Research Laboratory Life ⑧ (Socializing): A Complete Guide to New Year's Gatherings and Drinking Parties - Etiquette and Culture of Year-end Gatherings in Japan

This article is part of theCh3: Life in a Research Laboratory"Part 8 of the series

Academics and Socialization

• ①Welcome to the New Student Training and Research Laboratory
• ②Classroom, Zoom, and Club Presentation 

Leisure & Entertainment

• ③Fuji-Q Highland Day Trip
• ④Tamagawa Hanabi Dai
• ⑤Fukuoka Driving Tour

Social Culture

• (6) BBQ under the Cherry Blossom Tree
• (7) Architecture Department Basketball Tournament Incident
• (8) Rituals of the New Year's Eve Party and Drinking Party← Present position

Highlights of this article

• Historical and Cultural Implications of the Japanese New Year's Eve Party (from the Muromachi Period to the Modern Age)
• Six features and ways of organizing a Memory Day.
• Complete Etiquette Guide for Japanese Drinking Parties (Points to note before, during, and after the gathering)
• In-depth analysis of Japanese seating culture (seating arrangements for upper and lower seats)
• Pouring Etiquette and the Right Way to Cheers Culture
• A True Experience of the Sato Laboratory's Annual Meeting
• How to Build Good Relationships at Cocktail Parties for International Students
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Guided Reading and Reading Suggestions

This post is the last in the "Life in Japan" series, and it's also the conclusion of the Social Culture section. Bounenkai (ぼうねんかい) is the most important social event at the end of the year in Japan, and is held in December by companies, research laboratories, clubs, and groups of friends. This article will give you an in-depth look at the history, cultural significance, organization, and most importantly, the history of BONNENKAI. Cocktail Party EtiquetteIf you are planning to study or work in Japan, this article will help you. If you are planning to study or work in Japan, this article will help you:

✅ Understanding the culture of New Year's Eve(History, Purpose, Characteristics)
✅ Mastering Cocktail Party Etiquette(A complete guide before, during and after the potluck)
✅ Learning the culture of seating(Upper and lower seating arrangements and connotations)
✅ Understanding Pouring Etiquette(How to properly pour, receive, and toast)
✅ Understanding Japanese Dry Cup Culture(Difference between "Cheers" and "Cheers" in Taiwan)
✅ Experience the warmth of a research laboratory（"Satouken's Memorable Years)

We recommend that you read the Quick Checklist, then read about the culture and etiquette of the party, and finally refer to the FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.

Quick Check Form (A must for attending Japan's Memorable Year Party)

• 📋 Preparing for the Memory Day Party
  •  Confirmation of the time, place and cost of the annual meeting
  •  Prepare appropriate attire (formal or semi-formal)
  •  Arrive 10-15 minutes early (never late!)
  •  Prepare business cards (if it's a workplace party)
  •  Confirm whether you need to prepare a show or game
  •  Find out the list of participants (who will be attending)
  •  Review Basic Cocktail Etiquette
  •  Preparation of topics (reviewing this year, looking ahead to next year)
• 📋 Cocktail Party Etiquette Check (before the potluck)
  •  Never late.(Arrive 10-15 minutes early)
  •  Choose a seat.(Near the entrance. The closer you are to the door, the lower the seat.)
  •  Help me take off my coat.(Offer to hang up a jacket for a teacher or senior)
  •  Help with ordering(Offer to help read and deliver the menu)
  •  Waiting for a toast.(Don't drink before a toast.)
• 📋 Cocktail party etiquette check (at the potluck)
  •  First beer.（"Tori Aaezu's draft beer, anyway, let's have a draft beer first.)
  •  Wait for a toast before you drink.（"Drink only after the executive orders a toast.)
  •  Lower your glass when toasting(One's cup is lower than that of one's teacher or predecessor)
  •  Active Pouring(When you see your teacher or senior sister's drink is less than half, you immediately make up for it.)
  •  Pouring with both hands(Hold the bottle with both hands, with the label facing out)
  •  Catch the cup with both hands(When someone pours you a drink, take it with both hands)
  •  Wait for the teacher to start eating.(Eat after your teacher or senior starts eating)
  •  Ask questions(Demonstrate a learning attitude, don't just talk about yourself)
  •  Timely Praise(Respect what the other person is saying and chime in when appropriate.)

The History and Culture of Japanese New Year's Eve Parties

🎉 What's a reunion?

Bokujin Kai (ぼうねんかい) It is a traditional end-of-year party in Japan, mainly held at work or among friends, similar to the Taiwanese tailgate, to thank for the efforts and mutual support of the past year."The Meaning of "Lost YearsBelow:

• Forget a year of hard work: Look back on this year and forget about the unpleasant things
• Thank you for your support!: Thanks to coworkers, friends, and family for being there!
• Welcome to the New Year: Preparing for the New Year and looking ahead

📜 The Historical Evolution of Memory Luncheons

There are many different stories about the origins of the festival, but many people believe it dates back to the Muromachi period.

📊 Now the hallmarks of a forgetful party

1. Purpose

The main purposes are as follows:

• Looking back at the efforts and achievements of the past year
• Thank you for your support
• Deepen friendships with friends and colleagues

cultural connotation: Japanese people emphasize the culture of "thank you", and the New Year's Eve party is a formal occasion to express gratitude.

2. Common Types

Below are some of the common types of parties that are organized:

3. Venue

The following are common locations:

4. Cultural orientation

The following are common activities:

5. Expectations for the New Year

The double meaning of the reunion is extremelyLooking Back and Looking ForwardThe following are some of the frequently asked questions:

• "What's the most memorable thing about this year?"
• "What are your goals for next year?"
• "Who do you thank most this year?"
• "What do you want to challenge next year?"

Some teachers may give out a calendar for the New Year at the Memorable Year's Party to give everyone a primer on the New Year.

📊 Forgetting the difference between a New Year's Eve party vs a Taiwanese tailgate

In Taiwan, there are also tailgates. Here are the differences between the Japanese New Year's Eve and the Taiwanese tailgate:

The Complete Etiquette Guide for Japanese Drinking Parties

It's important to have a good grasp of cocktail party etiquette, as this will help you make a good impression on your teachers and seniors and build good relationships.

📍 Pre-party etiquette

1. Punctuality is paramount: Never be late (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Few Japanese people I know are ever late, so getting together with Japanese people is a great way toNever be late.The

• Why do Japanese people value punctuality so much?

• Suggested Arrival Time
  • untimely 10-15 minutes Arrival
  • If I'm really late.Make sure you tell them in advance.
  • LINE or email the reason and estimated time of arrival.

2. Seating arrangements: select "lower seat" to be seated (importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Younger people should be seated in the "げざ"(げざ), a seat near the entrance to the restaurant. It is also important to show a positive attitude by offering to help with ordering and serving. Here's an explanationJapanese Seating Culture::

• Why this seating arrangement?

• Seat Selection Tips
  • When you see a teacher or a senior coming in, you willDon't grab a seat.
  • Actively choose a location near the door
  • If you're not sure, ask an executive or a senior.
  • Humility is a virtue. Don't fight for your seat.

Point: The farther away from the door, the more powerful the person is sitting.

3. Jacket retention: Active Help (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

When teachers or seniors take off their coats, you should help them to hang them on the hangers.

• Why are you doing this?
  • Demonstrates thoughtfulness and care
  • Make teachers or seniors feel respected
  • Creating a good first impression
• practice
  • When a teacher or senior takes off his/her coat, take the initiative to go up to him/her and take the coat with both hands.
  • Say, "I'll hold it for you."
  • Hang it on a hanger or put it in a designated place.

🍺 Etiquette at Potlucks

1. First drink: "とりあえず生ビール" (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

In Japan, it's common to hear the phrase "とりあえず生ビール(Chinese: 總之先來杯生啤酒吧)", which means that it's best to choose a beer that's easy to serve in order to make the process of drying a glass go smoothly.

• Why do you want a beer for your first drink?

• What if I don't know how to drink?
  • You can take a sip and then switch to another drink, or just order a non-alcoholic beer (ノンアルコールビール).
  • In recent years, the trend of not having a beer for the first drink is slowly gaining momentum.

2. Bottoms up: wait for an order from an official before drinking (importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Unlike the Chinese word "乾杯" which means "to drink up", the Japanese word "乾杯（かんぱい）" is more of a "toasting" word.Cheers::

• Why is the glass lowered?
  • Demonstrate respect and humility to elders.
  • Embodiment of Japanese Class Culture
• Dry Cup Process
  • The organizer said, "So, cheers!" （"So, cheers!)
  • Let's all raise our glasses and say, "KANJI!"
  • Clinking glasses (one's glass is lower than the teacher's or predecessor's glass)
  • Take a sip (you don't need to actually "dry" it off)

💡 Cultural Observations: The Japanese word for "cheers" is not really to drink it all in one gulp, but just to take a symbolic sip.

3. Pouring wine: take the initiative to help teachers or seniors to replenish the wine (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is one of the most important rituals at a cocktail party.

• Pouring Time
  • When you see your teacher's or senior's glass is less than half full, you need to Tonic on the Horse
  • Don't wait until the glass is empty.
  • Be proactive, don't wait for the other person to talk.
• Pouring Tips

• Cocktail Reception
  • When someone pours you another drink, be Catch the cup with both hands
  • Take a sip and put it back on the table.
  • Say "ありがとうございます".
• What if I can't drink?
  • To politely decline, say "お酒が飲めないんです" (I can't drink alcohol)
  • or "もう十分です" (もう十分です) (already enough)

4. Dining: Wait for teachers or seniors to start eating (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

• Rules: Wait until teachers or seniors start eating.
• Why are you doing this?
  • Demonstrating respect for elders is an expression of Japanese class culture.
  • Avoid looking hungry or impolite.
• Dining Etiquette
  • After the teacher started eating, he said, "いただきます" (I'm starting).
  • Chewing with your mouth closed during meals (see Part 6 on dining etiquette)
  • Don't make too much noise.
  • Praise the food "美味しいですね" (it's delicious) in a timely manner

5. Ways to Talk: Questions and Favors (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is a personal suggestion. If you can, try to do the following two things.

Ask questions and demonstrate an attitude of learning.

• Why do you ask questions?
  • Demonstrate interest in the other person
  • Make the other party feel valued
  • Breaking the ice and facilitating conversation
• Questioning techniques

• Points of Attention
  • Don't just talk to yourself. Listen to me.
  • Don't ask too personal questions (salary, love, family issues)
  • Don't talk about negative topics at cocktail parties.

Applaud the other person: respect the conversation and praise at the right time

• Why are you here?
  • Make the other party feel respected.
  • Creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere for conversation
  • Demonstrate social skills
• cupping technique

• Advantages of being a foreigner
  • I don't think I'm fluent in Japanese.
  • But if you listen as hard as you can, you can get a lot of information out of it.
  • Show your concentration with a look, an expression, a nod.

👋 Post-Party Etiquette

1. Say "ご馳走様でした"：It must be said when you are invited (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Especially when you are invited, be sure to say "ご馳走様でした(Thank you for your hospitality.)". When you are invited, be sure to say "Thank you for your hospitality.

• Meaning of "ご馳走様でした" (ご馳走様でした)
  • literal meaningThank you for your hospitality.
  • Deeper MeaningThank you for all the work you put into preparing this meal (in ancient times it took a lot of traveling to prepare the ingredients)!
  • cultural connotation: Express gratitude for the food, the person who prepared it, and the person who invited the guest.
• Time of Use
  • At the end of the meal
  • When you leave the restaurant

2. Expressing gratitude: on the train or the next day (Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Express your gratitude to your teachers or seniors on the next day or on the way back from the train. If you don't have the chance to meet in person, you can also email or send a message via LINE. The following are good times to say thank you.Thank you.::

💡 Cocktail Party Ritual Summary

By observing the above etiquette and establishing good interpersonal relationships, you will have more valuable people willing to help you, which will not only be helpful for your future studies, but will also enable you to learn the basic etiquette of the workplace early. Therefore, try to treat a cocktail party as a valuable learning opportunity, actively participate in it, and learn it well.

Sato Laboratory Annual Meeting

On December 14th, after celebrating Murata's birthday, all the members of the laboratory went to the izakaya-lined "Gonoguchi" station, where Nakata and Wada led the way to the restaurant they had made reservations for.

📖 Memorable Annual Meeting Activities

The event included a review of the year's events, gossip and sharing of photos of the teachers' children, with everyone enjoying a drink, a laugh and a good time.

A look back at this year's events

Gossip Time

Share personal news

My Observations::

"At a drinking party, Japanese people will let go of their normal reserve and say many things that they would not normally say. This is the difference between 'Honin' (genuine speech) and 'Kenzen' (superficial speech). Alcohol makes Japanese people open up and show their true colors."

🎊 Forget the warmth of a yearly party.

It was my first time to attend a Japanese reunion and one of the most unforgettable memories of my time at the Sato Research Laboratory. In this warm evening, I felt the deep friendship among the members of the Laboratory. We are not just colleagues or classmates, but more like family. This warmth and support made me feel less lonely in a foreign country.

Conclusion

From Mr. Murata's birthday party to unlimited drinks at an izakaya, from reviewing this year's events to sharing photos of teachers' children, each moment has given me a profound sense of The Warmth of the Research Laboratory FamilyThe

The New Year's Eve party is not only a custom at the end of the year in Japan, but also an opportunity for the members of the Laboratory to bond with each other, review the events of the year and prepare for the new year in a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. At the same time, I felt the warmth and support of the Laboratory as a big family.

I learned from this experience:

• ✅ Cocktail party etiquette is importantPunctual, selective seating, active pouring, active questioning
• ✅ Seating culture has deep meaning: Upper and Lower seats reflect Japanese class culture
• ✅ Pouring is a social key.: Show consideration by offering to pour drinks for teachers or seniors.
• ✅ You have to say thank you.: Be sure to say thank you after the dinner.
• ✅ Memorable Years is a valuable opportunityThis is the best place to build relationships.
• ✅ A research lab is like a family.: We're not just coworkers, we're family.

If you are going to study in Japan, I highly recommend it:

Actively participate in the annual dinner party and other events!

By observing cocktail party etiquette and establishing good interpersonal relationships, more people will be willing to help you. This will not only help you in your future research, but also help you to learn the basic etiquette of the workplace at an early stage. Treat cocktail parties as a valuable learning opportunity, and actively participate in them.

Chapter 3 Summary

This is the last post in the "Life in Japan" series. From new student training, welcome party at the research laboratory, to classroom, ゼミ and club presentation, from Fuji-Q Highland and Tamagawa Fireworks Festival, to Fukuoka driving tour, from BBQ under the cherry blossom tree, to Architecture Department basketball game, to the last year reunion, this series of articles recorded my exchange year at Tohoku University of Science and Technology (formerly known as the TUT).

Thank you for reading! We hope that these experiences will help you understand more about studying in Japan, and we look forward to seeing you create your own exciting story in Japan.

GANBAYOTE!(Go!)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Readers

Related Resources

• The Origin of New Year's Gatherings and the Custom of Transitioning to Scenic Products
• Meaningful and Intentional? We're going to throw a party to celebrate our anniversary!
• Conversation Techniques for Drinking Clubs with All Managers and Drinking Clubs - Newcomer's Edition

Read Next

Let's go, let's read the next one!

Record of Extracurricular Activities ① (Campus Festivals): A Complete Guide to the East University of Science and Technology Campus Festivals - Suzukakaidai Festival and TU Festival in-depth Experience

A complete experience of the Tokyo University of Science and Technology (former Tokyo Institute of Technology) student festival! In-depth analysis of the Suzukake-dai and TOU festivals, the Oppon Kempas, the Pearl Milk Tea booths, the Cosplay Café, and the Research Laboratory exhibits, as well as how international students can participate in the festival. Suitable for international students, Japanese culture enthusiasts, and campus culture researchers.

tjlink-global.com

Want a little refresher on the last one?

Laboratory Life (7): Basketball Tournament in the Architecture Department - A warm story of disappointment and reunion in Japanese boxing.

This is a documentary about a basketball game played by international students at Tokyo University of Science and Technology (the former Tokyo Institute of Technology)! From the disappointment of the game being canceled, to buying popsicles for everyone, to the culture of apologizing with a 90-degree bow, to a game of Japanese boxing, to an unexpected reunion with a coaching assistant, this is a complete record of small acts of kindness that builds relationships, and is suitable for both international students and fans of Japanese culture.

tjlink-global.com

Or go back to the EP1 catalog for a different story?

EP1: Become an exchange student at Tokyo University of Science and Technology! (Former Tokyo Institute of Technology)

A boy who hated reading as a child, and even had his exam papers rubbed by his English teacher, was impressed by the Japanese construction technology during an intercollegiate exchange competition in Japan at his university, and made up his mind to go to Japan to study... Chapter 1: Preparation 1.1) Preparation for the Taiwan School...

tjlink-global.com