{"id":1792,"date":"2013-08-24T07:43:24","date_gmt":"2013-08-23T22:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/hangover-helpers\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T20:33:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T11:33:39","slug":"hangover-helpers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/hangover-helpers\/","title":{"rendered":"Hangover Helpers in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every country has its share of hangover remedies, Japan being no exception. In fact, such cures may be extra necessary due to the numerous drinking occasions that happen year-round. From drinks after work to goodbye parties, New Year\u2019s, forget-the-old-year, hanami<\/em>, fall colors, karaoke, birthdays, deaths\u2026 Just thinking about it all is enough to bring on a hangover. There always seems to be a good reason to drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you overindulge, here are some methods for getting on with your day with as little unpleasantness as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Day of Drinking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step is to avoid a hangover entirely through preventatives on the day of drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukon no Chikara<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ukon no Chikara is the quintessential anti-hangover remedy, religiously purchased by professionals (host and hostess club workers, bar owners, etc.) and non-professionals alike, almost as if it were some kind of ritual of protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukon<\/em> is Japanese for turmeric, which gives the beverage its distinctive flavor and orange coloring. \u201cDrink this before you go out drinking, and wake up feeling fine\u201d is the mantra. Don\u2019t try this product after you have already been drinking, as it tends to end in orange vomit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water and Painkillers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should also drink as much water as possible before going to bed. Be careful with painkillers: never take acetaminophen products like Tylenol or Excedrin after drinking, as they are hard on your liver, and your liver is already very unhappy. Aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate your stomach when mixed with alcohol, so ask a pharmacist first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Day After Drinking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Say it\u2019s too late for ukon<\/em>, you forgot to drink water before bed, you were out of aspirin, and that last 8% chu-hai<\/em> tallboy was a bad idea. On top of that, you have to be at work in 30 minutes and need to get yourself together quick. What to do? Avoid the temptation to drink coffee: you are already dehydrated, and coffee is a diuretic. Instead, try these classic Japanese hangover cures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soup<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Miso soup and rice is a classic hangover breakfast in Japan, and the traditional morning-after version is shijimi-jiru<\/em>, miso soup with tiny freshwater clams. The clams contain ornithine, an amino acid often promoted for liver health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hangover Tonics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In any convenience store, you\u2019ll find a variety of tonics to get you back on your feet. Tried and tested by an army of salarymen, these products rock. In Japan, products get introduced and retired regularly, but the following were available in convenience stores and drugstores at the time of writing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n