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Get the office buzzing! A collection of recommended entertainment and performance ideas for year-end and New Year parties

Get the office buzzing! A collection of recommended entertainment and performance ideas for year-end and New Year parties
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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)

flash mob dance

[Latest 2025] For a lively year-end party, go with a flash mob dance
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!

Hilarious tablecloth pull

Learn from a street performer! A party trick anyone can use for entertainment: the hilarious tablecloth pull
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!

Telepathy Gesture Game

Banquet Entertainment Series, Vol. 3: Telepathy Gesture Game
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!

Love so sweetstorm

[Love so sweet] Arashi: (For adults!) Easy dance. Perfect for performances or shows! Simple arranged dance!
Love so sweet Arashi

“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!

Perfect Coke-Only Game

Perfect Cola Drinking Game [A Great Pick for After-Parties and Year-End Parties]
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!

After-the-fact rock-paper-scissors game

[Banquet/Party Game] Engage your brain to the max! Reverse Rock-Paper-Scissors Game
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.

FUJIWARA Hara-Nishi’s gag

Haranishi: The Complete Gag Collection
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!