Welcome to Episode 12 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

In this episode, Saki shares another classic mishap from her foreign intern: at his first izakaya visit, the staff brought a small dish to his table without him ordering anything — and at checkout, he was charged 500 yen for it! "Why do I have to pay for food I didn't order?!" he panicked.

Haruka breaks down one of Japan's most confusing dining customs for foreigners: 「お通し」(otoshi). You'll learn the 3 real reasons why otoshi exists, why it's actually a "seat charge" similar to Italian coperto, and how Japan's "automatic service" culture (water, oshibori, otoshi) reflects the deep philosophy of omotenashi.

Master this and you'll never feel cheated at a Japanese izakaya again — you'll appreciate it.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・お通し (おとおし) - A small appetizer automatically served upon being seated at an izakaya. Brought without being ordered, typically costing 300-600 yen. Also called 「突き出し」(tsukidashi) in some regions. It essentially functions as a seat charge while also serving as a showcase of the chef's craft and the restaurant's character.

・席料 (せきりょう) - A charge for occupying a seat at an establishment. Equivalent to "seat charge" or "cover charge" in English. In Japanese izakayas, this is commonly collected indirectly via otoshi. A similar system exists in European restaurants under the name "coperto".

・自動的 (じどうてき) - Happening or operating without human intervention; "automatic." Japanese service culture features many "automatically provided" items — water, oshibori (wet towels), and otoshi being prime examples. This automatic provision of comfort items is considered a hallmark of omotenashi (Japanese hospitality).

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