Allow me to introduce...'Chu-Hi'

As with many Naval Installations, immediately outside the front gate is an area of ill repute.  The area outside of Yokosuka is known as the "Honch".  The Honch is known for its massage parlors, seedy bars and tattoo joints along with restaurants and shops.  A key component are the homemade "Chu-Hi" stands.

"Wow, that drink tasted pretty good and now I'm blind."

"Oh, you just had Chu-Hi."

The best part of the night, wasn't the Chu-Hi itself, but the stand it was in.  First, to properly find a great Chu-Hi stand you need to find one with 3 or 4 Shore Patrol sailors located outside.  Second the stand can't be more than a 15x15 foot space, but must be full of 20 patrons, 3-5 employees, 1 wooden bar and 1 wooden table located in the middle of the space.

This particular space had everything a successful stand needs.  Three employees behind the bar; one making the Chu-hi, one cleaning glasses in the sink, and a third making Vienna sausages with mustard to go with the jar of saltines.  It also had two obvious regulars, the American Ex-Pat who spent 20 plus years in Yokosuka and stayed after retirement and the Japanese business man, who just left the bank and is tying one on before heading home and all he said was "Hai, Merry Christmas!, you look like James Coburn."

When I met these guys I thought I was replaying a scene from Star Wars!  You know the bar scene when two guys go up to Luke Skywalker, the first guy says something unintelligible and the second guy says, "He doesn't like, and I don't like you either!"

Actually, the locals were awesome.  We had a great time.  Thankfully the shore patrol scared away all the young sailors.  I don't know if it was the Chu-Hi or the clothes smelling of smoke causing the college flash backs.

If you find yourself in a Chu-Hi stand, try to follow these basics rules:
1) One's enough.
2) If you have more than one, make sure the person you are drinking with can physically carry you home.