When It Comes to the End of the Year in Japan—It’s Bounenkai Season!
2025 is coming to an end, and December in Japan can only mean one thing: Bounenkai season! In Japan, companies, friends, and families usually have their own year-end gatherings to look back on the past year. They don’t all meet together; each group gets together at different times.
The word “Bounenkai” (忘年会) literally means “a gathering to forget the year.” It carries the message: “Let’s forget the difficulties and challenges of this year, refresh our minds, and start the new year with a clean slate.”
Sharing food and drinks while saying “Great job this year!” or “Thank you for your hard work” has become a meaningful year-end ritual. It’s a moment to relax, celebrate achievements, and appreciate one another.
Another unique charm of Bounenkai?
You may discover interesting sides of your colleagues—something you may never see during regular working hours!
What Happens at a Bounenkai?
A Bounenkai is a unique Japanese year-end gathering where coworkers come together to look back on the year and show appreciation. But it’s not just a traditional dinner party!
You may see:
- Karaoke
- Bingo games with prizes
- Fun activities, contests, or even hidden talents revealed during talent shows!
It’s a chance for team members to connect not only as coworkers but as people—laughing, relaxing, and enjoying time together. A Bounenkai strengthens bonds, builds team spirit, and marks the end of the year in a memorable way.
ZenGroup’s Bounenkai
ZenGroup’s year-end party is an event held to wrap up the year by recognizing and appreciating our members’ contributions, and to encourage everyone to move forward into the new year with a positive mindset. It also serves as an opportunity to deepen connections among employees and to embody ZenGroup’s culture of “enjoying work together.”
On the day of the event, a wide variety of programs were prepared, including games that everyone could participate in, a talent contest featuring band performances, dance, stand-up comedy, and musical performances, as well as a raffle with exciting prizes. Among these, the annual “Year-in-Review Video,” jointly produced by ZenStudio—our in-house creative and video production team—and the HR Planning Team, is a long-standing favorite.
The party naturally brought together members from different departments who don’t often have the chance to interact, creating a lively and friendly atmosphere. At the same time, some participants enjoyed the stage performances quietly, reflecting one of the key features of ZenGroup’s year-end party: everyone is free to participate at their own pace. With fun accessories like Santa hats and cat ears, as well as photo booth sessions, many memorable moments were created. Through events like this, ZenGroup will continue to value human connections and foster a positive, engaging workplace culture.
Message
To our wonderful team at ZenGroup—thank you for your incredible efforts throughout 2025! There were many challenges and surprises along the way, but we made it through together as a team.
In 2026, ZenGroup plans on embracing new ideas, new challenges, and new opportunities with excitement.
Here’s to making next year even better—together. Cheers to a fantastic year ahead!
