Welcome back

Though there is a corporate culture of some sort, there is also a regional one. For example, the Tokyo head office is notoriously stressful as one feels that there is always someone keeping an eagle eye on you. The head honchos are also rather too close for comfort. Out in the countryside of Technopark Nara it is relatively slower and more relaxed.

Being the countryside with not much to do or many places to go for a drink after work, chain izakaya's notwithstanding, any excuse to party has become the culture. Call it what you will, a konshinkai (懇親会) or a kangeikai (歓迎会) or a shinbokukai (親睦会), it's a smoky, loud drinking affair with poor quality food that lasts for approximately two and a half to three hours or until the last train home.

My transfer back to the Nara R&D centre, after three years at Tohoku University, meant having to attend three welcome parties. One was organised by the R&D division under the auspices of the union for the four of us who were transferred, the second was organised by the R&D group for the three of us who actually belong to the group and finally, one organised by the team that I belong too. Not being one that bathes in the centre of attention I was happy that the team party didn't go ahead as I had asked the organiser to quietly forget it. He was happy as well as it meant less work even though it was a direct order from the boss.

The beginning of the Viking feast is signalled by a simple opening speech, usually by the appointed organiser, and then towards the end each one of the transferee's has to make a short speech as well. Being Kansai, a humorous speech is the most appreciated. Not long after the last speech the party ends with everybody standing up and closed with an extended gurgle of yoooou! and a synchronised one hand clap called ipponjime (一本締め) . Depending on the occasion or organiser three hand claps might be performed called sanbonjime (三本締め). We slowly empty the establishment and go home while the party animals will carry on to the after-party.

In the beginning I went through the motions of these welcome parties. Over time gaining experience and appreciation of Japanese culture such gatherings now give me a feeling of belonging and being genuinely welcomed even though I am a foreigner. Many still don't know where I am from or have preconceived misconceptions about me.