I played more bingo during our year in Japan than I had in the prior 10 years, maybe 20, in the USA. None of the bingo playing was intentional really. Bingo just seemed to be something that happened when we were at parties, touring places, or on any occasion when prizes were given out. Today’s photo is from a hanami (cherry blossom viewing party) last April. Bingo in Japan means prizes, lots and lots of them–not just for the winner, although the winner tends to get something really cool. Ryan came home with a big bag full of prizes one time from a bingo win while we were touring an energy facility in Tokyo.

One interesting aspect of Japanese bingo is the リーチ (riichi) which I had never heard of before. It’s the situation when you are one away from achieving a bingo. When you have リーチ you usually have to raise a hand, stand up, or call it out–sort of like saying uno when you are playing uno.

Posted on March 19th, 2011 under Japan • Tags: signs. • RSS 2.0 feed • Both comments and pings are currently closed