Here in Japan the December is not all that different from America (in some ways). For example Although Christmas is not a holiday, Many stores put up Christmas decorations and lights and you can occasionally see Santa figurines in store window. Here however, the BIG holiday is New Years. There is a tradition of having a year-end party, called a "bonenkai" where everybody makes a speech about the events of the year and what they intend to do the next year. Usually there is a lot of drinking and eating.
This year, like last year, I was lucky enough to be invited to my student's company's bonenkai. But first he and I had to hike about 5 miles up and down the mountains. We were the lucky ones. His employees had to complete a 35 mile hike in one day!!! Needless to say there was a lot of "medicinal" beer drunk before the dinner and also while eating the excellent food.
After finishing the hike, everyone gathered at a very swanky hotel in Takarazuka where they have wonderful Japanese baths on the roof, both enclosed and open air. Nothing like a long soak in a hot tub after hiking!. Sorry, I didn't/couldn't really take photos for obvious reasons.
After the bath we settled in to a traditional Japanese meal. The first course was a little box containing what amounted to hors d'oeuvres:
Next came a plate of sushi:
Followed by the main dish: Sukiyaki (pronounced skiyaki). For those who don't know what it is, it consists of a large pot that is placed on a gas hot plate on your table. Into the pot is put meat,
(This tray of meat was just for four (4) people!!).
There is also a big tray of vegetables (onions, peppers, sprouts, cabbage, shiitake mushrooms) and Tofu. First the meat and then the vegetables along with some seasonings are put into the pot and everything simmered slowly.
To eat it you break a raw egg in a bowl, grab a bit of hot food from the pot, immerse it in the egg and then eat it! It is very good. The pot and the meat plate you see in the photo was for just 4 people!. Of course, it was washed down with many bottles of Asahi beer. A great way to end the year!
