Job Discussion Forums

[fox1]

so, yeah, well, OK, this is weird. I can live with it. I really have few to no clothes to wear!

If I go to a club or an izakaya or bar with my work clothes on (pants and shirt.. with tie maybe on or off).. is that gonna attract lots of weird looks, or is it pretty normal!

Thanks for your advice, cool people!

[Chris21]

Not at a bar or izakaya... I'd say work clothes is pretty normal. But you will look out-of-place if you go to a club. People at clubs in the big cities tend to wear much trendier clothes than the typical "Aoyama shirt-pants combo" worn by most English teachers.

[TK4Lakers]

You can really wear what you want to Izakayas.

As for clubs, most of them don't really have strict dress codes. No sandals is the only thing I've come across. I've seen a few people wear their business clothes/suits, but just to remind you it gets really hot inside!

[NorthofAmerica]

Dude, are you white? Then you'll look cool. Also, have you seen the Japanese dance? Why even worry about looking "lame"?

[Chris21]

NorthofAmerica, you sound like a foreigner who has just arrived, thinks he's the star attraction, but is really just a pathetic charicature. Have you seen the Mr. Charisma cartoons? I suspect you'll be able to relate.

Being white doesn't make you cool in the good clubs. In fact, I've found a lot of the hipper Japanese have grown tired of uncool white dudes trying to pass themselves off as cool. And some of the best dancers I've ever seen have been in Japanese clubs.

You sound like a Sam & Dave's guy... where the white guys are automatically cool, the dancing is bad, and Mr. Charismas are plentiful. Thankfully, Sam & Dave's is only a tiny spec on the Japanese club scene.

[TK4Lakers]

North,

If I wanted to judge you based on your post.....well, I will go ahead and do so.

You're probably one of those foreigners who thinks he rules this country and can do whatever they want. Be loud and obnoxious, make your own rules, try to get with every Japanese women.

Its people like you who give foreigners a bad name in this beautiful country. By the way, a lot of clubs nowadays don't even let foreigners in....so have fun in the janky ones.

[luckbox]

Izakaya are great, relaxed places where many workers end up after a hard day's work, so as has been stated, almost anything worn is ok here. There are some high-end exclusive izakaya, but you'll likely not be seeing the inside of them, unless you stumble in by accident, or via a staff enkai (dinner party), and for these, you may consider something a bit more fashionable than track pants and t-shirts. The bigger concern at these higher-end izakaya is your pocket book, bring a pile of cash, but most izakaya are reasonable and cheap.

As for clubs? No clue. Never seen the inside of one in my 4 years in Japan, and don't plan to. In fact, haven't seen the inside of one back in my home country since I was 23 (a loooooong time ago). But, what I can say is that Japanese culture regards appearance very highly. In many social situations, you are what you wear. I suspect the youngsters at clubs have a slightly more deviant dress code, but I'm almost certain that trendy brand names will be setting the standard.

[David W]

[NorthofAmerica]

hahaha, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to jump on me from their high horse. I was obviously being sarcastic but thanks for your input.

T4Lakers: I appreciate that you actually took the time to state that you were going to judge me based on one post. Otherwise, I might have mistaken what you said for a reasoned and considered reply rather than knee jerk nonsense.

Chris21: Do you honestly believe that you appreciate Japan on some higher level and thus are in tune with the "hipper" Japanese; the ones who obviously really really like you and think you're cool? Sounds to me like you're the caricature. The elitist goof who can't stop congratulating himself on how open minded he is.

Honestly, chill out guys.

[Chris21]

Saying that all you need to be cool is to be white was a stupid thing to post on an open forum, and not realizing that "sarcasm" is rarely successfully conveyed in these forums was naive.

Why am I an elitist goof? Because I called you on saying that all white people are cool and Japanese are lame? You should expect a reaction when you post inflammatory stuff like that, especially since you've only been in Japan a week.

[gaijinalways]

hmm, considering what I have seen, a lot of Japanese are not known for great dancing (hint para para). But that aside North's statement did seem a bit contrite.

The clubs here will allow you to wear most things, but business clothes will look just like that, nothing special at all. You might be better off to bring a change of clothes with you in a backpack and leave the work duds in your bag in a locker at the club or at a nearby location.

[Zzonkmiles]

This whole thread strikes me as odd. How long has "fox1" been living here? It's been more than a few months, right?

Anyway, to answer the question, there's no dress code for going to an izakaya. People often wear casual clothes. But because it's common for coworkers to go out drinking after work, you will also often see salarymen wearing their work clothes, although usually without the necktie and their top button undone. But you can get away with wearing a necktie just fine. People simply don't care.

Just be aware that your clothes will probably smell like smoke and grilled meat when you go home.

By the way, being able to read the izakaya menu is a far more pressing issue than figuring out what to wear. Most izakayas have no English translations or romaji anywhere to be found. And in addition to this, many Japanese menus are written in cursive kanji, rather than the easy to read kanji you'll find in a newspaper or on a street sign. However, izakayas are the place to go if you want to get your ear-training up to snuff.

Good luck.

[NorthofAmerica]

The point of my original post was to say "don't worry. People won't think you're lame."

Chris21: You're not an elitist goof for coming to the defense of all the Japanese who I am sure are crying over my single post implying that they're not great dancers. (that was sarcasm too, let me be clear this time) You're an elitist goof for going on the attack by asserting that you are "hip" to what's cool in Japan and looking down your nose at someone else the first chance you got.
I'll agree that my post was insensitive and maybe came across as callous but only if you can agree that this is a stupid fight to get in, even by internet standards. I am sure in real life you have nothing up your ass but you're coming across online as having a real big stick up there.

Again, let's just chill out.

[Chris21]

This certainly is a stupid fight to be in. I hope this hasn't ruined your first week in Japan.