How to lose your money in Japan

Apr 01, 2008 • Japanese Culture

NOTE: I forgot this earlier…apparently, it is April Fool’s Day, a holiday that I never really did in the US and one that I completely forgot about. To me, April 1st meant, “Oh, shit, there goes another $70 USD” because we had our welcome party today.

I meant to get this up earlier last week except I had no time. By the end of this post, you’ll see what I mean.

April 1st is generally the time when government offices and large companies experience a mass exchange of jobs. These are generally within the same office - for example, an accountant would not suddenly find himself working as an office cleaner. During this time, there are at least 2 obligatory “drinking parties” you have to go to and they all occur within a week of each other. These parties are called the soubetsukai (送別会), or goodbye party, and the kangeikai (歓迎会), or welcome party. Before anyone gets images of salarymen doing kegstands or breaking out into a toga party, these 2 types of drinking parties are quite formalized by US standards and are similar to business banquets…up to a point.

The General Structure

The formalized drinking party generally¹ follows this schedule:

1. Opening speech (3-5 minutes)
   This guy also serves as the MC for the rest of the evening and is responsible for time management
2. Another opening speech (5 minutes)
   This is optional, but still regrettable as it slows down time until eating. Generally given by someone important, like the Big Tuna.²
3. At the soubetsukai, a presentation of thank you gifts to the higher ranking departees (3-5 minutes)
   There is only 1 way to accept these - bow stiffly and look embarrassed.
4. The food is presented or you can begin eating if it’s already on the table
   This continuous eating streak lasts about 15 minutes so shovel fast! Everyone else is….
5. Speeches (10-60 minutes)
   This entirely depends on how many people are leaving or coming…most people put down their chopsticks during each speech and sneak bites during the applause.
6. Finally, we can eat (and drink) unhindered!
   …except that if you’re an underling, female, or a semi-high up, you’re expected to run around pouring drinks for people.³ By the time you’re finished, all the good food is gone and you’re left with sea snails.
7. Closing speech (less than 1 minute)
   The official closing is anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours after you start, depending on size of party and party location.
8. But you can still continue to drink and eat after the closing speech, which really destroys the effect.
   I have never stayed with the guys for this so I actually have no idea when the party exactly ends….

But Wait, That’s Not All!

After the official party is over, many people break off into smaller groups, usually with their real friends, to attend nijikai (二次会), or a second drinking party. These are held in separate locations, usually smaller restaurants and are more for the benefit of men. Occasionally, women will break off into their own nijikai or join a mixed group. These can last all night if everyone wants them to, resulting in a stay in a capsule hotel.

So…How Are You Losing Money?

The soubetsukai, kangeikai, and any subsequent nijikai parties are expensive. A lot of this depends on your location, the amount of people coming, your gender, and your position in the company. As a female, in a small office, in a rural area, and ranked 17 out of 20 in terms of time hired, I end up paying $50 USD-$60 USD per official party. Some of my friends who are in larger cities with larger offices end up paying $80-$100 USD per official party. Factor in nijikai, which depend on how much people continue to eat a drink, and your whole evening can end up costing $90-$130 USD.

If I only lost about $200 USD in this whole mess, it wouldn’t be so bad. However, there is generally more than 1 soubetsukai that you will be invited to. While the official one will generally be the most expensive, the subsequent informal soubetsukai parties can also get pricey (again, depending on location and number of people). You can, in the course of 1 week, end up paying at least $250 USD in goodbyes.⁴ It’s a pity Hallmark cards are not more popular here!

So As I Write This, Penniless….

Although I rant about the economic drain of these obligatory drinking parties, it is a good way to show your support for office and the people you have worked with. To not attend the official soubetsukai and kangekai parties would be unacceptable, short of serious illness or death. ⁵ This was made crystal clear when I came in on Monday and found that I had already been signed up to attend - all I had to do is stamp my approval.

As an after effect of this, I do have some pretty good tofu recipes that I might add soon….

1. I say generally because I only know what I’ve experienced [↩]
2. The boss [↩]
3. The foreigner card trumps all - I’m and underling and female but not expected to pour drinks. It does, however, make people like you a lot if you do this. [↩]
4. This is a conservative estimate this year…I was only invited to 3 soubetsukai parties and no nijikai parties [↩]
5. In a separate instance, 1 person I know attended a separate obligatory party for 3 hours and when it was appropriate, rushed back to the hospital to see his wife who had become very ill that day. [↩]

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