PRACTICE OF DRINKINGWITH BOSS AND COLLEGUES

Sake is magical drink for Japanese.

Shiho

        [Effect of Sake for Japanese]        Sake       – usually means alcohol 

        (rice wine) 

                         Good opportunity to 

                                  express their Honne                                          

 Japanese don’t often                                       express theirtell their Honne.                                                  feeling                                         Sake changes people

Sake ­ Necessary tool for Japanese at drinking party.             (Especially in business situation)Feel and Share Culture 2009

Outline 

 Japanese people love drinking!    ­ Communication

 Who you go drinking with    ­ different purpose for the party

 Non­drinkers   ­ nowadays trend

Japanese love drinking!     Nominication          Nomi            nication                                          Drinking      communication         ­ Socializing     ­ Establishing better communication through drinking.

                                      The practice is very Japanese                                                                                                                           they satisfy their hospitality for others                                      feel pleased to have hospitality from                                           others

WORKING IN JAPN 2009, Mottekaero jDonuts 2009

     The Nominication Rule

 Do not fill your own glass.     Everyone pours for everyone except his or her own.  Also make sure that my boss’ glass is never empty.  Hold your glass with both hands while somebody pour       for you.    at least take a little sip from your glass after they pour.

WORKING IN JAPN 2009, Mottekaero jDonuts 2009

Who you go drinking with,              your boss or your colleagues?

             there are different purposes

Boss                  ­ he has a power to take his subordinates.

                           ­ not easy to refuse going drinking                         

                             (hierarchy)                               uncomfortable to go with

Colleagues      ­ saralyman( white collar worker) 

                             have to work so hard and stressful.                             understand the feeling each other.                              comfortable to go with

  Your boss   They often offer (sometimes force) to drink their staff, salaryman 

(male workers) who spend long days at work, then go out for drink with their bosses, getting "hammered" at local pubs, staying until 1,2am or until the boss calls it quits. 

 Bureiko ­ "Let's throw away all formalities and enjoy ourselves." 

                    When you are drunk, you are forgivenwhatever you do

               it is normal to break the rules during bureiko. 

            Salaryman don’t need to 

       apologyze what you’ve done.

   Your boss will forgive you. 

       (The rule of Bureiko )

Yates, A 1999, Life Is Flying 2009

    Your colleagues

­ Socialable colleagues                     getting close to Uchi­ Unsocialable colleagues                keep the distance of Soto

­ Discuss or argue with showing Honne

               ­                   Having a long talk

              ­ Drinking is relax­       ­ tend to be binge drinker

WORKING IN JAPN 2009, Mottekaero jDonuts 2009

Non­Drinkers (cannot and don’t want drink)  ­ victims of "alcoholic harassment 

 

­  non­drinkers feel social pressure by their bosses and colleagues makes it very difficult to refuse a drink. 

­ "People who can't drink are no good at work."

­ nearly half the Japanese are biologically unable to handle the effects of alcohol.

                A drunk worker behaved as if nothing had happened.­  

 Many Japanese still try to force alcohol on people who don't want    to drink.

Seattle Post 1992

Other situations    the reason of increase in non­drinking    or avoiding drinking

Serious car accident is exceeding

     the government immediately stated that legal penalties Practiced;

     ­ drunk drivers and 

       their company who get in the car with them.

Binge drinker are now becoming less acceptable, particularly among young wives. 

Yong people tend to prioritize their private life.

Seattle Post 1992

Summary

 Drinking is essential tool to communicate in Japan. (in business )

 Salaryman need Sake to be refresh from work.     (Men)There are many Non­drinker in Japan and    the number is growing.    (Women)

Gaijin Bash 2009

Discussion

Do you go drinking with your boss or colleagues after work in Australia? 

   Do you like it? Is it common in Australia?

Do you believe that drinking is important to communicate to people who you work with?

   (after work or at out of work place )

Reference List

Gaijin Bash 2009, viewed 11th Apr 2009,

http://gaijinbash.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

Life Is Flying 2009, viewed 11th Apr 2009,

http://koitama.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

Mottekaero jDonuts 2009, viewed 11th Apr 2009,

http://www.jdonuts.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

Seattle Post 1992, Asahi News Service, NON-DRINKERS IN JAPAN FEEL HIGH PRESSURE, Jan 7, 1992.  pg. C.6, (online ProQuest)

Winnipeg Free Press 2007, Focus,’ A nation where liquor marts are vending machines, Feb 16, 2007. pg. A.13, (online ProQuest)

Yates, A 1999, ‘Times of London ‘, Japan's wild drinking parties offer release from formality; Bosses encourage 'salary man' in his drinking bouts; Binges on the Ginza, Jan 9, 1999.  pg. A.4,(online ProQuest)