A short note to add to your New Year’s card! A collection of message ideas that will make everyone smile

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

When writing New Year’s cards, many of us have struggled with what short message to add.

Set phrases can feel a bit bland, yet it’s hard to decide what else to write.

So here, we’ve gathered ideas for brief, heartwarming messages inspired by smiles—ones that will make the recipient grin without thinking.

From casual lines for close friends to one-liners for those you’re indebted to, we offer a variety of suggestions.

With a few small touches, your New Year’s card can truly reflect who you are!

A little note to add to your New Year’s cards! A collection of message ideas that will make you smile (21–30)

Let’s make lots of fun episodes again this year!

When you’re together, before you know it you’ve made a bunch of memories you can laugh about…

Don’t you have a friend you can naturally get excited with like that, too? I’m sure the people around you are sharing in the laughter as well, not just the two of you.

If the fun times you have together can make those around you smile, isn’t that wonderful? In the new year, keep cranking out funny stories and whip up a whirlwind of laughter with your friends!

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sasashina

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Let’s make this year another one where we both grow.

The wonderful thing about this message is the part about wanting to grow together, isn’t it? Saying “Let’s make this a year of growth” by itself can sound a bit impersonal, but adding “together” makes you feel you’re not the only one working hard—it feels friendly and very encouraging.

It’s a perfect phrase to send to close friends or companions who are chasing the same dream.

Friends are treasures in life, so please cherish them.

And not just in New Year’s cards—when you meet face to face, keep encouraging each other and continue aiming higher.

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sasashina

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A one-liner to add to New Year’s cards! A collection of smile-inducing message ideas (31–40)

Let’s make this year another one where we laugh together over silly things!

As we grow older, the number of people we can chat with about trivial things tends to decrease.

That’s why the friends we can talk to about silly, insignificant matters are all the more precious.

How about adding this message to your New Year’s card? It’s a line you can write precisely because we’re so comfortable with each other, and it conveys how much you enjoy those small, simple moments.

Let’s keep this rare and wonderful relationship—where we can talk about anything, even the silly stuff—going for a long time to come.

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All set to mess things up again this year!

It’s a perfect message to send on New Year’s cards to friends and close buddies.

The word yarakasu (“to mess up”) feels friendly, so it comes across positively and with a good dose of humor.

Adding a closing line like “I look forward to your continued support this year” will help tie the whole message together.

When sending to a boss or someone senior, it’s best to adjust the wording to something more polite, such as using “challenge” or “be proactive.” Add a phrase that reflects your personality to your New Year’s card and ring in a wonderful New Year.

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mayumi

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This year as well—moving forward gently, but surely!

If you want to move forward, you need to make an effort, right? Everyone knows that, but I think the amount and pace of effort differ from person to person.

This phrase is a message that gently gives you a push while understanding those feelings.

For someone who’s trying hard but not getting results, it can be a heartwarming encouragement.

It can also make you feel like, even little by little, maybe I’ll try something new.

It’s a wonderful line that has a positive effect on anyone.

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sasashina

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I’m looking forward to making fun memories together again this year.

This is a recommended New Year’s card message for people you spend a lot of time with, such as friends or coworkers.

It’s wonderful when the time you share with close companions turns into fulfilling moments.

In life, we encounter not only good things but also bad ones.

When we overcome those challenges, even the tough experiences can transform into happy memories.

These words take a positive view of everything that will happen in the coming year.

Including this message in your New Year’s card can also serve as a cheer to say, “Let’s do our best together this year, too.”

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Nakajima Junko

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Let’s laugh our heads off together this year too!

The idea of rolling makes you think of a daruma doll, so it feels like a very New Year-ish phrase.

And it’s not just about falling over—you roll around laughing! There aren’t many chances to laugh that hard, but if you do, it’s probably when you’re having fun from the bottom of your heart.

This phrase, inviting someone to share such moments together, is a wonderful message that conjures up joyful times.

Send it to the friends and teammates you always spend time with, along with your wish to make this year the best one yet.

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sasashina

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