Japanese Drinking Culture : DRINKING = WORKING
Japanese drinking is the same as their daily work. Everyday after work, they must “report back” to the bars. The major decisions of work are never made in office, but the bars and hotels. So, all the bars become a paradise for Japanese men, after work, they never go home without getting drunk enough. Plus I think, Japanese men drinking in this way is to extricate themselves from the pressure of work!
EDIT: dead link.