Nomi Kai!!

This is one of the best traditions of Japan, and one of the kendo events that I most look forward to throughout the year.

Since we all work very hard at our jobs, and since there isn’t a lot of time during practice to catch up, nomi kai or “drinking party” is a great way to get to know and bond with the people you’re trading blows with on a weekly basis.

Every club has at least one such party through out the course of the year, though there are many occasions to have them (to wrap up a tournament or celebrate a birthday, inclusion or departure of a member).

Drinking parties in Japan have a different feel that drinking parties in Canada (at least in my experience). Drinking parties in Canada seem to be to the end of becoming as drunk as possible in a single night. Drinking parties in Japan are meant to strengthen and reaffirm relationships.

Sitting with your club over a good meal and good drink bonds you closer than just interacting with them during practice. Sometimes, the people who seem the most serious and give the sharpest, strictest criticisms are the ones who are the most fun to simply relax and drink with. It reminds us that we are all human, despite how we train or what level we are at.

It also helps that language barriers go out the window once we’ve all had enough alcohol. Suddenly everyone can speak perfectly fluent (insert language of choice) and we all understand each other a little bit more.

It almost feels like you’re not really a part of a club until you’ve had a drink with its members. It took my first year-end nomi kai for me to really feel accepted within the Fuchou club, and not to feel like an outsider who was tagging along for a little while. These invitations are as much a part of practicing kendo as the time spent in the dojo. It’s second practice, after all!

This party in particular was celebrating the end of the tournament earlier that morning. I had to miss it unfortunately because I had work, which was a huge disappointment. This has been the second tournament that I’ve had to miss. The first one, last September I couldn’t go to because my shodan certificate had not been issued yet. Despite that I’d passed the test, I was considered ineligible to participate. I’m hoping to be able to go to the September tournament this year though, as I’ll be shodan (hopefully nidan?) and I can take time off on Sundays.

Everyone asked me what my favorite alcoholic beverage was and after struggling to explain rum to them I gave up and told them it was ume-shu which is a close second to rum on my favorites list. Itou Sensei announced that he would give me a bottle of his home made ume-shu, to prevent me from getting sick in the future. I’ll admit, a magic elixir to keep me from getting sick so much is sorely needed and gratefully accepted!

I had a great time with everyone again tonight. I love the ‘family’ feeling of being a member of this club. Even Yuko sometimes calls me her Canadian daughter, which is very nice of her. Certainly, she looks after me like a mother. I’m looking forward to the next occasion to get together and go drinking!

Kanpai!