A bōnenkai (忘年会 literally "forget the year gathering") is a Japanese drinking party that takes place at the end of the year, and is generally held among groups of co-workers or friends.[1][2]
The purpose of the party, as its name implies, is to forget the woes
and troubles of the past year, and hopefully look to the new year,
usually by consumption of large amounts of alcohol. A bōnenkai does not take place on any specific day, but they are usually held in December.[1]
A shinnenkai (Japanese 新年会, literally "new year gathering") is the Japanese tradition of welcoming the arrival of the New Year, usually by the drinking of alcohol.
A shinnenkai is generally held among co-workers or friends in January.
Like the many festivals (matsuri) and celebrations that the Japanese are known for, a shinnenkai
is their way of getting together to celebrate a new year and to make
promises to each other to do their best for this year while wishing each
other good luck and fortune.
A shinnekai is similar to a bōnenkai
in several ways with just a few exceptions. Both are observed by
parties of friends or co-workers or sponsored by a company for their
employees. Bōnenkai and shinnenkai are not part of the New Year Shogatsu
celebration which lasts until the 3rd of January; they are instead a
way of ending and beginning the year through a group celebration.[1] At a shinnenkai however, some of the Shogatsu festivities can carry over to the New Year’s party like the making of mochitsuki by pounding sweet steamed rice or kagamiwari which is the breaking open of sake barrels with a wooden hammer and drinking together.[2][3]
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