More Year-End Traditions

The end of the year is a busy time for the Japanese. While the Western world is off relaxing on vacation, the Japanese are busy wrapping up the year. December is filled with salesman making their customary and required visits to their customers to thank them for their business during the year. This visit usually involves giving a small gift to the customer, such as a calendar, date book, small planner, and so on. Skipping a customer leaves the customer feeling neglected. The Japanese also spend time cleaning their office and their home as the previous submission discusses.

While all of this busy work is going on, the Japanese find time to fit in the year-end office party. In a large company, this is organized by division or work group. This consists of everyone in the group going to a restaurant for food, drinking, and good old fashioned camaraderie. The party begins by everyone getting a glass of their favorite beverage, and once everyone has one, making some speeches, toasts, and so forth. Then the party begins. It is pretty light hearted and a good opportunity to make jokes and laugh outside the rather serious, ‘nose to the grindstone’ office environment. My office party was last night. The food was great. It would take a very long page to describe it all, so you’ll have to trust me when I say it was great.

Once the meal is done, the Japanese feel the need to change venues and pick up the pace. Thus, everyone gets up and heads out the door to the obligatory 2nd party. No normal Japanese party (wedding, office party, etc.) would be complete without a 2nd party. Basically, this is an excuse to hop from the restaurant to a bar. Usually, this means going to some bar where people can sing karaoke. Unlike in the USA, many people here practice their favorite songs during the year so when they have a chance to sing in front of friends, co-workers and so on, they have an idea of what they are doing. Karaoke is often used as a stress release on the weekend or on the way home. Those that are really into it have 1 or 2 favorite songs that they have practiced dozens of times and know every bar of the song. This is their chance to show their stuff.

If things are going really well, some of the group may head off to a 3rd party. However, since most train lines stop service around midnight, this can get rather expensive as the 3rd party often comes out of the workers’ pockets, and in order to get home late at night, an expensive taxi ride is needed.

It is amazing that everyone shows up in the office on time the next day and puts in a full day’s work.