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The High Cost of Social Currency in the Japanese Office
Surviving nomikai company party season
“I miss the Covid period,” I confess to my Japanese friend, Miki-chan, over Line. Not the pandemic itself, of course, but not being trapped in Japanese office customs.
The end of March is when coworkers are changing jobs or relocating to company offices in different towns. Some coworkers’ contracts have ended, and they are off to figure life out somewhere. Then on April 1, the new arrivals come in, and we have to make pleasantries, trying to get to know our new teammates.
This is the time that companies organize nomikai, after-work gatherings of the Japanese office that consist of food and alcohol. A paper is passed around the office to mark our attendance. Attending the nomikai is mandatory, though we have to mark the sheet to show our formal acceptance of the invite.
There is no indication of how much the party will cost, nor the food on the menu, but you’re supposed to be there. My coworkers feel the need to ask me constantly if I am attending. My avoidance of marking the attendance sheet gives me away.
Guilt, guilt, guilt!
I have been down this difficult road before. I make a mental note not to let the constant reminders bother me. My older…
