宴 means 'banquet'

These essays show how Japan excels in hospitality. From swanky accommodations for VIPs to banquets and wedding receptions, Japanese hosts make everyone feel like guests of honor. You'll learn about traditional restaurants that resemble large, understated houses and that are so expensive that some Japanese people may never dine in one. You'll find out about banquets, where each course comes on its own tray and where the contents, layout, sequence, and placement of each tray on the table are predetermined. And you'll discover the formality and elegance of dining on trays, which is unthinkable in the West.

These essays show how the Japanese spot omens in small details. If a sandal thong breaks, that portends doom, such as death or an accident. When a product logo slopes to the right, the item alarmingly symbolizes economic decline. To stave off misfortune, people take measures: After lightning strikes, they chant to ward off bad luck. When a party must end, a host announces this euphemistically, avoiding words that suggest separation or divorce. People associate the 水 of 水曜日 (Wednesday) with a term for "to be canceled," so realtors typically take Wednesdays off to avoid having contracts canceled.