Japanese Nomikai

A month ago, since there have been changes in our company, it has been relaunched. After a 2-hour reintroduction of the top management, partners and investors, we had our nomikai, or simply a toast for the new beginning.

As a Filipino, we have this notion about company parties that it should overflow with food. Here in Japan, its not. There is food but not that much unlike in the Philippines. The entire room was filled with all of the Engineers and Systems teams and the management. Food was placed at the center of the room along with beer and red and white wine. Observing how the Japanese do ceremonies such as this surprised me a bit. Before anything else, there is this usual speech with some of the most important people in the top management and the ceremonial toast. Also, it is expected that women serve the men and/or kohais (the newly employed) should serve the senpais (the older ones). But I didn't care serving the senpais. It felt like I didn't really fit in to their culture. I feel alienated by it. After all, I am an alien. Also




So what is in the menu? Well, sandwiches, karage (fried chicken), tori yakiniku (chicken barbeque), siomai, all sorts of makkis, temakkis and other makki-like stuffs which I didn't knew the name, cakes, brownies, sashimi, ika (squid), and the not so overflowing Asahi beer and red and white wine. I love being served and as everybody does. Some shinjins (new employees) and even old ones served me beer on my glass. But Red Horse and San Miguel is still stronger. I gulped around 2 bottles of Asahi beer and it felt like I am just a little bit drunk.



But it was fun though. Seeing the eagerness of some Japanese to meet an alien up close who can only speak a little and even wrong Japanese maybe freaks them out. I can sense that there is this willingness on their part to learn English but there is no room for opportunity for me to teach here in the company. Maybe I guess it is a way for me to keep my sanity back. Well, don't worry, I am still sane and my sanity is still intact. That is why I blog.

Well, to sum it up. I just gulped a lot of food because it is free (maybe like any Filipino does in parties), and the fact that food here in Tokyo is very expensive. So I devoured a lot of chicken barbeque and drank a lot of beer. It was fun and an overwhelming experience.