Life In Japan: Annual Neighborhood Curry and Bingo Party

Curry is of course from India.  But the Japanese put their own spin on it and have come up with quite a few of their own variations, some spicy — but not that spicy — some mild, all quite delicious, at least to this Westerners palate.  Curry is extremely easy to prepare and is a very common everyday dish, one served at school lunches, outdoor markets, festivals and other social gatherings, restaurants, certainly at home for evening dinner.  Curry here is always served with rice.  Here we only use homegrown local product, often grown and harvested by the very people in my immediate community.

Bingo I assume was imported from the U.S. — though it’s roots are in Europe — and is quite the rage here.  When I used it as a teaching tool for my English students, it made sense.  Match pictures and words.  Build a vocabulary while learning to “hear” English. 

But I soon discovered that Bingo is played all of the time here.  It’s certainly fun for all ages and a good excuse to give things away, something else Japanese love to do.  Giving gifts is like shaking hands or breathing here.  Whether it’s a social obligation, heartfelt gesture, tradition, or habit, it’s always great to be handed a special gift by another individual.  

Every year our village of Noma has their curry-bingo party in November.  Last year I won some kitchen utensils and two years ago a kite.  I can feel your envy across the vast stretch of cyberspace!

There is so much community here in Japan, at least where I live.  Maybe this isn’t the case in the big cities, but certainly here, the folks living in Noma, the neighborhood community on the eastern edge of the city I reside in, get together regularly and work on some project, celebrate a holiday, hold a ceremony, or just have a good time.  It’s very charming!  More importantly, because of all of these social affairs, I feel like I belong here, as a member of an extended family.  The regular socializing also gives everyone a stake in keeping the neighborhood safe, clean, wholesome.  Friendly smiles and greetings are the norm.

I say sometimes I feel like I’m living in a fairy tale.  But maybe what I have is just the comfortable, civilized way things should be for everyone everywhere.  Life’s not just singing solo.  A little harmony greatly improves the song and the rhythm of life.

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