“Bonenkai” is what you have at the end of the year, typically in December. “Shinnenkai” is what you have at the beginning of the year, typically in January. Following the Japanese tradition, I have been having a few shinnenkai’s since the start of the year with a few more to follow this week. The very first was at a pizzeria on January 8th with business associates (which includes my best friend who works in the same industry).
Got to know one of the younger ladies from another company, technically a competitor, and that was fun.