Kanpai! How to toast in Japan

When to say kanpai, why nobody drinks before it, and the small manners that make you look like a regular.

Kanpai (乾杯) is Japan’s “cheers”. At an izakaya it marks the real start of the evening: nobody touches their drink until the group has toasted together.

Photo coming soonFriends raising beer mugs for a kanpai at an izakaya

The first round is often beer — but any drink works for kanpai.

What kanpai means

Written 乾杯, it literally means “dry cup” — like “bottoms up”. In practice nobody expects you to empty your glass. It just means “cheers”.

The one rule: wait for everyone

Order the first round together. When every person has a drink in front of them, someone raises a glass, everyone says “Kanpai!”, glasses touch, and then you drink.

Taking a sip before the toast is the one thing that’s really seen as rude — even if your drink arrives first. Just wait a minute.

Tip: This is why people order drinks before food, and why “toriaezu biiru” (“beer for now”) is so popular: it’s fast, so the toast can happen sooner.

Do you have to drink alcohol?

No. Tea, oolong tea, juice or a soft drink are all fine for kanpai. Non-drinkers raise their glass like everyone else. (Some people avoid toasting with plain water at celebrations, but no one will mind at a casual izakaya.)

Small manners that go a long way

With colleagues or older people, hold your glass a little lower than theirs when you clink. It’s a sign of respect.
Pour for others, not yourself. When sharing a bottle of beer or sake, fill other people’s glasses and let them fill yours. Hold your glass up a little when someone pours for you.
Toast again whenever you like. New person arrives, good news, the last round — another “kanpai” is always welcome.
Don’t clink too hard. Izakaya glasses and ceramic cups are often thin.

Say it

Back to the full evening: How an izakaya works.