Spending a day with the Hash House Harriers
Story and Photos by Achim Runnebaum
With Fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get in shape and lose those extra pounds you so lovingly refer to as love handles. But which exercise to do? With the temperatures getting a bit cooler every day, and the outside becoming more and more bearable after the sweltering summer heat during this time of year, why not join a running club to enjoy the outdoors and explore the city at the same time? One of the most interesting and long-standing clubs in Nagoya are the Hash House Harriers, or H3 for short.
Originally founded in 1938, in Kuala Lumpur, this in Japan still relatively unknown organization has a long-standing history and a worldwide presence with chapters in all major cities.
So what makes this club so different from others? Well, Fall is also the time of outdoor parties, having a few drinks in the park with friends and attending one of the many festivals this time of year offers. Does running mix with drinking? How about the other way around? Well, according to a recently published article in a well-known health journal, having a beer after a workout is actually good for your body. The HHH certainly take this philosophy to heart because depending on who you ask, this is either a running club with a drinking problem, or a drinking club with a running problem. Either way it’s a club for all kinds of people from various backgrounds to get together, enjoy some exercise and socialize.
Out of shape? Don’t worry, being in shape is not a requirement for joining. The people are quite accepting of anyone from any fitness background. While this is a running club at heart, participating in the running is purely voluntary. You can run, walk, or even crawl to the finish line – it’s all up to you. The most important aspect is the socializing part of the club. After the run, everyone gathers in a park, or restaurant to commence with the second part of the club, namely social drinking. There are also many unique traditions for this club, which the members enjoy participating in just as much as the actual running. Yes, this is the perfect cure for treadmill warriors.
One of these unique traditions is the giving of Hash names. Since the use of real names during an event is discouraged, upon entering the club, every active member will receive an interesting nickname (after approximately the 5th run). These nicknames are always given by other members, and cannot be chosen by one self. The names are chosen based on personality traits, physical appearances, notorious escapades, or any other attributes the club may deem appropriate. Sometimes funny, sometimes a bit offensive, but always very unique, these names become the hasher’s unique club identity.
If you’re interested in joining, the club has bi-monthly meetings at various places around Nagoya. Usually the routes are chosen by experienced members, but anybody can make suggestions for running routes (or watering holes for that matter). If you’re interested, check out their website (in Japanese and parts in English) for upcoming events.
http://nagoyahhh.jimdo.com/about-us-ハッシュって/
So if you enjoy the occasional drink and want to get in shape at the same time; especially if you enjoy meeting interesting people from all walks of life, come to the next Hash. I can guarantee you that you will be welcomed with open arms, and that you’ll have a great time with some uniquely crazy people Running Around Nagoya.
