Team building in Japan is a confusing concept. Although it exists in the way it exists in America, including workshops and group activities, team building is something that is continual and a matter of course: colleagues frequently doing things together as a group, be it social drinking, having lunch or going on company retreats.
Of course, what we think of as team building, recreational activities that engage employees with one another, exist, individuals endeavor to remain part of the group. Extra activities are a way to maintain the team rather than to build it.
At Undokaiya, we believe team building should be utilized to maintain team cohesion rather than to repair it, and we follow the belief that people engaging outside of their work environment and professional capacity reveals their true personalities and strengthens the bonds that maintain group unity.
In other words, we should always be team building.
1. Nomikai (飲み会 noh-mi-kai)
Office workers put off going home to knock back drinks at Japanese-style drinking establishment called izakayas and blow off steam. Believe it or not, this is a type of team building within a company or organization that yields real benefits. Colleagues form friendships and see one another beyond their office personalities while making merriment and filling one another’s glass.
While Western ideas of team building exist in Japan, the concept extends beyond special events outside of the office to a casual realm. Workers frequently meet for a variety of occasions indicated in Japanese by the suffix “kai” (会). Here is a list of common “kai.”
2. Nijikai（二次会 nee-jee-kai)
For those who don’t drink themselves into oblivion when a nomikai finishes, the nijikai beckons! Essentially, a round two! Smaller groups break away and some go for another bout of drinking.
3. Kangekai (歓迎会 kahn-gehy-kai)
Need another reason to meet, drink and make merry? Hire some new people and make toasts to welcome them. Now pick up your glass!
4. Bonenkai (忘年会 boe-nen-kai)
Literally “forget-the-year meeting,” typically by drinking — a lot! A recent bonenkai I attended featured scantily clad women in bunny attire serving drinks while one of my team members gave a speech in his underpants. Gifts and toasts are common, and merriment of course is mandatory.
5. Shinennkai (新年会 shee-nen-kai)
Still didn’t get enough during the end-of-the-year party? Not to worry! Time for the shinnenkai, a beginning of the year party where goals and promises are established and quickly drowned with toasts!
6. Sobetsukai (送別会 so-beh-tsu-kai)
A farewell party held among colleagues for the departing. Often gifts are presented, speeches orated, tears shed, and drinks drunk.
7. Otsukaresamakai (お疲れ様会 O-tsu-ka-ray-sah-mah-kai)
“Cheers for good work!” Down the hatch! These parties follow the completion of work or a goal. Basically, another reason to meet and make merry.
8. Hanami (花見): (Hah-nah-mee)
While not a “kai,” it is still a popular pastime enjoyed by family, friends, and co-workers in spring time, a fleeting time frame of 2-3 weeks usually at the end of March to the beginning of April. They sit under cherry blossom trees, drink, laugh and admire the flower pedals as they sprinkle down like pink snowflakes.
9. Christmas-kai (クリスマス会)
4社目は昨日・今日めちゃくちゃ忙しいこちらの企業さん！ pic.twitter.com/Zs65uHL81i
— Calbee(カルビー)公式 (@Calbee_JP) December 25, 2018
Buy a bucket of chicken from KFC with the Colonel dressed in ill-fitting Santa garb standing outside the sliding doors. Order a strawberry shortcake repackaged as a Christmas cake. Welcome to Christmas in Japan! People meet their honeys or colleagues to celebrate in and out of the office.
10. Undokai (運動会 Oon-doe-kai)
An annual sports festival that has sustained in Japan since the Meiji Period and continues to this day. Originally held in universities and schools to promote health and well-being, the modern-day event features unique games with giant balls, towering nets, bean bags and batons all in the name of fun! Schools, communities, companies and even prisons relish sports festivals and have through competition and release stress. Our company has since brought this tradition to multinational companies as a fun and healthy corporate event for their employees and families.
In the midst of the Japanese drinking culture which resonates through many of the kais, Undokai extracts the team building and social element from the core and pairs it with a sports element, creating a type of social gathering anyone can enjoy while still building relationships.
Do you know of an interesting way of team building in another culture? We’d love to know in the comments below!
