Universal
Cultural · Seasonal
今年も大変お世話になりました。良いお年をお迎えください。 — Thank you so much for your kindness and support this year. I hope you have a wonderful New Year. (Cultural · Seasonal, Universal, JLPT N4)
You
今年も大変お世話になりました。良いお年をお迎えください。
ことしもたいへんおせわになりました。よいおとしをおむかえください。
Thank you so much for your kindness and support this year. I hope you have a wonderful New Year.
Romaji: Kotoshi mo taihen osewa ni narimashita. Yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai. / Reply Romaji: Kochira koso. Yoi otoshi wo.
Reply
こちらこそ。よいお年を。
こちらこそ。よいおとしを。
Likewise. Wishing you a happy new year.
Gesture & etiquette
Bow at 20-30 degrees when saying this — the depth should reflect the closeness and importance of the relationship. This farewell is typically exchanged on the last working day before year-end holidays. In a workplace, it becomes a brief but meaningful ceremony as everyone says it to each other on the last day.
Yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai' (please welcome a good new year) is the correct year-end farewell, said before December 31st. On January 1st and after, switch to 'akemashite omedetou' (happy new year). This distinction is important — mixing them up is a noticeable social error. Said with a bow, it closes the year's relationship chapter with warmth and formality.