Today (in some time zones) is one of our Tofugu authors’ birthdays. Can you guess who? She’s the only female, she’s one of the top three writers, and she’s somewhere in that photo up there. The other two Tofugu writers would like to wish Erin a happy and safe twenty-first birthday! Thank you for writing so many interesting articles, we look forward to more in the future!

So, just a little bit of Japan related trivia: In the United States, you can drink alcohol when you are twenty-one, just like Erin is. In Japan, though, technically you are supposed to be twenty years old before you drink OR smoke. Though, you can really be a bit younger and get alcohol in Japan. As long as you’re between 18-20 most places won’t card you, and even if they do, there is always beer and saké vending machines.

So here’s to Erin! (kanpai!)

P.S. We have no idea when Viet’s birthday is, so Viet, if it was recently, happy birthday to you too <_<;