese Izakaya that serve tasty and unusual foods with good sake ;)
Great it was fun to watch. Can you please make a video about the recommendation system for the isakayas!? I don't know if it's still in place but it was around the XIX century.
Love this!
Really interesting.Thank you.
Thank you for watching it ☺️✨✨!
へっ、ウチの出身は、そないな慣習もありますが、一般的に無料ですわ。面白かった動画やって、かなり勉強になって、ありがとうございます！
おお無料なんですね！有料なところではもはや席料化してるんですかね〜
I hope longer vids are more common in the times to come 😏
I have spoken to you on linked in. Happy to see your channel grow
I like this. Thank you
Yo Bro.. Black Label, You just got the whole of south africa loving you mate,
Back in 2001 as a teen I went to Japan to go up Mt. Fuji with my father. While we were in Osaka we found a restaurant sort of based on this concept of Otōshi . . . maybe? Basically, you didn't order ANY food at all - the "menu" was just the list of food they served so long as you said you wanted food - you only ordered drinks. (They also asked you where you were from and put out a flag of your country at your table.) I don't know if that was just a unique restaurant or not, but the idea there seems like a kind of variation of Otōshi?
Very interesting place 😆! I guess that follows an even more traditional style of an Izakaya where drinks are the centerpiece ☺️✨
I’m curious as to how you attained such a natural and fluent tone and speaking style in English? I don’t think, based on your accent, that it’s your first language, and yet, the intonation and timing is perfect.
It’s not my first language. I was a teacher before and I made myself speak like the teacher I always wanted ☺️✨
@kyotako1372 Wow! You speak so fluently that I did think it was your first language! I love your videos. You have such a wonderful way of speaking with great humor while being very informative 😊
@@kyotako1372 凄いだぞ！
@@kyotako1372
You succeeded!
@@done.6191 🥹🥹🥹
Woah cool i didnt kno u were on RUclips (from insta 💪)
Nice video. What kinds of places are you goin to that give shrimp? Around me they tack on about ￥300 and I get some bean sprouts with sesame seeds or something. I don't mind that at all.
Cool. Never heard of this.
I don't know the story of it, but I know in the land of Delia, otoshi is called *"pasapalo".*
"Pasa" comes from the verb "pasar" meaning "go through", stating the purpose of the _pasapalo_ which is making the Palo go down easier.
Now you won't find "Palo" as a translation for drink. Palo's translation is actually "stick", or more precisely to the case, "log". Palo is a part of an augmentative: when you say something is a "Palo de _" (a log of _) means it's the biggest/meanest version of it. Popular examples include "Palo de hombre" (a log of a man) used to describe what the internet today calls a giga Chad. A "Palo de agua" (a log of water) is a rainstorm that makes you feel you should grow gills, just in case.
So what does any of these have to do with drinks? Well, when the alcohol is strong, people calls it a Palo de Ron or a Palo de Whisky. Wine and beer were initially considered too meek to enter this category, but eventually Palo became synonymous with just an alcoholic beverage.
Some people's trying to make a Palo de Red Bull happen, but let's just hope that they don't succeed.
So the food that helped people chase down the Palos became known as pasapalos. They range from very simple like salted peanuts, to pretentious shef stuff, to the national favorite/treasure: _tequeños._
So, if by no fault of your own, you find yourself in Venezuela and want some otoshi to go with whatever you're drinking, make sure to ask for pasapalos, preferably tequeños. Make sure you ask the traditional cheese ones, because shefs have gotten to them and now they're some filled with fruit or Nutella that are absolutely inappropriate to keep your drink company.
Pasapalos, por favor 😆✨!
@@kyotako1372 tequeños are sticks of hard cheese, going anywhere from 5 to 30 centimeters (in which case it's called a tequeñón, but that's not a pasapalo, that's breakfast) so a stick of hard cheese wrapped helicoidally with a non-leavening wheat dough. They're traditionally deep fried, in which case they become puffy and nice, but they're good on the air fryer too.
Sapporo black is my favoritetoo, but so hard to find in America
Vamos, una tapa de toda la vida 😂
良く習いましたね！
たくさん本を読みました☺️
@@kyotako1372
私はね、ちゃんと本を読んだことまだないわ、日本語での何かいい本お勧めは聞いてもいいかしら？
I actually haven't ever read a book in Japanese. Do you have any recommendations?
I don’t understand why people get so hung up on this. The selected food is usually very good and it’s cool that it’s unique to the establishment
What I find weird is for them to bill it separately, like for korean bancham (which is basically the same thing), they never “charge” you for it, but obviously it is not free and we expect it to be included into the overall price of the rest of the dishes.
🇯🇵お通し🍶🍜
🇪🇦Tapa🍺🌮
I learned today that otoshi is basically the same as tapas 🤩✨
Indeed, plus some places, mostly in the south of Spain, they'll serve a few tapas, for free, with the drinks you order. Usually, you don't expect to be charged for something you haven't ordered.
@@Multitules in Kobe we got a お通し,for the spanish only通しis OK😁(but pay the siesta)
Bancham
Thanks for a wonderful video. I presumed at the beginning of the video that the otoshi would be part of the culture almost like paying a cover charge at a bar. I certainly have no problem spending what it takes to have a good time in Japan while fitting in. I’m aware of the fact, for instance, that as a tourist I am part of a heavy impact that Japan is feeling right now.
I’ve been asking around some of the people I watch, what do I do if I don’t drink? Actually I shouldn’t drink with the medication I’m taking. And my friend can’t have gluten and not too many carbs. I’m wondering when we come to Japan how we can experience the culture and also accommodate our medical needs.
I’m actually f hoping for my friends sake that we can find meals that are full of good seafood and meat and vegetables… he loves seafood! I think he will like that part of Japan.
I like that some Izakayas have expanded their non-alcoholic beverage menu to have a variety of fun mocktales☺️✨!
This is great! I'm still intimdated by Ramen shops though. Especially those that only accept cash. 😅 maybe ill muster up the courage when I visit again.
Right, unfamiliar small ramen shops give you the scare 😫😆!
@@kyotako1372 not exactly. I was not confident in my Japanese and I assumed they would be more strict to foreigners "(We only take Japanese Yen ergo less patient towards a bumbling American who knows little Japanese)"
Ichiran would be perfect for you if you feel intimidated by ramen shops. It's best for those who do not want to interact with others during the process. You would fill out a sheet, pass it to the server behind the curtain, they'll hand you your ramen without a word, and then you would eat, pay and leave.
I was not aware those exist! Thank you!!@@TheAverageOhtaku
@@TheAverageOhtakudo you have a particular shop you'd recommend?
Thats cute actually, it shows respect imo
At 21 years old I left Australia for japan. 1991.About six months in I walked into a tiny Ma and pa izakaya in Nishi Shinjuku and just like in the movies the music stopped and room fell silent except of course for the collective exclamation ,”Oh. Gaijin da!”
There were two construction workers, three alcoholic pensioners , two salarymen , one OL ,two chimpira and one closeted gay guy and not one of them wanted me there until they heard me speak . I learned all my Japanese from women, train station announcements and Takeshi Kitano films so I must’ve sounded like a dyslexic gay robot hitman. That night we became family and I never ate at another izakaya again.
What a story 🥹🥹🥹✨✨
@@kyotako1372 sensei reply shite kurette arigatougozaimasu. Boku wa Kame to moushimasu (Cameron).Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu .Sensei no koto honto ni sonkei shite orimasu. Kotoba to etymology mo koi ni ochito zo! Nakama narou Ze !
So, should I compare Otoshi to something like Amuse-bouche? Difference is of course Otoshi is basically a cover charge, while Amuse Bouche is free (but expect you to pay a lot for the full course)
It’s not so strange- I’m old enough to remember when pubs had little bowls of salty ‘bar snacks’ on the bar, especially on Sundays. Usually peanuts or cubes of cheese in my local. Then someone tested some and proved that after a few pints people weren’t always washing their hands…
I think I can add 1 more thing: if you go to cheap izakaya (chain izakayas like hanbee) they literally give you chopped cabbage or cheap donki snacks that literally worth 50 yen 😂😂 So it's better to think of it as table money rather than snack money. Cuz even cheap places usually charge around 750~1000 yen.
Yeah the otoshi at cheap izakayas are not my fav 😫😆
懐かしいな~~~
Thank you!
I so enjoy your videos! But a question - I cannot drink alcohol (sad but true). Can I still eat in an izakaya or is there no point? Thank you for the kindness of your reply, sensei.
Kyota-sensei should react to Namikibashi's video "the japanese tradition - utage" because it involves izakaya. That video is hilarious 😅😅😅
Thank you, I’ll check it out 😂
interesting. i always thought the otooshi is something like "service" so free of charge.
but at the very minimum i'd probably be like "anoo, kyou no otoushi wa nan desshou ka?"
thank you
☺️☺️✨✨
generally, i don't know why people would think it's a scam.
because they got the food, it's not like the otoushi appears on your receit without you eating anything. so if you get something you didn't get served and you don't like to eat it, you can voice your concerns.
i wouldn't even perceive it as particularily quirky, like in an italian or greek restaurant i also get served bread for example, or little panini, that even ARE free of charge because... it's bread. it's cheap so who cares 😆
but of course those otoushi are more than just wheat flour to stuff your tummy, so of course they'd charge for them
If you really enjoy the otoshi, can you order more and will it usually be the same price as the otoshi?
Honestly I'd just tell the server/ waitor/ waitress " I apologise for the inconvenience, but I have food allergies to ( X, Y and Z example) foods. Please don't serve me any of those foods." and just enjoy the meal.