Last night the board of education threw me a going away party. It was an expensive affair. I know because the main dish was still wriggling. At one point it was even flailing. But mostly it was just wriggling.

After work we boarded a bus for the restaurant, which was in the neighbouring town of Usa. There was even a sign: WELCOME TO USA. Everyone laughed at that, as they must every time they visit Usa .

We arrived at the restaurant and piled out of the bus. Tanks of live fish, lobster, crab and oysters cluttered the entrance to the building. A puffer fish lazed near the water's surface, giant clams shuddered and snapped, the lobsters clambered over one another for a better view. It was more aquarium than eatery.

But what a spread! Jumbo sashimi platters, shrimp tempura, Chinese-style fried pork, yaki niku with all the dippings and chicken fried rice. The director made a speech and I made a speech and we all sat down and got busy: meat frying, clams snapping, people drinking, smiling and laughing.

A moment passed and the main attraction was set down in front of me. A giant lobster, still squirming, its tail sliced open to be eaten raw. The poor brute looked on in agony as people commented on the sweetness of the meat, the crispness, the freshness, the pure deliciousness, which is what it was.