Surprise party ideas that convey your gratitude
Surprises to liven up all kinds of parties—welcome and farewell gatherings, birthday parties, and more.
With programs that spark surprise and delight, you can convey your appreciation to coworkers, friends, or a significant other.
In this article, we’ll introduce surprise ideas you can use at party gatherings.
We’ve picked a wide range—from items you can gift along with a heartfelt message for someone who’s always been there for you or a cherished teammate, to unique ideas that will make everyone burst out laughing.
May your get-together be even more fun for everyone!
Banquet surprise ideas that convey gratitude (1–10)
Deliver messages on a large display
https://www.tiktok.com/@planetaxriuxm/video/7594463622416387349If you want to enjoy a surprise celebration, one option is to use a service that displays your message on a large city screen.
The big screens in front of central Tokyo stations like Shibuya and Shinjuku are famous, but these services are available across the country—from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu and Okinawa in the south—so it’s worth looking into.
Prices reportedly start around 10,000 yen on weekdays.
It sounds fun to go together and watch the message, doesn’t it? These services are used for all kinds of occasions—birthdays, anniversaries, messages from juniors or seniors, proposals—so be sure to check them out!
Letter song gift
Reading a letter you wrote yourself can be a bit embarrassing and surprisingly takes courage, right? But if you still want to properly express your gratitude, a “letter song” is recommended.
A letter song is where you put a melody to the words you wrote in a letter to convey your feelings.
Adding music helps reduce the embarrassment when sharing the contents of your letter.
If you know someone nearby who can compose, you can ask them to create the melody, or you can use companies or creators who make letter songs.
Message Card
Why not liven up your party with message cards? Handcrafted cards made with care will truly resonate with the recipient.
Try drawing illustrations with colorful pens or adding playful, interactive elements.
Shaping the card like a cake or a gift box—perfect for celebrations—is a great idea, too.
Write a message of congratulations or gratitude, and you’ll have a special, one-of-a-kind piece.
If you include the guest of honor’s favorite colors or items, they’ll appreciate it even more.
A unique card born from your free ideas will bring joy not only to the recipient but also to the giver.
Letter of Appreciation
We’ve introduced a lot of surprise ideas, and although saying this might undermine everything, I honestly think the best surprise is a “letter of appreciation.” You can simply read it as is, but adding a little twist can boost the surprise factor even more.
For example, just as the organizer starts the closing speech and the event seems to be ending, someone bursts in with a “Wait a second!” and, like a short skit, segues into reading the letter; or they act out, “I picked up a letter, let me read it,” and it turns out to be a thank-you letter.
Try coming up with all kinds of creative staging!
dubbing video
Dubbing videos that you can play and show at parties or gatherings are perfect for the occasion.
You can create them from any work—well-known Japanese folktales, Western films, anything you like.
Go for a humorous, playful dub, or narrate in a local dialect and give it as a gift to a friend moving to Tokyo.
Editing might seem difficult, but there are video editing apps that let you do everything right on your smartphone.
Take advantage of these convenient services and give it a try.
Dance to the trending song
How about spicing up your party with a surprise dance performance to a trending song? If you practice with your friends and put on a show, it’s sure to get everyone hyped! You could even get the guest of honor to join in.
For song choice, we recommend upbeat, high-tempo tracks or ones with distinctive choreography.
Spend some time dancing to great music, and you’ll create unforgettable memories.
Enjoy a special experience that deepens your bonds through music.
Appearance of a guest who has been of great help
When it comes to surprises that will wow someone feeling sad at a farewell party, having a guest who took good care of them show up is a classic.
It might be tough to coordinate schedules, but their joy will be doubled.
If a mentor, boss, or teacher who actually supported them appears, everyone will be stunned into silence! It would make for the perfect surprise.
