KOCHI DRINKING CULTURE

Throughout Japan, people in Kochi are known for being friendly, welcoming to all, and fond of a drink. Local Tosa sake is light and easy to drink, and it’s the beverage of choice for the tradition known as okyaku, a boisterous get-together where friends and strangers alike, get together and play drinking games. At these parties, sake is usually served "kempai-hempai" style, where one person pours for another (kempai), who is expected to finish it immediately and pour a drink in return (hempai). Popular okyaku games include hashiken, a form of "rock, paper, scissors" played with chopsticks, and bekuhai, a game featuring decorative, mask-shaped cups. Some cups have a hole in the bottom, so the player must finish their entire drink before they can set it down.