"Izakaya" is...
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| “Aka chochin (red lantern) ” |
The “Izakaya” is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. You can suppose it’s a kind of tavern, like a bar, a snack bar and so on.
Because of the decorations of its exterior, “Izakaya” is sometimes called “Aka chochin (red lantern) ” or “Nawa Noren (Shop curtain made of the ropes)” in daily conversation.
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| “Nawa Noren (Shop curtain made of the ropes)” |
The “Izakaya” had its beginnings in 1700’s. The liquir shop selling by weight “TOSHIMA-YA” begins serving not only alchohols but also foods accompany the drinks, and allowing customers to sit at the premises to drink and eat. (For your information, that food is grilled tofu with miso.)
The name "Izakaya" is a compound word consisting of "I" (”居” in Chinese character, means “to sit” ) and "sakaya" (“酒屋” in Chinese character, means “sake shop” ), showing such origin of “Izakaya”.
始まりは1700年代。量り売りの酒屋「豊島屋」が、料理も売るようになったのが、居酒屋の始まりと言われている。（ちなみにその料理は豆腐に味噌を塗って焼いた物）
「い」は「居」、「ざかや」は「酒屋」。つまり、居酒屋は「酒屋に居続ける」という意味です。
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| "Niuriya" serving alchohols and stew |
The “Izakaya” was very easy and comfortable, so it functioned as a social meeting place in the region. In Edo at that time, there were a lot of bachelors because the sex ratio was extremely biased. They went to “Izakaya” quite often, it prospered very much. (Loneliness of bachelorhood's doesn't change for 300 years;) )
当時の江戸は男女比率が極端に偏っており、一人暮らしの男性が多かったため非常に繁盛した。
（独り身の寂しさは300年前から変わらないんですね）
Until about twenty years ago, “Izakaya” had been held an image that it is the noisy and unclean place where the labourer and businessman turn into drunks with sake. However, in recent years, by making the interiors clean and beautiful and serving the cocktails and wine for women, the “Izakaya” that the female group or families can also readily use has increased.
Of course, an old-fashioned “Izakaya” remains now through it decreased. Especially the area called “ga-do shita (under a railroad ) ” is still lively with many old-fashioned “Izakaya”.
近年でも、20年前までは肉体労働者やサラリーマンが日本酒を飲むところ、というイメージがあった。だが最近では、女性向けのカクテルやワインを扱い、内装やインテリアも綺麗にすることで、女性グループや家族連れも気軽に利用出来る店が多くなっている。
なお、昔ながらの居酒屋は少なくはなったものの現在も残っており、特に新橋の「ガード下」と呼ばれる地域では活気がある。
Though there are a variety of kinds of “Izakaya” It is the following three kinds now when dividing it roughly .
- “Taishu Izakaya”
Original and traditional style of “Izakaya”. The beer, the shochu or sake is the main of drinks. There are not so many kinds of the dish. As for the age group of the customers, it is high, and there overwhelmingly a lot of men.
・大衆居酒屋
昔ながらの居酒屋。ビールと焼酎または日本酒がメイン。メニューもそれほど多くない。年齢層は高く、男性が圧倒的に多い。
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| Counter of Taishu Izakaya |
- “Concept Izakaya“
Like an amusement park, the shop is made along the theme of the world of a fairly tale, jail-house, alice in wonderland, Arabian Nights, and so on. The dish is different according to the theme. Roughly, almost of deshes are for women.
・コンセプト居酒屋
アミューズメントパークのような居酒屋。童話の世界等のテーマに沿った店作りがされている。日本の童話、ふしぎの国のアリス、監獄、アラビア、他。店のイメージによって供される料理が異なる。概ね、女性向けのカクテルが多い。
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| "Arabian Night" interior. The theme of Arabian Nights Entertainments. |
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| "Alcatraz E.R." interior. The theme of jail-house in Alcatraz Island. |
- “Geki-yasu Izakaya”
They serves drinks and dishes by the super-discount price. Any dish cost you about 3 to 4 dollars. The food is not usually more substantial than that offered in other types of Izakaya. It is popular at a young age.
・激安居酒屋
とにかく安い居酒屋。1品が３～４＄程。ちょっと料理の質は落ちる。内装やインテリアは普通。
ビールや焼酎がメインで、ドリンクも通常よりかなり安い。若い年代に人気がある。
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| "Gekiyasu Izakaya"interior. It's almost same as "Taishu Izakaya". |
You can get everything to drink and food if you want. Beer, Sake and Shochu, Wine, fruit liquir, whisky, bourbon etc. To say nothing of Japanese food, Italian, Chinese, French, German, Russian etc.
When you com to Japan, I strongly recommend you to experience the “Izakaya” that can enjoy the food culture of all over the world by all means.
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