Parties/Speeches

To many Westerners the Japanese may have the reputation of being stoic, almost Spartan in their cultural outlook. It is true that on the street, subway or other public places the average Nihonjin keeps to himself. But peel back the aloof public veneer and you meet a group which is deeply social, enjoys laughing, eating, drinking, and singing. In this setting no one is more fun to be with. There are events in hotels where everyone sits at tables and enjoys a meal which are more staid affairs. But the ones I’m talking about are at a restaurant or izakaya (family restaurant/pub) where everyone takes off their shoes and sits on the floor at long tables. In addition to abundant laughter, food and drink each gathering includes speeches. If there are dignitaries present the speeches may be limited to them. Each will be enthusiastically applauded. But if it is “just us” then EVERYONE makes a speech. This may be 60 people or more! In this scenario the speech may just be a line or so but each is greeted with wild cheering and clapping. This can take some time but hey, who’s in a hurry? The evening concludes with a traditional farewell cheer which sends everyone out into the night in fine spirits.