So the English department at my school had a welcoming party for me and a going away party for another teacher. We went to an Izakaya called Mugi. Parties like this are called Enkai. You usually pay a set price before, and then during the party it's all you can eat and all you can drink. Usually they bring out the food in multiple smaller courses. And you will see your coworkers eat and drink more than you thought a human being ever could. But these are really great ways to get to know your coworkers, as the atmosphere is so much more relaxed and fun than what you're used to at school or in the office.
Now I was very lucky, because of course the teacher who organized the event called ahead and explained to them that I was a vegetarian. And she spent 15 minutes just explaining to the person what that meant and what I could and couldn't eat. It's things like this that really show you the Japanese spirit and heart. They ended up bringing me about 6 or 7 special dishes just for me! While everyone else had a mix of individual small dishes, and shared plates.
But the thing that is the most impressive to me is the way the food is presented and the thought that goes into creating seasonal dishes. You'll notice that my special plates often will have matching themes and colors.
Now I was very lucky, because of course the teacher who organized the event called ahead and explained to them that I was a vegetarian. And she spent 15 minutes just explaining to the person what that meant and what I could and couldn't eat. It's things like this that really show you the Japanese spirit and heart. They ended up bringing me about 6 or 7 special dishes just for me! While everyone else had a mix of individual small dishes, and shared plates.
But the thing that is the most impressive to me is the way the food is presented and the thought that goes into creating seasonal dishes. You'll notice that my special plates often will have matching themes and colors.