毎年会う

Using this phrase is like building a bridge between two people. You usually place the person you're meeting before the particle と. For example, 友だちと毎年会う means "I meet my friend every year." If you want to sound a bit more polite (like talking to a teacher), change 会う to 会います. It’s a very sturdy, reliable phrase that doesn't need much fluff to work its magic.

This is your go-to for talking about traditions. Use it when discussing New Year’s gatherings, summer festivals, or that one college buddy you only see during the holidays. It’s perfect for texting a group chat to confirm your annual dinner plans. It also works well in professional settings if you have a client you only see at a yearly conference. Just remember: it’s all about the cycle!

Don't use this for people you see frequently. If you see your coworker every Monday, saying 毎年会う will make them think you’ve forgotten the last 51 weeks! Also, avoid using it for a one-off meeting that just happens to be happening this year. It specifically describes a repeating, annual event. If you use it for a first date, you might sound a bit too intense about the long-term future—maybe wait until the second year for that joke!

In Japan, the concept of "seasonal" connection is huge. Many people live in big cities like Tokyo but return to their hometowns during *Oshogatsu* (New Year) or *Obon* (August festival). These annual reunions are the heartbeat of Japanese social life. There’s even a poetic feel to it, similar to the story of *Tanabata*, where two lovers are allowed to meet only once a year across the Milky Way.

If you want to say you *have been* meeting every year, use 毎年会っています. To suggest a meeting, try 毎年会いましょう (Let’s meet every year). If you’re feeling a bit nostalgic, you might say 毎年会いたい (I want to meet every year). You can also swap 毎年 for 毎年恒例で (maitoshi korei de) to say "as an annual tradition," which makes you sound like a real pro.