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Tuesday evening, I am so bloody knackered it`s not true. Works finished and all I want to do is crash, but I now have the obligatory nokai with the local office folks and the President of the Japanese office. A nice bunch of people but I`m just not in the right frame of mind, still, one does what one has to, giri and all...........
My colleague says he`s not a fussy eater, just doesn`t like fish (especially raw) or vegetables, and he only likes to eat very small. We settle on an expensive traditional Japanese izakaya, hey, the boss is paying on expenses, we`re not going for burgers tonight.......
We are then led a merry dance by the marketing manager as he tries to find the restaurant, “exit B6” he says, and then promptly turns round and walks off towards A4!! Errrrrr “didn`t you say B6?” a number of us question. “NO, NO, A4” he utters. We turn a corner “Hora......” He points........
A very nice restaurant, with very YUMMY (TM) smells emanating from every crevice. We sit, we order, well, drinks are ordered Would you like some food with your beer? I don`t know if it`s just me, but here in Japan there always seems to be way more alcohol consumed at these gatherings than food.........
The Japanese are known as workaholics, working stupid hours that.........they just shouldn`t. I`ve experienced it, observed it, and can`t really fathom out why, but each to his own. They also have a very structured organization in the office, everyone knows their place and a fairly strict order is maintained, but when you go out for beer.......basically, anything goes, a chance to let your hair down and chill, you can say anything to anyone, including the boss, and it stays at the table (allegedly), hey I`m writing a blog, not mentioning names, and they have no idea this website exists....... (I hope ).
So once the evening is in full swing......................It comes as no surprise (well, actually it does) when one particular person, under extreme alcoholic influence, decides to start telling the President that he (the President) should consider having all male relations (I`m obviously toning this down as it`s a public board, political correctness and I`m an English gentleman.....). The same character then starts confessing some of his own marital problems and how he is also considering all male relations...........At this point, my colleague and I are starting to feel a little uncomfortable, my colleague more so than I, especially since said person has been giving him the eye all night..............The same person who said he`s a Liverpool fan, not because he likes them (he thinks Arsenal are a much better team), but because he likes Steven Gerrard..............
After much food and even more alcohol (not as much as with Stumpy though, learnt my lesson there ) we decide to head for the hills, my colleague can`t get out quick enough .
TAXI!!!
“Century Southern Tower Hotel, Shinjuku”,....... “Don`t know it Sir”,........”Yodobashi Camera, Shinjuku”,.........”Don`t know it Sir”,........You`re `avin` a larf aren`t you? How do these people get a job driving taxis? Finally settle on Shinjuku station again and off we go.
Fall into my hotel room around midnight, crash out on the bed and ...............SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!
09-29-2005 09:12 PM 
Would you like some food with your beer? I don`t know if it`s just me, but here in Japan there always seems to be way more alcohol consumed at these gatherings than food.........