Get the office buzzing! A collection of recommended entertainment and performance ideas for year-end and New Year parties
Have you ever been asked, “Can someone take charge of the entertainment?” and found yourself looking down without thinking? If you know crowd-pleasing acts for the company year-end party, there’s nothing to fear! From nostalgic TV commercial quizzes and delightfully absurd dance bits to easy-to-copy comedy gags, there are plenty of surprisingly simple ideas that really get people going.
In this article, we’ll showcase lots of entertainment ideas that are easy to prepare and can instantly brighten the atmosphere.
You’re sure to find hints for creating moments where seniors and juniors can laugh together!
A Hit at the Office! Top Entertainment and Performance Ideas for Year-End and New Year Parties (1–10)
Love so sweetstorm
“Love so sweet” is also recommended for those who want to practice together and perform a dance.
This song was released by the idol group Arashi as the theme for the drama “Hana Yori Dango 2 (Returns).” It was a huge hit, so many people know it, and its heartwarming lyrics make it appealing to all ages.
Another nice feature is its relaxed rhythm, which makes it easy to match choreography.
First, check out the tutorial video!
Telepathy Gesture Game
It’s no exaggeration to say that gesture games have long been a pillar of Japanese variety shows, and they’re always a hit as party entertainment.
Here, instead of a typical communication-style gesture game, we’ll introduce a telepathy-style version that tests whether two people are on the same wavelength.
First, present a prompt.
If the two performers make the same gesture, it’s a correct answer.
For example, if the prompt is “baseball” and one person acts as a batter while the other acts as a pitcher, that’s a miss.
It’s even more fun if you set up a screen so they can’t see each other’s gestures!
Hilarious tablecloth pull
Speaking of the New Year’s staple TV show “Celebrity Hidden Talent Contest,” Masakazu Sakai’s tablecloth-pulling act was a huge hit.
If you’re around your 50s, you probably watched it every year.
More recently, Wes-P has been in the spotlight.
He even performed a tablecloth pull on his stomach and competed on “Got Talent.” With tablecloth pulling being such a hot topic, it’s guaranteed to get the crowd going.
It does require some practice time, but it’s not impossibly difficult, right? If you’re thinking about picking up a new act, give it a try!
flash mob dance
Flash mobs that bring unexpected emotion to proposals and parties are a tempting choice for entertainment.
Yamauchi from the comedy duo Kamaitachi pulled off a huge gag by attempting a flash mob all by himself at his partner Hamaie’s wedding.
We wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re very brave… Since it’s mainly dancing, it may require a longer practice period than other performances.
It’s reassuring if you have a few people with dance experience.
For company events, it might be fun to divide into teams—like a junior team and a veteran team—and perform that way!
FUJIWARA Hara-Nishi’s gag
Takayuki Haranishi, the “boke” (funny man) of the comedy duo FUJIWARA.
His gags are all easy to perform at parties and weddings.
For example, there’s a gag where he pretends he’s about to greet everyone in Japanese but then greets them in Chinese instead—perfect as an opener or for a speech.
Most of his gags only take about five seconds, which makes them easy to roll out.
If you keep performing them one after another, people can enjoy themselves without any lull.
First, check out a bunch of his gags and pick the ones you like!
After-the-fact rock-paper-scissors game
Let me introduce a simple yet deep “after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors” game.
The rule is to play your move after the host gives an instruction.
For example, if the host says “Please lose” and shows rock, you should play scissors to lose.
The last person who makes no mistakes is the winner.
By changing the instructions—such as “Please win” or “Make it a tie”—the game becomes even more engaging.
This is a game anyone can enjoy, regardless of age or gender.
Perfect Coke-Only Game
The “Cut the meat to exactly 300g” challenge segment on the midday variety show Pokapoka is so simple, yet it always gets everyone excited.
Maybe that active participation mindset boosts the fun even more.
So how about a game where you drink a beverage to exactly the designated line? Since some people aren’t fond of carbonated drinks, everyone can prepare their favorite juice and give it a try.
If it’s a drink in a clear bottle, you could even draw the line directly on the bottle!
Heeello!koi (nishikigoi)
Nishikigoi, the winners of the 2021 M-1 Grand Prix, are so popular that there’s hardly a day you don’t see them on TV.
If you perform one of their routines, it’s sure to make people of all ages laugh.
That said, some people aren’t comfortable speaking in front of others or memorizing long bits.
In that case, why not try their classic gag—the greeting, “Hellooo there!”? It’s easy to do, and since it’s both a gag and a greeting, it’s perfect for opening a speech.
Rating Check Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@artbellangenagoya/video/7484572781951061256We’d like to introduce the “Ranking Check Game,” a perfect party activity to test participants’ discerning eye! The host prepares two options, and players simply choose which one they think is the real deal.
If you’re correct, you stay top-tier; if you’re wrong, your rank drops—a simple yet thrilling set of rules.
Anyone can join, and the unexpected results are sure to spark laughter! It’s great as a team competition too, and the moment you reveal who remained “first-class” at the end is always a highlight.
Give this game a try to instantly liven up your event!
Earphone Loud Telephone Game
You often see this game on variety shows too, right? I think the classic “telephone game” format is fun for all ages.
Preparing the music device is easy nowadays since we have smartphones.
If you don’t have headphones, earphones will do just fine.
For older participants, pick prompts about trends among young people; for younger participants, choose prompts with a Showa-retro vibe—add a little twist in how you select the topics.
The limit might be around 20 characters that people can memorize at once.
Getting some bitter tea ready as a penalty could make it even more exciting!