御お相あい

noun

person who sits between host and guest of honor at a drinking party; companion at a drinking party

Refers to a person who sits between the host and the guest of honor at a formal drinking party, often to facilitate conversation and ensure the guest is attended to. The term carries an honorific nuance (御).

• 宴えん会かいでは、おあいの方かたが主しゅ賓ひんと主しゅ人じんの間あいだにお座すわりになります。

  At the banquet, the companion sits between the guest of honor and the host.

• 彼かれはおあいとして、会かい話わが途と切ぎれないように気きを配くばった。

  As the companion, he made sure the conversation didn't lag.