Okyaku
お客
Definition
The banquet tradition of Kochi Prefecture, famous as one of Japan's most intense drinking cultures. Okyaku feasts feature elaborate food, copious sake, drinking games, and communal celebration that can last for hours.
In Depth
Kochi residents are legendary for their drinking capacity, and the okyaku tradition explains why Kochi sake is brewed bone-dry — sweetness would overwhelm the palate over hours of continuous drinking. An okyaku features sequential rounds of local dishes (especially katsuo no tataki, seared bonito) paired with cup after cup of dry sake. Drinking games including hashiken (chopstick counting) and bekuhai (penalty cups) maintain energy throughout the evening. The word okyaku literally means 'guest,' reflecting the culture of generous hospitality that defines Kochi social life.