Wow, it’s Sunday night after another busy weekend in the world of H. We’ve managed to squeeze in two Bonenkai and a 10km run and are pretty tired- despite Archie being at the In laws.
A Bonenkai is an end of year party and needless to say it involves a bit of eating and a bit of drinking - In our case we do as much of each as we can but we seem to have different strength.....
First up was John’s company Bonenkai which was held in the biggest hotel in Hiroshima, the Righa Royal. All 3 of us attended and after an initial period of relative calm Archie was off and running around the hotel. The hotel didn’t seem to mind but we didn’t hang around to find out.This was Archie first experience to see Father Christmas and he seemed to take it all in his stride as you can see!
On Saturday night we had the Cross Nihongo (Japanese) School and Get Hiroshima Party. Cross is where I “try” to have lessons from my Sensei (Pictured on left with her younger Sister) and GH is a website (http://www.gethiroshima.com/) run by a some other 
Gaijin (foreigners) who do so much for Hiroshima in general- organising parties, events and just letting people know what is going on.Again more food and drink was consumed and we had the usual speeches to go though but as GH Paul is from the North of UK his initial effort was simply a brisk Cheers! The party had a special guest f
rom a local Sake brewery; Miho, who is the chief brewer, had brought various types of sake with her so a lot of tasting went on- it should be noted that in the competition John was a winner- wonder how 
he managed that!
We were meant to get up at 5.20 as the race was in the middle of nowhere about 100 miles away and we woke at 7.30!!! Registration cut off at the race was 9am so we just jumped in the car and John drove like a mad man (like normal?). Aiko firmly gripped the dash board for most of the journey and somehow we got there at 9.30 and were allowed in.
Despite the bad hangover and no food John managed to huff his way round the cold (but thankfully flat course) in 44 minutes and 40 seconds- broke the 45 minute barrier mainly because some fat 60 year old sprinted past him as they entered the stadium and there was no way that was ‘OK’ . John also beat the 94 year old woman who had entered!! 94!!!!
A Bonenkai is an end of year party and needless to say it involves a bit of eating and a bit of drinking - In our case we do as much of each as we can but we seem to have different strength.....
First up was John’s company Bonenkai which was held in the biggest hotel in Hiroshima, the Righa Royal. All 3 of us attended and after an initial period of relative calm Archie was off and running around the hotel. The hotel didn’t seem to mind but we didn’t hang around to find out.This was Archie first experience to see Father Christmas and he seemed to take it all in his stride as you can see!
On Saturday night we had the Cross Nihongo (Japanese) School and Get Hiroshima Party. Cross is where I “try” to have lessons from my Sensei (Pictured on left with her younger Sister) and GH is a website (http://www.gethiroshima.com/) run by a some other Gaijin (foreigners) who do so much for Hiroshima in general- organising parties, events and just letting people know what is going on.Again more food and drink was consumed and we had the usual speeches to go though but as GH Paul is from the North of UK his initial effort was simply a brisk Cheers! The party had a special guest f
rom a local Sake brewery; Miho, who is the chief brewer, had brought various types of sake with her so a lot of tasting went on- it should be noted that in the competition John was a winner- wonder how 
he managed that!Now with an early start the next day and a 10km road race in cold December weather the sane thing to have done would be to go home early and not drink too much…….well as Archie was elsewhere for the night those wise words soon got lost and at 12.30am (after a Simon Special at Spud love ) we got home and John then ‘unset’ the alarm clock so we slept in.
We were meant to get up at 5.20 as the race was in the middle of nowhere about 100 miles away and we woke at 7.30!!! Registration cut off at the race was 9am so we just jumped in the car and John drove like a mad man (like normal?). Aiko firmly gripped the dash board for most of the journey and somehow we got there at 9.30 and were allowed in.
Despite the bad hangover and no food John managed to huff his way round the cold (but thankfully flat course) in 44 minutes and 40 seconds- broke the 45 minute barrier mainly because some fat 60 year old sprinted past him as they entered the stadium and there was no way that was ‘OK’ . John also beat the 94 year old woman who had entered!! 94!!!!
After the race John was able to have a free portion of 
some Fugu miso soup which was very welcome indeed- Fugu is a (highly) poisonous puffer fish but it’s OK if handled and cooked properly- besides after all the sake the night before its likely that John was immune to further poisoning. Aiko had her portion (at a cost of 100yen=50p for non runners) for breakfast and also 
had some noodles for lunch (45 minutes later). Both of us abstained from the fish that was sale- can’t imagine that fish being for sale at a running event in the UK somehow!!! Cuppa tea and some biscuits maybe….
some Fugu miso soup which was very welcome indeed- Fugu is a (highly) poisonous puffer fish but it’s OK if handled and cooked properly- besides after all the sake the night before its likely that John was immune to further poisoning. Aiko had her portion (at a cost of 100yen=50p for non runners) for breakfast and also 
had some noodles for lunch (45 minutes later). Both of us abstained from the fish that was sale- can’t imagine that fish being for sale at a running event in the UK somehow!!! Cuppa tea and some biscuits maybe….Wow- what a weekend and to think Christmas is just around the corner….can it get any busier?
1 comment:
Wow,you seem to be a Japanese husband who enjoy Bonennkai season!We never experienced "Bonennkai" in USA,it must be Japanese special custom for guys.Yes,my husband has been busy for it,too.I wanna be invited to Bonennkai,too.
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