I’m rushing to finish this update a little early since tonight we’re having the J-List shinnen-kai, or New Year’s Party. Similar to the bonen-kai or “Forget the Year Party” held at the end of the year, a Japanese-style New Year’s Party is an opportunity for companies or other groups to officially mark the start of a new year while engaging in “nomunication,” that is, communication while getting smashed. We’ve reserved a room at a local izakaya, a traditional bar-restaurant that serves delicious food in addition to frosty mugs of beer and bottles of hot sake. It’ll be a time to relax while we eat and drink, and also to re-dedicate ourselves to the important work of being a bridge of wacky popular culture between Japan and the rest of the world. Everyone have an awesome weekend and enjoy the update!
And after we eat, drink and be merry, we’ll hit the karaoke box!
