Amazake Wars
"So you don't drink any alcohol at all?" The mother of my two year old student is practically aghast. One advantage of teaching students in their own apartments, is that the Japanese are culturally obliged to treat any visitors to their homes with immense hospitality. This basically amounts to serving me cake or tea when I arrive, and on occasion, sending me home with department store bags filled with anything from chocolate, to rice, to sweet potatoes.
"No, I quit drinking." On the downside, Japanese offers of hospitality are quite difficult to refuse. In the five years since I arrived in Japan, I've closed my eyes and swallowed fish heads, chocolate-covered grasshoppers, intestines and all sorts of tentacles, simply because a breach of politeness would have been far more painful.
"It's 'amazake,' so it's not really sake. I believe it has less than 1% alcohol." Tomorrow, her daughter will take the 'entrance test' for pre-school. It's an event I've been helping them prepare for since last summer. It appears that the mother would like to drink with me, in order to toast to good luck.
"I'm sorry..." This makes my refusal to partake all the more troublesome.
"You would still be able to drive if you had some, because the alcohol content is so small. You really don't drink any alcohol at all?"
"Not at all."
"But you told me that you used to drink very heavily when you were younger."
"I did."
"So what happenned?"
"I stopped."
The look on her face is too perplexed for words. If we were in another part of the developed world, or more specifically, in a country where alcoholism is generally recognized as a disease, this entire dialogue would just not be happening.
"Ok, I'll make you some hot chocolate instead. You can drink hot chocolate, right?" She jokes.
"Of course I can." I accept the hot chocolate and laugh.
She continues to look puzzled. Her two-year-old meanwhile climbs up and down her mother's back, seeking attention. Though her mother is a kind, friendly and unusually open-minded woman, she is nonetheless a product of her society.
What? There are no alcoholics in Japan? No Way.
Posted by: Jon | January 25, 2008 at 12:50 AM
In 3 words: Good For you! It's one thing to swear off the sauce- another thing all together to have the tenacity along with MANNERS to try to explain to Japanese people and defend your decision in a civil manner. Japanese friends of mine that are allergic to alcohol have a hard enough time explaining to people- shit vegetarians I know have a hard enough time explaining to people what they don't want on they're plates all to the same cocked head- huh???reaction- anyway, major props to you for sticking with your guns!
Posted by: Bob | January 26, 2008 at 02:37 AM
I have not quit but I rarely drink now and I get the same thing.
"are you sick.." is a common question.
I usually say "if you saw me after 20 cold ones you might think I was!
Posted by: Chris B | January 27, 2008 at 01:31 PM