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Wonderful entertainment/performances

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!

Get the Office Buzzing! A Collection of Entertainment and Performance Ideas Recommended for Year-End and New Year Parties (21–30)

cheering squad

Nodai cheer squad at the wedding!
cheering squad

What’s being featured is a signature of the Tokyo University of Agriculture cheer squad: the Daikon Dance.

Dressed in their squad uniforms, they begin their cheer in a crisp, electrified atmosphere, but the sight of them performing while holding a daikon radish in each hand feels familiar and even brings a chuckle.

If you have a gathering or party with alumni from the university, why not showcase this beloved cheer from your alma mater? Performing it in its formal version will evoke nostalgia, and incorporating playful elements—like the daikon—can turn it into a lively crowd-pleaser.

manzai (a traditional Japanese stand-up comedy duo performance)

Manzai is a classic staple of comedy-style party entertainment! It does take time to come up with material and practice together, but it’s a crowd-pleaser across all generations.

Set a theme that fits the occasion—New Year’s parties, year-end parties, farewell and welcome parties, or after-parties—and sweep everyone up in laughter.

Since manzai relies on quick back-and-forth dialogue, perform with clear volume and pace that are easy to follow, while making sure the tempo doesn’t drag.

Get the Office Buzzing! A Collection of Recommended Entertainment and Performance Ideas for Year-End and New Year Parties (31–40)

Sing in a dialect

[Dubbing] You must not sing in a dialect: “Romance no Kamisama” [Okinawan dialect overload, Snow White – Winter Song version, I tried singing] #shorts *Not intended for children
Sing in a dialect

Singing in a dialect is a fun idea that warms everyone’s hearts and brings out smiles! Just adding a slightly different intonation or ending to your words instantly grabs the audience’s interest.

For example, try singing a song you know in the dialect of your hometown, or switch a popular song into a dialect—before you know it, people will be smiling and saying, “That dialect is so cute!” Dialects have a unique sound and warmth rooted in their regions, so simply singing in one can create a cozy atmosphere and make conversation flow more naturally—another reason it really livens things up.

It’s easy to try, so even if you feel a little shy, give it a go and have fun!

New-hire things people can relate to

[Hellish] Things that tend to happen to new employees “in their first week at the company”...
New-hire things people can relate to

Here’s a set of classic “new employee” bits I recommend for anyone looking for a quick, comedy-style gag.

You’ll really feel like you’ve entered the working world with your first taste of the commuter rush, get overwhelmed by quirky peers, and nearly have your spirit broken by the sheer amount you have to learn… It’s full of chuckle-worthy material that mixes joy and struggle.

Each bit is short, so it won’t be too hard to memorize.

Why not team up with your fellow newbies and perform them as sketch comedy? Senior employees who see your material might even give you advice—which could lead to some positive feedback.

Magic using a smartphone

I’m going to reveal the secret behind the magic trick for unlocking a smartphone.
Magic using a smartphone

A heart-pounding magic trick that lets you know someone’s smartphone passcode.

You can use it as a magic performance, but it’s also a handy technique if you secretly want to find out a family member’s or partner’s passcode.

It uses the iPhone’s calculator: first, have the person enter their passcode so the performer can’t see it, then have them add a random four-digit number.

After that, by pressing the minus button and then the equals button, you can immediately see the originally entered number—taking advantage of how the calculator works.

Name Bingo

Name 9-Square Bingo [Party Game for Banquets, Parties, Year-End Parties! After-Parties!]
Name Bingo

When it comes to bingo, the standard version uses numbers, but this one is played using participants’ names and headshots.

You’ll need the photos to create the roulette, so be sure to request them in advance.

Prepare bingo cards with names already filled in, or have participants write them on the day.

If there are many participants, some people may not recognize faces and names, so it would be helpful for the host to say, “This is Mr./Ms.

___.” Sharing a small bit of info about the person who appears on the roulette can also make the atmosphere friendlier.

No Katakana Hint Quiz

Online Drinking Party Game: No-Katakana Hint Quiz
No Katakana Hint Quiz

Figuring out the answer from the hints is the same as in a regular quiz.

However, in this “No Katakana Hint Quiz,” there’s a rule that you must not use katakana in the hints.

For example, if the answer is “supercar,” you might want to say “faster than a sports car” or “has a cool design,” but katakana is not allowed, so you have to rephrase it as “faster than other cars” or “the shape of the car body is cool.” The quiz giver should make full use of their vocabulary and choose words that are easy for the solver to understand!