Bōnenkai
bōnenkai 忘年会 literally forget year gathering japanese drinking party take place end year generally held among group coworkers friend purpose party name implies forget woe trouble past year hopefully look new year usually consumption large amount alcohol bōnenkai take place specific day usually held within december bōnenkai observed party friend coworkers sponsored company business office employee bōnenkai part new year shogatsu celebration last january instead way ending year group celebration tradition started th century muromachi period gathering express thanks time party known nōkai 納会 great achievement gathering th century become known bōnenkai yearend party bōnenkai seen time bureikō 無礼講 letting one hair worrying bossemployee formal relationship rank age division business decides bōnenkai take account several thing planning party concern ensure enough employee management attend also try set generalized cost yen per person used cover cost party discourage employee attending party expensive company pay entire cost party time opt party traditional izakaya restaurant drinking place majority bōnenkai held instead business premise save lot money process since late th century banquet party held similar intention modernday bōnenkai th december group samurai lord would gather observe called forgetting year consisted typical upperclass activity like writing reciting poetry followed large feast type party become commonplace regular populace japan abolishment feudal ruling system late th century around time period story written japanese author tsubouchi shōyō entitled 忘年会 published newspaper depicted one party featured boisterous discussion prolific drinking entertaining geisha postoccupation japan lifetime employment system established company incorporated many companyorganized event one usually endoftheyear bōnenkai december shinnenkai new year gathering january