Photo= One scene from a video introducing "Izakaya" to foreigners visiting Japan

As the number of foreign visitors is increasing, Kyoto sightseeing information website "DigiStyle Kyoto" has begun releasing videos introducing Japanese culture in English so they can enjoy their stay in Japan more.

This website is managed by a printing company in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto and carries information on events, meals and accommodations. They titled their videos "Movie Life Kyoto" and selected "Japanese Sake and Shochu culture" as the first theme.

Against the backdrop of the Japanese cuisine boom, the video is set in an "Izakaya," or Japanese pub, a subject of high interest among foreigners. It succinctly introduces how Japanese people enjoy "Izakaya" in a 76-second-long video subtitled in Japanese. It reveals "Izakaya" as a wonderland of Japanese cuisine such as sushi, tempura, sweets and other dishes. It shows a usual custom of Japanese salaried workers wiping their faces with "Oshibori," or wet towels served to customers when they enter restaurants. However, the movie also humorously points out that they will cause offense if they do this at official occasions or when entertaining for business.

Additionally, six other videos can be viewed titled "Kanpai," "Otoshi," "Edamame," "Atsukan," "Waribashi," and "Honkaku Shochu," or cheers, appetizers, edamame beans, hot sake, chopsticks and shochu alcohol. Recommended restaurants for foreigners are shown on a map. In the future, they will also produce a video explaining how to enjoy Japanese Sake.