Welcome to the Nihongo Lesson feature. We strive to give you useful manga-based Japanese language tips and maybe even a glimpse into the translation process. After a long year of manga editing, TEAM JUMP's first meeting of 2016 started with one member asking about having a SHINNENKAI party. Before you ask why anyone would need a breather from reading manga all day...let's jump into this week's lesson!

BOUNENKAI (ぼうねんかい)

A BOUNENKAI is a party held at the end of the year. It literally means "forget-the-year party." The purpose is to have a lot of fun with your friends and coworkers and forget all the troubles of the previous year. Do you have any 2015 woes you wish to forget about...?

SHINNENKAI (しんねんかい)

A SHINNENKAI is a New Year's party that is held in January to welcome the arrival of the new year. Like the BOUNENKAI, friends and coworkers gather and wish each other a happy new year. Both of these parties usually take place a few days before and after New Year's Day. The first three days of January are generally reserved for family events, so you don't want any overlap. That is a lot of celebrating! If you've read Bakuman, you're aware of the Shonen Jump SHINNENKAI where all the serialized manga artists get together and celebrate the new year. Talk about a needed breather!

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