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Tokyo Weekender
19-06-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
‘What Do You Mean It's Not Free?' The Otoshi Trap Confusing Tokyo's Tourists
Japan's tourism boom is breaking records — and testing a few tempers. Some visitors are discovering otoshi , the surprise ¥300 appetizer they never ordered, and they're not happy about it. Quietly placed on the table at izakayas — then added to the bill — this small dish has become a recurring source of confusion, frustration and online outrage. Case in point: A recent incident at a Tokyo izakaya saw a group of six tourists erupt over a ¥3600 charge for otoshi dishes they assumed were complimentary. In fact, they were ¥300 apiece, and the cost doubled after they ordered a second round. 'No! No! Crazy!' they shouted, gesturing in disbelief as staff scrambled for translation apps. Eventually, the manager intervened. Peace was restored. But the internet took note. In English-speaking travel forums, otoshi is often labeled a 'compulsory appetizer' or 'Japan's sneaky cover charge.' But these kinds of monikers miss something important: Unlike a Western-style cover, otoshi comes with actual food. And if you're coming from a country where tipping 15 to 20 percent is standard, you're still saving money. List of Contents: Where Did Otoshi Come From? Culture Clash in a Small Dish Related Posts Where Did Otoshi Come From? To understand otoshi, you have to understand what an izakaya is — and was. These casual pubs trace their roots to the Edo period, when sake sellers began letting customers linger and drink on-site. The term izakaya literally comes from ' i ' (to stay) and ' sakaya ' (sake shop). These early drinking spots were informal, standing-room-only places where regulars sipped cheap sake and snacked on whatever the shop had on hand. As the izakaya evolved into sit-down establishments with broader menus and longer hours, the otoshi developed as a way to manage service flow and secure a basic income. As tipping is considered awkward or even rude in Japan, a small appetizer served automatically became a built-in way to compensate for seating, service and prep. Otoshi also serves a practical role. The word comes from the verb tosu , which means 'to let through' or 'to pass along.' In izakaya lingo, this refers to either the act of showing guests to their table or passing their first drink order to the kitchen — with a small appetizer offered to 'pass the time' while the food catches up. Originally, it functioned as a kind of signal: Once the otoshi was placed, staff knew the customer had officially ordered. Over time, it also became a de facto table charge — a stand-in for tipping or a service fee in a country where those customs don't exist. Unlike Korea's free-flowing banchan or Spain's gratis tapas, otoshi comes with a price tag. That alone, for some tourists, crosses the line between charming custom and sneaky upcharge. Culture Clash in a Small Dish The problem isn't the charge. It's the lack of context. Most izakayas don't explain it unless asked, and there's rarely signage. And for foreign visitors unfamiliar with Japanese dining etiquette, it can feel like a bait-and-switch. Some shops in Tokyo's Golden Gai have started removing otoshi entirely for foreign guests, raising drink prices slightly instead — only to get hit with new complaints about the 'foreigner markup.' Others are leaning into clarity, framing otoshi as a cover charge or table fee. Technically accurate, and far more palatable. 'Cover charge' is a concept most tourists understand: You pay to sit, and you get a snack. Simple. In the end, the otoshi debacle may say more about global dining expectations than about Japan. In countries where tipping is expected but often arbitrary, otoshi is arguably the more honest system: a flat, low-cost, edible cover. But when it's unexplained — and unfamiliar — it becomes a lightning rod for cultural friction. Related Posts Izakaya Owner Defends 'Japanese Language Only' Policy Rethinking Japan's Tourism Policy Foreign Visitors Continue To Flock to Japan in Record Numbers
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Fox Nation unravels the mystery of Babe Ruth's 'called shot' in new special
Babe Ruth has been an integral figure in American sports lore for over one hundred years. With that fame comes a long list of iconic moments from his career. From winning the American League MVP in 1923 to winning seven World Series titles with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Ruth is still regarded today as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. But one moment in his career remains shrouded in mystery and controversy — despite its long staying power in baseball and American culture. 'THE TIDES THAT BIND': ALABAMA COACH KALEN DEBOER OFFERS INSIDE ACCESS TO DEBUT SEASONThe new documentary episodic event streaming on Fox Nation, "Did Babe Ruth Call His Shot?," analyzes whether Ruth really predicted his own home run in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. As legend has it, Ruth pointed to center field during an at-bat in the fifth inning of the game. He then unleashed a home run deep into the depths of Wrigley Field, cementing his legacy in one of the most important games of that season. Ruth "calling his shot" has never been fully proven almost one hundred years later, but baseball expert and host of "Stonehenge: Built by Giants" Mike O'Hara traveled across the country to get more answers in the new Fox Nation special. Along his travels, O'Hara interviewed many former players, fans, and historians to get closer to the truth about one of baseball's oldest and most captivating mysteries. During an appearance on "The Will Cain Show' podcast, Tuesday, former Yankees starting pitcher David Wells discussed being featured in "Did Babe Ruth Call His Shot?" "In the series, you'll see different things than him, you know, chirping like I just said," Wells explained. He later added, "He [Ruth] put his bat out there. He's holding it out there, right? And so, that's proof enough for me. It really is." To learn more about Babe Ruth's "called shot," subscribe to Fox Nation to watch now. Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite Fox Nation personalities.
Fox News
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
David Wells: Babe Ruth Did Call His Shot, No Question About It
Three-time MLB All-Star and two-time World Series champion David Wells joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to talk about the new Fox Nation documentary he's featured in titled, 'Did Babe Ruth Call His Shot?'. 'You know, talking from people, you know baseball people over the years, you got mixed emotions on it. I just everything I've watched and read and seen, you know he called that damn shot no question about it and I'm sticking to my guns on that because he's the only guy back then that basically could have done that. Because obviously he spoke his mind, kind of like me. I learned from the Babe. Trust me. I really learned from him, you know, years later, but I learned from him and, and you know what, and if it's legit and the stuff that I've done is legit, his is definitely legit.' David also explains to Jimmy why he decided to start to speak up about political topics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the podcast to hear their full conversation!
Fox News
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Mike O'Hara Explores An Infamous Moment In Baseball History On A New Fox Nation Special
Sportswriter Mike O'Hara joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to shed light on some of things he learned while conducting interviews for the new Fox Nation special, 'Did Babe Ruth Call His Shot?'. 'It was kind of a mixed bag like there were people that you would think would be die-hard in the Cubs' backyard that were like yeah, no, I saw him do it. And then you know, there are people that kind of you know He really wasn't pointing at the bleachers per se. He might have been pointing at a pitcher or the Cubs' dugout. But I mean everybody kind of had their take and the thing is that the story kind of got Paul Bunyan'd, I mean like, over the course of time. It's like not only did he point but he pointed to the exact row the exact seat and says it's coming duck. You know and it's amazing to see like how a fish story over the course of, you know, the American pastime can balloon into all the stuff that they say happened. And the poor guy, Charlie Root, who pitched the ball, you know, went to his grave saying, I'm famous for something that didn't happen.' To hear their full discussion, check out the podcast!
