In Japan, although times are changing, generally most people work for the same company for the whole of their career. People who change companies are frowned upon. The term for most workers in Japan is "Salary Men". The unofficial uniform for salarymen is suite and tie; briefcase with no laptop, but probably holding a change of clothes for the capsule hotel.
From what I can work out, the salarymen spend their whole evenings out eating and drinking with their co-workers.
I have read that in Japan, again, although times are changing, generally women work until they have children, they earn a lower wage and are given less important responsibilities. When women leave employment to have children, they manage the home, the money and everything else. Apparently from what I have read the twist is that while the men spend all their spare money on booze and food, the women save up their smaller wages and then go travelling abroad, where they learn more about different cultures and languages.
If you walk down the street in the evening in Japan, there are men in suites everywhere, obviously having drunk a fair amount. When they all head home for the evening, they spend a good ten minutes bowing to each other.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaryman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_lady
http://www.mikesblender.com/drunk%20salaryman.jpg
http://www.agencymh.cz/en/report_view.asp?reportazid=36
