Chapter 36: CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Reads: 367
Comments: 1

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

"John, just what the hell are we doing partying like this for? I mean, you told me you needed me to come down and teach two afternoon classes for you. But when I got to the school entrance, it was closed and I read that note you left me on the door telling me to come here. Hey man, what gives?"

John grinned. "Thought I'd surprise you. We're having our annual bonenkai -- you know, the 'forget-the-year' party. We're supposed to forget everything -- all the good, the bad, the whatever of this year and just look forward to the coming year. We had one last year, too, remember?"

I thought a moment. "I remember we had a party about this time, yeah. I thought it was a New Year's Eve party of some sort. But I didn't remember it came in the afternoon. Or that it was a . . . what did you call it? A 'bonenkai?'"

"That's right. And last year we had it after the school day was finished. But I found that many teachers who didn't have any afternoon classes that day found it a drag to wait around until evening. So this year I decided to try decided to try it after morning classes were over instead. It looks to me like the others are enjoying it more this way, too. Oh, and by the way, I'll be paying you for those two classes, too. Think you can handle that?"

"Well, I guess I can . . . if I try really hard!"

"Ha, ha, great! Then why don't you get another draft beer or something stronger or whatever you want while I make my rounds to talk to the others. And don't worry about the tab this time. I'm putting the whole thing down as a 'legitimate company expense.' See you later. And enjoy yourself, man!"

I laughed. "I'm certainly going to try doing that, too!"

I went to get a drink and decided I'd stick to beer. I'd learned the hard way that if I drank something even as weak as sake rice wine, after a couple of sips I'd forget that it was still much higher in alcoholic content and start guzzling it down like beer. With many undesirable consequences. Getting a beer, I started making my own rounds, meeting many teachers I hadn't seen since I started teaching at my college.

"Hey John, this bonenkai thing is turning out to be a real blast! I mean, not only is the beer great here, but I've been catching up on the latest from the teachers I haven't seen since I started teaching at my college."

"It is for us, yeah. But not so for most Japanese businessmen at their companies' bonenkai. And even worse for their 'Office Ladies.'"

"Huh? Well, why the hell not?"

"Because we're Americans and like to be all buddy-buddy with each other, especially at parties. And also this is a language school where almost everybody is a teacher. So there's practically no ranking between us."

"Well, yeah. But aren't the Japanese the same way? I mean it's a party for them to enjoy themselves, isn't it? Not for working in the office. Can't they just relax and have a good time, too?"

John shook his head. "No way, man. From the time they're born to the time they die, every Japanese has his or her niche in society's pecking order. And unless they're your very close friends -- who are almost always the same age -- everyone else is either your sempai above you or your kohai below you in your niche in society and you have to act accordingly. That goes quadruple in your place of work -- especially in an office."

"But I still don't understand why that should matter if their having a party to just forget all the bad and good of the year that's ending."

"Because after the party they're still going to have to go back to the office with exactly those same rankings. And only those above you decide whether your going to get promoted or not. So as a result, most younger businessmen have to be very careful about how much they drink so they won't say something their superiors might not like. Unless they're a section head, well, umm maybe. Or a department head, definitely. Those guys can drink as much as they want or say anything they please. And know that everybody else will have to nod their heads in agreement. Just as they had to do before they got promoted. And laugh at their jokes, no matter how old or stupid. And God help everybody else if he gets his hands on the mike of a karaoke machine. Everybody else has to stop what little conversation they can have with their equals and compliment and applaud their singing. No matter how terrible and off key. Does that sound like fun to you? One of my young businessmen students told me he hates going to the damn things."

"Well, why doesn't he just go home instead?"

"What? And lose his place on the promotion stepladder to somebody else? No way, man!"

"But John, didn't you say that the women have it much worse?"

"Yeah. Those poor 'Office Ladies.' Remember, they're only lowly females here in Japan. Which puts them at the bottom of the bottom of the pecking order. All the men expect them to pour their sake or whatever else they're drinking. That's what lowly females are for, aren't they? And never dream of getting any kind of promotion. 'A female? Getting a promotion? Don't talk nonsense!'"

"Hmm. You know Fumie has said many things along similar lines. That's why she's aiming her college at women. She's hoping to give them the ambition and courage to aim for a more meaningful, lifelong career."

"All I can say is good luck to her. Believe me, she'll need it. She's facing one hell of an uphill battle. Well, time to make the rounds again. See you later, Dave!"

I made my own rounds. And got up to date with more of the teachers.

"Are you going to the nijikai, Dave?"

"And just what's a 'nijikai', Michelle?"

"You know, the party-after-the-party. Well, are you going, too? We can drink a lot more there."

"A lot more drinking?" I shook my head. "I don't think that would be a good idea for me. I still have to drive my little putt putt from the station in Kyoto back to my apartment. And there's that long commute back to Kyoto before that. I don't want to be jammed in with all those drunken businessmen that take the last train."

"That's a shame. I'll miss you."

"Well, it's been great talking to you again, Michelle. Have a happy New Year."

"Same to you, Dave!"

As the party was beginning to break up, "Dave, I thought I'd better warn you that I'm closing the school starting tomorrow. And won't begin classes until January seventh. So, I definitely won't be needing you until at least then. The Oshogatsu holidays really last that long. And even then there won't be many students who've sobered up enough from their shinnenkai to try to learn English."

"Oh God! And just what the hell is a 'shinnenkai?'"

"A 'new-year' party to celebrate the incoming New Year. Technically their offices start work again on the fourth. But they only 'work' for an hour or so. And then go out and have their parties. With exactly the same rigidity as their bonenkai. You know, I think that hour of work is just so the upper-ups can remind everybody else of their place in the office pecking order. Our school doesn't open until it's too late to be having a shinnenkai. So, Happy New Year, Dave!"

"Same to you, John!"

"Well, little buddy, I think I'm still sober enough to drive us home OK. And I'm damn glad it's still early enough in the evening that the streets shouldn't start freezing up on us . . . I hope.

Beeep!

Submitted: December 06, 2023

Romance romance japan gaijin travel-in-japan japan-1970s

Like
Shelfit

Chapters

T
Prologue
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

Add Your Comments:

Sign in to write a comment

Comments

B Douglas Slack

I can well remember the festivities surrounding the holidays/new year. Most of the time, if you went to every one of the celebrations, you'd be hammered for a couple of weeks.

Just a few suggestions.

Bill

Fri, December 22nd, 2023 3:43pm