Standing-only bars prove hit amid recession

Daily Yomiuri ^ | Aug. 29, 2009 | Takashi Yokomizo / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

[Wardenclyffe]

Tachinomi (standing-only bars) are mushrooming in central Tokyo and attracting customers keen to enjoy reasonably priced food and drinks.

Space is at a premium in the narrow establishments and many customers simply lean against the bar while enjoying their drinks. This manner of drinking is dubbed the "Dark style," after the Dark Ducks, a popular male chorus group that stood side-on to the audience while performing.

"Drinking this way makes optimal use of the available space and allows as many people as possible to enter a small bar," said essayist Rui Yoshida, 60.

According to Yoshida, the current boom can be traced back to 2004, when the number of tachinomi bars in Tokyo had increased to about 600, compared with about 150 that existed in the 1990s.

[Wardenclyffe]

Hmmm..."standing-only" bars, what a novel concept.

[eclecticEel]

Space is at a premium in the narrow establishments and many customers simply lean against the bar while enjoying their drink

I think I've been at any number of bars with pretty much that arrangement.

[ansel12]

In Mexico I have seen old bars where the entire length of the bar was a tiled urinal (below the bar surface itself) so that you could stand at the bar and drink while urinating, or vice versa.

I wished that I had a picture to share but I don’t.

[Wardenclyffe]

Next thing you know, the Japanese will allow horses at the bar also!

[goat granny]

Went to a couple in Manhattan decades ago, with sawdust on the floors and bout 15 feet wide and 30 feet deep with 2 tables and they were packed so tight getting TO the bar to order was an ordeal at certain times of day......

[Plumberman27]

We still have a standing bar in Wexford Pa. It’s the cheapest place to drink and has been for ages. I think they finally let women in the place in the early 70’s and then only if accompanied by their husband. Later it changed to the women folk were only allowed to sit at a the couple of tables in the place. It was a farmers bar and yep it had a spittoon trough and all. One of the nicest places to just go drink, smoke, and swear if you desire.

[flushing_kenny]

I think what the article refers to is the line of small and CHEAP bars that has come back. Standing was always for a real cheap joint for businessmen on the way home to get some skewered meat, mug of beer, or even sushi. There are standing restaurants, well food joints, at Shinjuku station as well.

My recommendation would be the stand bar next to UshiTora, in ShimoKitaZawa, where you can get small production sake and Japan local craft beers.

[Bikkuri]

mushrooming?! They’ve been around longer than I have been here (11+ years)...