Dec 21 2007
Forget the Year
In Japan it is customary to close the past twelve months with an end of the year party: Bounenkai, or literally “forget the year party.” And what better way to forget the year then booze!
Japanese love to party and will shoehorn any significant happening into a drinking event because once the alcohol starts flowing people are free to say what they like because it’s just “drunk talk.” Having this explained to you while you’re drinking seriously hurts the credibility of this argument and some serious suspension of belief is required to believe that your co-workers are only saying these things because they’re whacked out on sauce. It’s a real don’t ask, don’t tell policy. I’m happy that I got to have an on-the-level chat with my bosses so to each his own.
However, the whole concept breaks down when you consider that half of my co-workers don’t drink. Generally things flow as follows:
We go out for a nice dinner with everyone and our Director, who we only see at times like this. Everyone plays his or her roles to a T and once everything is said and done we send the director home with in a taxi with the cutest girl in the office. Nothing dirty happens you filthy dogs; it’s just a service to make him feel better about being 80 years old.
Ironically this is the only girl that drinks, so at this point the other two girls head home and me and the guys go the “Niji kai,” or after-party. This is where things get juicy and they talk about who is the best looking and best worker and most uptight and so on. It’s all very interesting as I rarely have a chance to interact with everyone due to our seating arrangements.
At the end of the night everyone makes a big how-to-do about paying, and whoever wants to look the most important ends up footing the bill (hint: Not me) and we go our separate ways.
Considering that the fiscal and academic year in Japan doesn’t start until April I don’t really get the whole “end of the year” angle but I’ll take it.I’d really like to go out with everyone, but that’s what the New Year party is for.