British Prime Minister Eden once hosted Premier Zhou Enlai at a three-course state dinner. This has left the Chinese with the impression that Western countries are not known for feasting. According to my observation, Westerners do not have the concept of "meal", in their culture, eating is not an important thing, just supplemental calories. So much so that many Europeans and Americans are just a few oranges and a banana at noon to kill the stomach and intestines. Think about this is also a reasonable phenomenon, the United States is the most delicate dish with the ingredients of simmering beans, to say that the work is only a little longer simmering time. In this food culture, the "dinner party" can be much more attractive.
But this concept does not apply to the Japanese.
A friend who visited Japan lamented the many "dinner parties" in the country and thought that the problem might not exist in Japan. However, the number of times he encountered "dinner parties" in Japan was even greater than in his home country. What's even better is that although there are a lot of "dinner parties" in Japan, they often don't have enough to eat, and when they come back, they have to give themselves more food.
Japan's "rice bowl" many dishes, often a meal down one or two dozen dishes, plate big bowl big, but the amount of dishes in the plate is pitifully small, a dish divided into a dish to everyone but a spoonful of a mouth, even if two dozen dishes is only twenty to mouth. Eat a Japanese "meal" often take three or four hours, the twenty mouths of food into three or four hours up, the back of the dish is not yet eaten in the mouth, in front of eating into the fast digested, the level of hunger can be imagined. Labor and effort to socialize for a few hours, actually can not seek a full, many people can not help but Japan's "meal" quite a slander.
In fact, those who think that the Japanese do not attach importance to the "dinner party" are most likely not very familiar with the traditions of this country. If you understand the Japanese way of thinking about the "dinner party", this "marathon dinner party" should be more understandable.
Also as an oriental country, Japan, like China, has long regarded the "dinner party" as an important means of communicating and solving problems. Even the most ordinary Japanese company employees have a "dinner party" once or twice a week. The time is usually the weekend, and it is customary for office colleagues to come together and have a meal at a restaurant. In addition, there are a variety of "dinner party" names, such as "forget-me-nots", "farewell party" and "newcomer's party". These "dinner parties" are also known as "forget-me-nots", "farewell parties" and "newcomers parties". These "dinner parties" are not something that can be easily declined. In China, not attending a "dinner party" is at most not giving face to your friends; in Japan, not attending a "dinner party" is in danger of losing your job. Because the Japanese "dinner party" is a kind of "official" nature of the activities, its role is to enhance the communication between superior and subordinate, cultivate the feelings between colleagues, but also between the collaborative units to enhance the link. After all, it's part of the job.
Japanese companies or organizations have a strong hierarchical concept, usually strict boundaries between the upper and lower levels, very little emotional exchange, only at the table, the two sides will be put down, sitting together to call brothers and sisters. At this time, the Japanese boss will also tell jokes, the staff can also have no fear of loud laughter. Of course, no one will be so casual as to be rude and forget their status. Japanese business sometimes also like to complete at the table, a collaborative unit of a few heads after a few drinks, the future intentions of cooperation may be decided.
While it is not mandatory to participate in the "dinner party", employees who do not participate in the "dinner party" are considered to be out of touch, difficult to work with and difficult to manage, and they are considered to be unwilling to devote their time to the "dinner party", which is the most important part of their job. The second is that the employee is not willing to devote his time to the "dinner party" and work hard for the company's business. This, of course, means that he is not attached enough to the company and is not collaborative. There is no shortage of Japanese employees who have lost their jobs because of this.
Since the Japanese "rice bowl" carries such a social function, "eating" itself is no longer the focus of the rice bowl. Japan's "rice bowl" is more important to the characteristics of each dish and exquisite, and does not care whether the guests are full. In fact, the cost of a Japanese meal is quite high.
The culture of the "rice bowl" probably comes from the distinctive character of the Japanese. It's interesting to compare this with China. For example, when it comes to bathing, the Chinese don't shy away from the pleasure of taking a bath, and some people enjoy it while scrubbing in the tub. The Japanese, on the other hand, position the purpose of a bath as feeling the comfort of hot water, and so must wash outside before jumping in for a soak. In their view, bathing and soaking are two different things and should not be confused. Another example is the tea ceremony. The Chinese are famous for their taste in appreciating tea, but they don't avoid quenching their thirst while tasting tea. And in the Japanese view, since it is tea tasting, it can only be a small cup of a small cup of tea, slowly feel the flavor of tea. In their minds, tea tasting and thirst quenching are also two different things, again not to be confused.
The same applies to the "dinner party". Chinese Japanese people are regarded as "meal" as a social occasion, the difference is that the Chinese are not opposed to talk about things while eating; and the Japanese are more "meal" in the "eating
In the author's view, the Japanese "meal" does have something to learn from. Its advanced, at least two: First, the Japanese "dinner" in general do not persuade, want to drink the people will not pour their own, but gesture to others to pour wine, others will understand that he wants to drink, will in turn give him full. This not only avoids unintentional mistakes after drinking, but also respects the individual's will. Secondly, the Japanese "dinner party" is in principle out of their own pockets, rarely public money to eat and drink phenomenon. Each week's dinner, are employees to pay their own share, by the temporarily elected officer is responsible for collecting the money, after eating more than a small refund. Therefore, the majority of Japanese employees monthly salary, will set aside a fixed percentage of money for entertainment. Perhaps because of this, Japan's "dinner parties" are numerous, but they have not become a serious social problem.
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