Rain and Beer

We have survived our first typhoon/hurricane/weather event in Japan with no pain. I cannot say the same for Japanese beer. For starters, the typhoon. It was kind of great for us. We're in a fifth floor apartment and the wind and rain really got crazy up here. We had our front and back doors open and it was like a wind tunnel in our living room. Walking from the car to the apartment building we got drenched, in seconds. Really pretty cool. Unfortunately, there was flooding and damage to homes, injuries, and loss of life here in Japan. They say typhoon season is over now and that we should start to get some more fall-like weather. Can't wait!

Now, about the beer. Jason teaches a few adult classes at a local business. One of the ladies was telling him about Japanese beer and which to try. Now, if you don't know this already, Jason is not a drinker. He likes beer, and will have one now and again, but he's not one to drink alone or have one because the day ends in y. That being said, he was excited to try a local beer that was supposed to be pretty good. In the meantime, we were invited to a dinner party in the home of a Japanese lady that I teach for. Her home is amazing! Buttons to raise and lower shelves so that you don't have to get a stool! Anyway, there we are, and there is the beer. We are each given one, which we politely take. (You know me, vodka yessss, beer, nooooo). It wasn't bad, but at my first opportunity I passed it over to Jason and turned down further offers with the excuse of being the driver. The husband of our hostess took it upon himself to make sure that Jason's glass was NEVER empty. Haa! The poor guy didn't even make it all the way home that night...but, he says the beer is good (and has a higher alcohol content, and he didn't want to be rude). Moderation next time maybe! It was all worth it to sit and watch this cute little Japanese man with very bad English and Jason sit and talk, hold hands, bond...loved that part.

Here is an interesting thing we learned that night: Japanese people like foam on their beer. Not just a thin layer, but a good two inches. When asked why, they said, because it looks pretty. Gotta love these guys!