An encounter with an unhappy salaryman

So I have this Japanese galfriend who calls me up once in awhile for dinner or drinks. Last Friday, she drunk dialed me (this is a term I learned from my American ex-neighbour, which means, dialing someone when you’re drunk) and went on about how the president of her company wanted to meet me because of what she told him. She said, “He wants to meet you because you’re so beautiful.” You know, I take these things with a pinch of salt because it’s Japlish. Of course she apologized profusely for doing that and asked me to join them for drinks next time.

Well, today I found myself restless and itching to go out. I called a few people but they were out of town or unavailable. This gf is a little strange because she always talks about wanting to get married and there are no good men around. Sure, it’s typical single gal talk but she’s really obsessed with it and even asked me once to get the kangaroo to introduce his friends to her.

So I messaged her to ask her out to dinner but she sounded like she had dinner plans with her colleagues. I kind of understand Japanese company habits — Friday nights are common for team building in an izakaya over drinks so maybe outsiders may not be appreciated. But she said I could join for drinks in Roppongi.

I said yes — beggars can’t be choosers. I didn’t want to spend another Friday in the shoebox reading or watching movies.

It turned out to be just the president and her. This 40 year old guy looked a little nerdy and I could tell from his handshake he was nervous. I was taken aback because I expected a group but it was just her and him.

The story tumbled out soon enough. He said he has no one to talk to in the company but he can talk to her because her work is far removed from his. He can only talk to the CEO (apparently he’s the COO) and my friend. So you know, I had these niggling thoughts about some budding office affair.

What I sensed, though, was he was just lonely — that a night with two young ladies was the highlight of his day. He kept repeating the same things again and again in Japanese and English. It was obvious he was a little lacking in social skills. No doubt a bit of a power player or maybe a power hungry executive — not knowing the nuances of Japanese has its drawbacks — because he kept stressing he was number two but he is so lonely.

I’ve heard of stories about salarymen paying hostesses just to talk. These guys just want someone alien to their work and families so they can let loose. It’s a little sad, come to think of it, because the first person I would confide in would be the kangaroo or my friends.

Anyway, speaking of power playing, my friend is quite the corporate climber. She’s apparently a junior bookkeeper in the accounts department and her direct supervisor, according to her, abuses her with micro-managing habits. Yeah, who needs someone breathing down your neck. But seriously, someone in her position would hardly be talking to the COO about her problems. In fact, she complained to this COO about her supervisor so he backed off. So I think she’s quite savvy in working it with the right people.

Do I feel uncomfortable about her? Sort of. She really knows how to wrap him around her little pinkie, let’s just say. I didn’t have a bad time with her big boss but I wouldn’t go through it again. He kept leaning over too closely and was getting incredibly drunk over his martinis. The whole “You’re so beautiful and you will have a bright future” and “I have no one to talk to” wears very thin, even after three vodka tonics.

In short, I’ve met a real-life salaryman. The stereotype of salarymen as nerds with money, are short in stature, with no social skills is frighteningly real.

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