self introduction japanese essay

Your Step-by-Step Jikoshoukai Guide Learn the basics, practice, and create an advanced Japanese self-introduction

October 11, 2016 • words written by Mami Suzuki and Michael Richey • Art by Aya Francisco

Viewing under The Tofugu JET Program Guide

When you start learning Japanese or are visiting Japan for the first time , there are few words to learn right away:

Once you've mastered those three, you need to learn your jikoshoukai.

Jikoshoukai 自己紹介（じこしょうかい） is the Japanese word for "self-introduction." In theory, this is similar to how you would introduce yourself in your own culture. Say hello, say your name, tell a little about yourself. But in practice, there are cultural differences and set procedures you should stick to. You only get one first impression, so it's important to learn how to do it right.

We'll start by teaching you the basic Japanese self-introduction, then cultural subtleties, and finally a ton of extra grammar and vocabulary you can use to talk about yourself with your new Japanese friends.

Jikoshoukai Vocabulary

Writing your jikoshoukai, 1. first name and family name, 2. occupation, 3. don't talk about yourself too much, 4. bowing vs. handshake, 5. holding your hands behind your back, 6. don't bow while talking, business cards, "nice to meet you", "please be kind to me", where you are from, your school, where you live, hobbies and proficiencies, plans for the future, only the beginning, how to jikoshoukai.

Going to Japan, but don't know Japanese? Don't worry. You can jikoshoukai. The Japanese self-intro has a standard order and set phrases, so even beginners can meet and greet in Japanese.

How do you do?

The set phrase hajimemashite 初めまして（はじ　　　　） either comes from the verb hajimeru 始める（はじ　　） , which means "to start," or it's a shortened form of 初めて（はじ　　）お目（め）にかかりまして. Though etymologists aren't sure of the word's true origin, hajimemashite implies beginning or doing something for the first time . Most people think of it as saying "How do you do?" or "Nice to meet you."

私（わたし）は [name] と申します（もう　　　）。
My name is [name].

The breakdown of this sentence is easier than it looks. It has three parts:

私（わたし）は - The first word 私 means "I" or "me." It's followed by the particle は which indicates the topic of the sentence. In this case, 私 is the topic.
[name] - Your name.
と申します（もう　　　） - One meaning of the verb 申す is "to be called." It's paired with the particle と and conjugated to 申します。 This is a polite phrase, so it's safe to use in almost any situation.

When you put them all together, you get something along the lines of "I am called [name]" or "My name is [name]."

よろしくお願い（ねが　）します。
Please be kind to me.

The final piece of the puzzle is よろしくお願い（ねが　）します. It doesn't translate well to English, which is why we wrote a whole article about it . In a self-intro situation, it means something like "Please be kind to me." It's often translated as "Nice to meet you." This isn't technically correct, though it carries a similar feeling.

Now that you've got the basic building blocks down, it's time to put it together. At its simplest, the jikoshoukai sequence is:

はじめまして。私（わたし）は (name) と申（もう）します。よろしくお願（ねが）いします。
How do you do? My name is (name). Please be kind to me.

See? Not so hard. When you're getting ready to meet Japanese people for the first time, write this out and practice until it flows. If you're a beginner at Japanese , you don't need any more than this.

Jikoshoukai Etiquette

It's great to know the words to say when introducing yourself in Japanese, but how you say those words will make or break your jikoshoukai.

There are cultural differences to be aware of. They're subtle, so if you miss them it probably won't be counted against you. But paying attention to details like these can give you an extra social edge when you first meet a new Japanese friend.

In English, people usually introduce themselves by their first names or full names. When you give your full name, the first name comes first and the family name afterward.

In Japanese, people usually introduce themselves by their family names or full names. When they introduce their full name, the family name comes first and the first name comes second.

Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

In English, when you asked what you do for work, you give a brief summary of your job, or the name of your profession.

In Japan, it's common to answer only, " 会社員（かいしゃいん）です。" (I'm an office worker./I work for a company./I'm a salaryman.)

However, if you introduce yourself to someone in a business setting, mention your company in your self-intro. For example:

Tofuguのコウイチと申します（もう　　　）。
I'm Koichi from Tofugu.

This concept goes along with our next point…

Japanese people sometimes say lightly self-deprecating things as a form of humility, but it's usually followed by something positive (or the positivity is implied). For example:

至らない点が多いかもしれませんが、頑張りますので、よろしくお願い（ねが　）します
I might have many flaws, but I'll do my best so please be kind to me.

You don't have to say anything like this (in fact, we advise you don't), but the point is this: Japanese people usually keep their strengths on the down-low.

So try not to show off too much. Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

In the West, if you're meeting someone one-on-one, you shake hands.

In Japan, don't move in for the handshake, especially if your status is the same or lower than the person you're meeting. In Japan, handshakes are for equals, so if you try to shake hands with the Emperor, it would be considered rude. Bow instead, and do so at the beginning and end of your jikoshoukai.

In Japan, holding your hands behind your back signals importance, so it may make you look full of yourself. Put your hands in front of you (the left hand on top of the right), or put your hands beside you.

This is a no-no from our Japanese bowing guide . Do your bowing after giving your self-introduction. Make sure to finish saying "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" and then bow.

Business cards in Japan are called meishi 名刺（めいし） , and are an important part of Japanese culture. Even outside of the business world, Japanese people sometimes have personal meishi made (meishi means "name card" after all).

We covered meishi etiquette in our article about Japanese work customs , but here are the rules again in a jikoshoukai context.

Orient your card toward the recipient. Give and receive meishi with two hands.

Put meishi in a carrying case: You can buy business card carrying cases online or at any department store in Japan. If you don't have a case, you can carefully put the meishi in your purse or wallet after you've received it. Just don't put it in your pocket.

Use two hands: Orient your card toward the recipient when presenting. Hold the top edge with both hands. When they offer their card, accept it with two hands. Try not to cover any words with your fingers either. Some Japanese people are taught that a meishi is the "face" of the person giving it, so you don't want to cover theirs or your own.

When you and your new friend offer each other meishi at the same time: Present your card with your right hand, while simultaneously receiving theirs with your left.

Read meishi you receive: Read the person's name and title on the card before you put it away. Make sure to show interest in what they do. Act at least a little bit impressed with their job title.

When exchanging meishi in a group, give to the most senior person first: Start by giving your business card to the shachou, then fukushachou, and so on down the chain of command .

Treat meishi with respect: Use common sense and treat meishi like you would a gift. Don't toss or write on them.

Expanding the Basic Jikoshoukai

video game level up screen showing jikoshoukai advancement

Maybe you've been doing your Japanese self-intro for years, repeating the same three set phrases over and over. Maybe you've read this guide before and have the basics down pat. You're ready to level up!

Below are example sentences you can mix into your standard jikoshoukai to give it more flavor, and make your self-intro a memorable one.

Earlier we learned how to use はじめまして (nice to meet you, how do you do). Here's a few ways to add to this set phrase.

こんにちは。はじめまして。
Hello. Nice to meet you.
みなさん、はじめまして。
Nice to meet you, everyone.
みなさん、こんにちは。はじめまして。
Hello everyone. Nice to meet you.

For a formal situation, you should say both your first and last names. In a casual situation, it's common to say only your family name for Japanese people.

If you're an English teacher on something like the JET Program , your school might want you to give your first name when you introduce yourself to the students. Ask your supervisor what's appropriate for the situation.

Below are several ways to introduce your name, organized by politeness in ascending order.

私（わたし）の名前（なまえ）はマイケルですが、みんなにはマイクって呼ばれて（よ　　　）います。
My name is Michael, but most people call me Mike.
I'm Michael.

Very Formal:

マイケルと申します（もう　　　）。

Very Formal/Business:

Tofuguのマイケルと申します（もう　　　）。
I'm Michael from Tofugu.

When you end your jikoshoukai, you'll use a phrase that means "Please be kind to me" or "Remember me favorably." But once you've got a handle on the standard " yoroshiku onegaishimasu ," you can move on to more casual or more formal variations. Below we've organized them by politeness level in ascending order.

Polite/Business:

どうぞ、よろしくお願い（ねが　）します。
よろしくお願い（ねが　）致します（いた　　　）。

Very Polite/Business:

どうぞ、よろしくお願い（ねが　）致します（いた　　　）。

Formal/Business:

よろしくお願い（ねが　）申し上げます（もう　あ　　　）。
どうぞ、よろしくお願い（ねが　）申し上げます（もう　あ　　　）。

Custom Jikoshoukai Modification

From here we get into the fun stuff. After expanding on the initial three pieces of the Japanese self-introduction, you can start adding information about yourself, short sentences that explain where you're from, what you like to do, and so on.

These jikoshoukai modifications will help people get to know you faster when you first introduce yourself. This is especially important as you start to make more Japanese friends, go on dates, or have job interviews.

Telling where you're from is always a good addition to a self-intro. Even if you don't use it during the initial jikoshoukai, your new Japanese friend will probably ask you anyway, so memorizing a few of these phrases is extra useful.

Two quick vocabulary usage notes: First, the word shusshin 出身（しゅっしん） mean's "person's origin," and refers more to the place you were born or grew up than where you currently live. It's often used for specific places like a city, state, or prefecture, rather than a country. For example, Mami was born in Osaka, and now lives in Canada. But she spent most of her life in Nara, so she says " 奈良県（ならけん）の出身（しゅっしん）です。" or " 出身（しゅっしん）は奈良県（ならけん）です。"

Second, the verb mairu 参る（まいる） is a more humble form of kuru 来る（く　） or iku 行く（い　） . So when 参る（まい　） is used to talk about where you came from in "アメリカから参りました（まい　　　） ," it's much more humble, so use it in appropriate situations.

アメリカの出身（しゅっしん）です。
I'm from America.
アメリカから来ました（き　　　）。
アメリカから参りました（まい　　　　）。
オレゴン州（しゅう）のポートランドから来ました（き　　　）。生まれ（う　　）も育ち（そだ　）もポートランドです。
I'm from Portland, Oregon. Born and raised.
生まれ（う　　）は大阪（おおさか）ですが、育ち（そだ　）は東京（とうきょう）です。
I was born in Osaka, but grew up in Tokyo.
育ち（そだ　）はニューヨークです。
I grew up in New York.
田舎（いなか）で育ちました（そだ　　　　）。
I grew up in the countryside.
生まれ（う　　）は東京（とうきょう）ですが、十歳（じゅうさい）の時（とき）に大阪（おおさか）に引っ越しました（ひ　こ　　　　）。そして、大学（だいがく）に入る（はい　）時（とき）に、名古屋（なごや）に引っ越して（ひ　こ　　）来ました（き　　　）。
I was born in Tokyo, but moved to Osaka when I was ten, and lived there until I entered university, which is when I came to Nagoya.
小さい（ちい　　）時（とき）、家族（かぞく）が何度も（なんど　）引っ越した（ひ　こ　　）ので、私（わたし）には育った（そだ　　）場所（ばしょ）というのはないんです。
My family moved a lot when I was little, so I'm not really from anywhere.

School, from elementary up through university , is a big part of Japanese life. Be prepared to have people ask alma mater and what you studied. Or cut them off at the pass by including the information in your jikoshoukai.

Ⓐ 大学（だいがく） Ⓑ 学部（がくぶ） Ⓒ 科（か）の出身（しゅっしん）です。
I graduated from the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
Ⓐ 大学（だいがく） Ⓑ 学部（がくぶ） Ⓒ 科（か）の学生（がくせい）です。
I'm a student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
Ⓐ 大学（だいがく） Ⓑ 学部（がくぶ） Ⓒ 科（か）の二年生（にねんせい）です。
I'm a second year student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
オレゴン大学（だいがく）で、二年間（にねんかん）東（ひがし）アジアの歴史（れきし）を専攻（せんこう）していました。
I studied East Asian history at Oregon university for two years.

Occupation is a common conversation topic when meeting someone new. If you're doing business in Japan (or want to), you'd better learn at least one of these phrases.

A quick grammar usage note: some of these jikoshoukai example sentences use the continuous state conjugation of suru する（） which is shiteimasu しています（） . If you want to get extra polite with any of these sentences, swap out しています with shiteorimasu しております（） . One easy switch and you're ready to tell CEOs and presidents about your work situation.

Tofuguで編集長（へんしゅうちょう）をしています。
I'm the chief editor of Tofugu.
トヨタで営業（えいぎょう）を担当（たんとう）しています。
I'm working in sales at Toyota.
会計課（かいけいか）に配属（はいぞく）になりました、佐藤（さとう）です。
I'm Satou , assigned to the accounts department.
私（わたし）は会社員（かいしゃいん）です。
I'm an office worker.
私（わたし）は英語（えいご）の教師（きょうし）です。
I'm an English teacher.
私（わたし）は英語（えいご）を教えています（おし　　　　　）。
I teach English.
私（わたし）はこの学校（がっこう）で英語（えいご）を教えます（おし　　　）。
I'm going to teach English at this school.
私（わたし）は東（ひがし）フグ小学校（しょうがっこう）で働いて（はたら　　）います。
I'm working at East Fugu Elementary School.
私（わたし）は東（ひがし）フグ小学校（しょうがっこう）に勤めて（つと　　）います。
I'm working for East Fugu Elementary School.

"You live around here?" is a common question no matter the culture. Be ready to answer questions about your living situation with these sentences.

東京（とうきょう）に住んで（す　　）います。
I live in Tokyo.
東京（とうきょう）駅（えき）の近く（ちか　）に住んで（す　　）います。
I live near Tokyo station.
東京（とうきょう）駅（えき）の近く（ちか　）のマンションに住んで（す　　）います。
I live in an apartment near Tokyo station.

Hobbies are super important part of life in Japan. Japanese junior high and high school students take school club activities seriously ( sometimes more than academics ) and this passion often continues into adult life. If you have a hobby, that is your "thing." Even if you don't think of your interests as "hobbies," describe them as such anyway. It will help people understand you better . Alternatively, you can say what you like and don't like.

趣味（しゅみ）は[____]です。
My hobby is [____].
趣味（しゅみ）は[____]することです。
My hobby is to do [____]
[____]が趣味（しゅみ）です。
[____]することが趣味（しゅみ）です。
私（わたし）は[____]が好き（す　）です。
I like [____]
[____]も好き（す　）です。
I also like [____]
[____]は好き（す　）ではありません。
I don't like [____]
私（わたし）は[____]することが好き（す　）です。
I like to do [____]
私（わたし）は[____]が得意（とくい）です。
I'm good at [____].
私（わたし）は[____]することが得意（とくい）です。
I'm good at doing [____].
私（わたし）は[____]が苦手（にがて）です。
I'm not good at/I don't like [____](noun)
私（わたし）は[____]することが苦手（にがて）です。
I'm not good at doing [____].

What do you want to be when you grow up? What new skills are you trying to develop? What are you going to eat for lunch tomorrow? Answer these questions and more with the example sentences below.

Grammar usage note: the noun tsumori つもり（） is used to tell what you plan to do. It's most commonly used in situations where you've already made up your mind. It's definite. Don't use it for instances where you're kind of maybe thinking about something, but you're not sure yet.

[____]ようと考えて（かんが　　）います。
I'm thinking about doing [____].
[____]したいと思って（おも　　）います。
I'd like to do [____].
[____]つもりです。
私（わたし）の目標（もくひょう）は[____]です。
My object is [____].
[____]に挑戦（ちょうせん）したいと思って（おも　　）います。
I'd like to challenge [____].

Now you know what it takes to put together a stellar jikoshoukai in Japanese. Put the pieces together, mind the cultural differences, and practice till its second nature.

With a solid self-intro on your side, you're poised to start your relationships right. Just don't forget your business cards.

Japanese Writing Lab #1: Basic self-introduction

In a recent post I announced I would be starting a new program on my blog called “Japanese Writing Lab” that aims to motivate people to practice writing in Japanese, provides feedback on their writing, and allows them to see posts of other Japanese learners. This article represents the first writing assignment of that program.

For this assignment, I’d like to focus on a very common, but important topic: self-introduction, known as 自己紹介 (jiko shoukai) in Japanese.

Self-introductions can range widely from formal to casual, and from very short (name only) to much longer. This time, I’d like everyone to focus on writing a basic self-introduction whose main purpose is to actually introduce yourself to me and others in the group. So while it is a writing exercise, it actually serves an important purpose as well. Try to keep it brief (a few sentences is fine) and stick more to written language as opposed to spoken language. For example, you would avoid using things like “あの。。。” which you might say if you actually spoke a self-introduction.

For those who are comfortable writing a self-introduction in Japanese, you can go ahead and get started. If you have written one recently, I suggest you try to write one again from scratch without referring to it unless you really get stuck.

Once you finish this writing assignment please post it via one of the two following methods:

For those who have a blog (WordPress or anywhere else is fine): post it on your blog, and post a comment on this article including a link to your post. I also suggest adding a link on your post back to this article, so people who find your post can follow it to read other people’s submissions.
For those who don’t have a blog: simply post it as a comment to this article with the text you’ve written. [Note: creating a blog is pretty easy and free on many sites, so if you have a few minutes I’d just consider just trying to create a blog]

I’ll be reading through the submitted assignments and will try to make constructive comments. I highly recommend for everyone submitting to read other people’s submissions.

For those who are not too familiar with how to write self-introductions in Japanese, here is a general template to help you get started (taken from this Japanese website). If you want to do your own research on how to write a self-introduction, that is fine as well. Feel free to omit any of the below categories, for example if you don’t want to discuss where you live.

Keep in mind that for a self-introduction in Japanese, it is usually best to use at minimum basic polite language, like ~です and ~ます, since you aren’t likely to be on very familiar terms with those you are speaking to.

General template for basic self-introduction

僕（私) の名前は [your name here] です。

Place where you live (住所)

住所は[place where you live]というところです。

Hobbies (趣味)

趣味は [one or more of your hobbies]です。

仕事は「your current job」をしています。

Positive ending

[try to think of something positive to close with]

My submission

For each assignment I will give my submission as well, to help give you ideas. Feel free to send me questions or comments about my submission.

For this assignment I’ll keep things pretty simple and mostly follow the template I gave above, but in future assignments I’ll start using more advanced language and get more creative.

僕の名前はlocksleyuです。

住所はオレゴン州のポートランドですが、先週までは南フロリダに住んでいました。

趣味は色々ありますが、最近は日本の小説を読んだりチェスをやったりしています。

仕事はソフトウェア開発をしています。

このクラスで日本語の文章力を向上できたらいいと思います。

よろしくお願いします。

22 thoughts on “ Japanese Writing Lab #1: Basic self-introduction ”

Hi – I put together a WordPress site today so I could participate in this, and also to encourage me to write in Japanese.

Here’s my basic self introduction article: https://bokunojapanese.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/japanese-writing-lab-1-basic-self-introduction/

I tried once yesterday and once just now to post here and I am not seeing anything getting through. Are these comments moderated? Is there some other issue? I’m sick of retyping my introduction 🙁

The comments are moderated (that is the default setting of WordPress) but I check very often and approve pretty much all comments except for Spam. For some reason I didn’t see any of your comments from yesterday, only two from today.

I’ll read your other comment and respond now.

OK, this blog doesn’t seem to accept Japanese characters as comments (I just tried a third time).

I’m sorry that you are experiencing trouble. I’ll try to do my best help you out so we can get this solved (:

I have used Japanese before in comments. Let’s test now:

こんにちは [<- can you read this?] What happens when you try to write Japanese characters? Can you please make a post like this with some Japanese and some English so I can see what it looks like? Also, what browser/OS are you using? Can you try a variation of either? I am using Safari/Mac OS.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I’m reading that. The last three comments I have made that have included either all Japanese characters or a mix of Japanese and English have just…vanished. Like, I click “post” and the page refreshes but I don’t see my comment or even a “Your comment is pending” notification. I’m on Chrome on Mac OS, everything’s reasonably up to date.

Here’s a comment with English and hiragana only: こんにちは Thanks for helping me debug and sorry to be leaving so many comments on the blog ;_;

Here’s a comment with English, hiragana and kanji: こんいちは漢字は難しいですが、大切です。

Everything looks great now, I can see all the characters fine (: I’m guessing that was just some temporary issue with WordPress.

You can go ahead and try to put your self-introduction now. Just make a backup copy in case it gets deleted again.

You’re not going to believe this, but it STILL isn’t posting. I was avoiding making a new blog because I thought it would be “more work” but now I’m thinking that would be simpler after all.

Thats so weird, I wonder why. Maybe if you make a longer comment it doesn’t like it?

I agree it will probably be easier at this point to create your own blog, and that will have other benefits for you in the future.

But if you still want to try and troubleshoot the original issue I can help…

The good news is that WordPress makes it really easy to set up a new blog these days. I guess in retrospect I should have done that to begin with. Thanks for your help trying to debug this issue! https://nihongonoheya.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/first-blog-post/

Great, glad you were able to make a blog so easily! Will check out your blog later today when I get more time.

Hi, I have been reading several of your articles with great interest. The first that lead me to you was your comments on ‘Hibana’ by Naoki Matayoshi. A friend of mine in Japan is reading this book and I was curious about its content. Your translation is amazing. To introduce myself I set up a site, above link, however it doesn’t really seem to be a blog as such, so I may need to change that later. Anyway it’s accepted the script ok so you should be able to read it. I hope to join in here to improve my Japanese. Thanks for your time, Sylvia

Thanks very much for the comment and feedback!

Also, I’m glad you are interested in joining my program. I checked out your site, but like you said it seems like it isn’t exactly a blog, so I am not sure if I will be able to comment. Without that, it will be hard for me to correct your writings (I found a few errors I wanted to point out).

If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind trying to create a blog on WordPress.com? It should be pretty easy and it’s free.

Hi, Thank you for your reply. I think I’ve sorted it OK. See link below, I’ve never done a blog before so this is new to me! https://kafuka97.wordpress.com/

I just copied what I wrote before, no changes. Many thanks, Sylvia

PS: I do have a website which I have sent a link to.

Hello! My name is Jheanelle, I just found your website today and I think I’ve already looked through have of it. Its amazing. I’m interested in doing the assignments but I don’t have a blog so I’ll post it in the comments section.

ジェネルと言います。今日本に住んで仕事にしています。私は英語の先生です。色々な趣味があります。例えば、寝たり、韓国の番組を見たり、本を読んだりするのが好きです。日本語もっと上手になりたいそしてこのブログを見つけて嬉しくなった

どうぞよろしくお願いします

Hello Jheanelle. I’m sorry for the late reply but your message was showing up in Spam on my blog for some reason.

Thanks for the submission. Right now I am sort of taking a break from the writing labs since I didn’t get too much response from my readers, but I will consider restarting them again at some point. There is a few others however I posted (up to #3 or #4, I think).

I hope your Japanese studies are going well.

One minor comment, in your sentence “今日本に住んで仕事にしています” I think maybe you could have said: “今日本で仕事をしています” or “今日本に住んでで仕事もしています”

These might sound a little better.

One more thing, I recommend watching Japanese dramas instead of Korean if you want to improve faster (:

Hello locksleyu, I just posted my self-introduction here: https://soreymikleo1421.wordpress.com/2021/05/21/japanese-writing-lab-1-basic-self-introduction/ Thank you in advance!

Thanks! I just posted a few comments.

How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All You Need To Know

Today, we’ll teach you simple steps and give you tips on how to introduce yourself in Japanese .

If you’re meeting a Japanese for the first time, knowing how to introduce yourself in Japanese will help you leave a good impression. It’s also one way to impress your boss, colleagues, teachers, or classmates on your first day at work or school in Japan.

1.1 What is “self-introduction” in Japanese?
2.1 Good morning in Japanese
2.2 Good afternoon in Japanese
2.3 Good evening in Japanese
2.4 Nice to meet you in Japanese
3.1 “I am” in Japanese
3.2 “My name is” in Japanese
3.3 “I am called” in Japanese
3.4 “I’m” in Japanese
4.1.1 からまいりました(kara mairimashita)
4.1.2 からです(kara desu)
4.1.3 すんでいます (sunde imasu)
4.1.4 しゅっしんです (shusshin desu)
5 Share information about yourself in Japanese
6.0.0.1 どうぞよろしくおねがいします (Douzo Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu)
7 Is it rude to shake hands?
8 Things to Remember!

How to introduce yourself in Japanese?

Japanese people usually start their introduction with greetings and a question that is similar to the English question, “How are you.” When introducing yourself in Japanese, you can do these first.

After doing these, you can say your name, where you live and then followed by other information you wish to share about yourself, such as your school if you are a student, occupation if you’re working and hobbies.

What is “self-introduction” in Japanese?

Self-introduction is じこしょうかい (Jikoshoukai) in Japanese, where じこ (Jiko) means self while しょうかい shoukai means introduction.

Japanese Greetings

The Japanese are taught the importance of the あいさつ Aisatsu or greetings from childhood. It is very important that you start your introduction with the correct and proper greeting. Remember to do your greeting with a simple bow. Bowing is a sign of respect and politeness in Japanese culture .

Below is a list of basic Japanese greetings you’ll use when introducing yourself to others.

Head over to our article on Japanese greetings to learn more about them.

A group of young people waving their hands

Good morning in Japanese

There are two ways you can say “good morning” in Japanese.

The first way is おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu). It is a formal way of greeting someone “Good morning .”

The second ways is おはよう(Ohayou). However, it’s an informal greeting that has an equivalent meaning to “Morning” in English. You can use this when greeting your Japanese friends.

Good afternoon in Japanese

こんにちは(konnichiwa) is a phrase used by Japanese people to say “Good afternoon” or “ Hello .” This can be used in a formal or informal setting.

Good evening in Japanese

こんばんは (konbanwa) is the Japanese phrase used to say “Good evening.”

Nice to meet you in Japanese

The word はじめHajime means beginning or start. The phrase はじめまして(Hajimemashite) can be translated as “How do you do?”. It is usually the first phrase that one says when introducing oneself in Japan. It literally means “I am meeting you for the first time.” It’s the same Japanese phrase you’ll use if you want to say to someone, “Nice to meet you.”

You may also bow as you say this phrase. Japanese people have also adopted the Western style of handshake so you may do a handshake instead of a bow when saying this beginning phrase for self-introduction.

Saying your name in Japanese

There are three standard ways how you can say your name in Japanese. You can choose from any of the three below depending on the situation and occasion of your introduction.

An office with 3 people, computer and a desk

Remember that in Japan, they say their surname first before they say their given name.

“I am” in Japanese

One way to introduce yourself is by saying your name. You can usually say it with “I am” plus your name.

“I am” in Japanese is expressed with わたしは (watashi wa). When using わたしは (watashi wa) to say your name, you’ll usually end your sentence with です (desu).

です(desu) at the end of a sentence signifies politeness. Thus you’ll use the following sentence pattern:

わたしは (name) です.

This sentence pattern is one of the standard forms for saying your name.

For example:

わたしは Smith, John です。

Watashi wa Smith, John desu.

I am John Smith.

“My name is” in Japanese

Another way of saying your name is by using “My name is.”

“My name is” in Japanese is expressed as わたしのなまえわ (watashino namae wa). なまえ (namae) means “name” in Japanese. わたしの (watashino) is the Japanese counterpart of “My” so this makes わたしのなまえわ(watashi no namae wa) means “My name is”.

In order to complete this sentence, you’ll use the following sentence pattern:

わたしのなまえわ (name) です.

わたしのなまえわ (Watashi no namae wa) です.

Watashi no namae wa Smith, John Desu.

My name is John Smith.

“I am called” in Japanese

The formal way of saying your name in Japanese is using the phrase “I am called.” The phrase “I am called” in Japanese is ともうします (tomou shimasu).

This phrase is more formal and expresses humility when introducing oneself. It is usually used when you are introducing yourself to someone of higher rank/status.

ともうします (tomou shimasu) is usually placed at the end of the sentence. When using it, you should use the following sentence pattern:

(name) ともうします.

Smith, John ともうします。

Smith, John tomou shimasu.

I am called John Smith.

“I’m” in Japanese

When saying your name informally or in a casual way, you can use です (desu).

This means you can simply state your name and add です (desu).

This sentence pattern can be translated as “I’m” in Japanese.

This way is often used when you are introducing yourself to someone of the same age or status such as friends of your friend or in an informal occasion or meeting.

Saying where you’re from in Japanese

There are many different ways of saying where you’re from. Some of them depend on how polite or casual you’d like to say it.

からきました (kara kimashita)

からきました is used when telling someone where you’re from. This phrase is made of 2 words which are から meaning “from” and きました form the word きまし meaning “to come”. からきました literally means “I come from”.

To use this phrase, you’ll use the following sentence pattern:

(country) からきました.

Canada からきました .

Canada kara kimashita .

I am from Canada.

からきました(Kara Kimashita) means I am from. This standard way is the most often used in self-introductions in Japan. It is considered a simple and polite way of telling others where you are from.

からまいりました(kara mairimashita)

This Japanese phrase consists of 2 words: から and まいりました. As mentioned earlier から means “from”. まいりました (mairimashita) is from the word まいりまし (mairimasu) whose dictionary form is まいる (mairu) meaning “to come”. まいる is the formal word for “to come”.

(country) からまいりました.

Canada からまいりました .

Canada kara mairimashita .

からまいりました(Kara Mairimashita) is a more polite way of saying “I am from”. This way is often used when you are doing your introduction to someone of a higher rank/status. It is a more polite and humble way of telling people what country or place you are from.

からです(kara desu)

If you’d like to say where you’re from in a casual way, you can simply say your country , city, or hometown’s name and add からです.

(country, city, or hometown’s name) からです.

Canada からです .

Canada kara desu .

からです(kara desu) is an informal way of saying “I am from”. It is often used when you are introducing yourself to someone of the same age, status, or rank in society.

すんでいます (sunde imasu)

すんでいます (sunde imasu) means “I live in”. It is usually used when you are introducing yourself in a less formal environment/event. You can use this phrase using the following structure:

(city or hometown’s name) すんでいます.

New York すんでいます .

New York sunde imasu .

I live in New York.

Tokyo すんでいます

Tokyo sunde imasu .

I live in Tokyo.

This Japanese phrase comes from the word すんでいる (sunde iru) which means “to live”.

しゅっしんです (shusshin desu)

The word しゅっしん (shusshin) literally means “origin” or “hometown”. The phrase しゅっしんです (shusshin desu) means “my hometown, birthplace, or place of origin is”.

It is another formal way/polite way of saying where you are from. It is usually used when you are introducing yourself to someone older or someone in a higher rank/status in a company or school setting.

When using this to say about your hometown, birthplace, or place of origin, you’ll use the following structure:

(name of place) はしゅっしんです.

Madrid はしゅっしんです.

Madrid wa shusshin desu.

My hometown/birthplace/place of origin is Madrid.

Share information about yourself in Japanese

Your reason for being in Japan is most often stated in the self-introduction. It is also a way of telling a little bit of information about yourself. Including such private information makes your self-introduction more friendly and interesting.

わたしはりゅうがくせいです。

Watashi wa ryuugakusei desu.

I am an international/foreign student.

わたしのせんもんわにほんごです。

Watashi no senmon wa Nihongo desu.

My major is Japanese./ I am majoring in Japanese.

In the above examples above, the words りゅうがくせい means “foreign student” and せんもん (senmon) means “major” or “the area of specialization in one’s studies in Japan”.

Other せんもん (senmon) or majors in Japanese are the following:

えいご (Eigo) -English

きょういく(Kyouiku) -Education

すうがく(Suugaku)- Math

いがく(Igaku)- Medicine

Ending you じこしょうじゃい (jikoshoukai | self-introduction)

どうぞよろしくおねがいします ( douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu ).

The phrase どうぞよろしくおねがいします (Douzo Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu) formally ends your Japanese self-introduction. It can be translated as “nice to meet you or pleased to meet you” however its literal translation means “please be good to me/please take care of me”.

This ending phrase is very important because signifies that you are putting yourself in the care of the person to whom you have introduced yourself. The Japanese would often respond with a repeat of this phrase. Thus, this phrase signifies the start of a good relationship.

Is it rude to shake hands?

When meeting someone, shaking hands is uncommon or rather unusual among Japanese. They normally bow to greet each other.

Nowadays, as more and more foreigners are visiting or living in Japan, the Japanese are making exceptions for ways to greet someone. Shaking hands is acceptable and isn’t rude, especially in a business setup.

Things to Remember!

Keep your self-introduction short but very informative.
Be polite with your gestures and the tone of your voice.
Say the words slowly and clearly. If your Japanese pronunciation is not that good yet, it’s okay, as long as you say the words clearly so others will understand you.
When in doubt, always use the longer phrases for in Japanese, the longer the sentence or the phrases used, the more polite you are.
If it is a choice between bowing and a handshake, always take a cue from the person you are introducing yourself to. If they bow, you should also bow yourself, and if they extend their hand, take it as a cue for a handshake.
Be confident, be friendly and be sincere in your self-introduction.

Good luck with your self-introduction! Ganbatte ne! がんばってね！Do your best!

6 replies to "How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All You Need To Know"

It helps a lot .. thanks

Thanks for the comment, Mario! I’m glad that our article has been helpful to you. ^^ If you want more lessons, you can check our our blog post. ^^ You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

I like bowing, as being a Muslim, We also do not shake hands with opposite gender, In the name of business, we do not break our rules, whether the business or whatever, If Western knows to destroy culture, We know to have good conduct.

ありがとうございます。

Thanks for sharing! I’m glad that our blog has been valuable to you. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

These Japanese lessons are helping me a lot. I may be able to use it as I look forward to work in Japan in the future. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu!

Glad to hear that, Arwin! Thanks for your kind words. ^^

How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: The Complete Guide to Jikoshōkai

A young, Asian woman is standing in front of a group of people sitting around a desk apparently in a business setting. The group of people are clapping.

Have you ever daydreamed about introducing yourself in Japanese? Maybe you are thinking about getting a job , making friends, or even mustering up the courage to talk to a Japanese person ? Or perhaps you are still learning the basics or want to advance, and it is all a bit confusing. Never fear, your guide is here!

Japanese Self-Introduction: The Basics

Let’s start off with a “template” for self-introductions in Japan. It doesn’t matter if your self-introduction is long, short, simple, or intricate; you’ll probably use the following 3 phrases in every introduction you do.

1. はじめまして (Hajimemashite): Nice to Meet You!

Every standard self-introduction needs to begin with a “hello” and “nice to meet you.” Hajimemashite stems from the dictionary verb はじめる ( hajimeru ), meaning “to begin.” You are using はじめまして to indicate that this is the first time you have met someone, the beginning of your relationship.

Sometimes はじめまして is replaced with a greeting , like おはようございます ( ohayō gozaimasu ) or こんにちは ( konnichiwa ). Or you can choose to say both like this:

おはようございます。はじめまして。 ( Ohayō gozaimasu. Hajimemashite. ). Good morning. Nice to meet you.

2. {Name} ~といいます。({Name} To Iimasu . ): My Name Is~

Strictly speaking, you can say:

私の名前は{name}です。 ( Watashi no namae wa {name} desu. ). My name is ~

However, to sound more fluent, you can say:

{Name}といいます。 ( {Name} to iimasu. ) I’m called {name}.

Or the most simple yet fits in any situation phrase:

{Name}です。 ( {Name} desu. ) I am {name}.

3. Finising Your Self-Introduction – よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu): PleaseTake Care of Me.

This phrase can mean “Please treat me well” or “I look forward to working with/getting to know you.” It is another way to say, “Nice to meet you.”

Remember that this is a key phrase used at the end of self-introductions in Japan.

For a more casual introduction, you could say “どうぞよろしく ( dōzo yoroshiku ) .”

Both of these phrases come from “どうぞよろしくお願いします ( Dōzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu )” which is the most formal/polite way to say this phrase. We’ll discuss formality later on in this article.

Example: Basic Self-Introduction in Japanese in 3 Steps

Step 1: hajimemashite.

はじめまして。 ( Hajimemashite ) How do you do?

Step 2: Saying Your Name

ジョン・スミスです。 ( Jon Sumisu desu. ) I’m John Smith.

Step 3: Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu

よろしくお願いします。 ( Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. ) I am pleased to meet you.

2. Making Your Self-Introduction Longer: Adding Personal Information

Often when you make a self-introduction, it is important to give some relevant or interesting information about yourself. Here are a few ideas of the kind of information you can provide.

1. どこから来ましたか？(Doko Kara Kimashita Ka?): Where Are You From?

ニューヨークから来ました。 ( Nyūyōku kara kimashita. ) I came from New York. (or “I’m from New York.”)

You can replace “New York” with your hometown or country.

This is the most common phrase for new language learners. When listening to native Japanese speakers, you may notice that they use the word 出身 (shusshin) to ask where you are from. 出身 means “one’s origins” or, in other words, your hometown. However, it can also refer to the school you graduated from.

どこの出身ですか？ ( Doko no shusshin desu ka? ) Where are you from?

ニューヨーク出身です。 ( Nyūyōku shusshin desu. ) My hometown is New York. (or “I’m from New York.”)

If you want to be more specific, you can say both your country and city/town like this:

オーストラリアのシドニー出身です。 ( Ōsutoraria no Shidonī shusshin desu. ) I’m from Sydney, Australia.

The grammar for this is: Country + の ( no ) + city/town + です ( desu ).

2. Hobbies

Introduce your hobby or hobbies to share information about you. This is an excellent future conversation starter and will help your new acquaintances to get to know you better.

A helpful phrase to remember is: 趣味は {hobby} を [dict. form verb] ことです。 ( Shumi wa {hobby} o [verb] koto desu. ) My hobby is ~.

1. 趣味は絵を描くことです。 ( Shumi wa e o kaku koto desu. ) My hobby is drawing pictures.

2. 趣味はギターを弾くことです。 ( Shumi wa gitā o hiku koto desu. ) My hobby is playing the guitar.

3. 趣味は本を読むことです。 ( Shumi wa hon o yomu koto desu. ) My hobby is reading books.

You could leave out the verb and こと ( koto ) to simplify this phrase: 趣味は {hobby} です。 (Shumi wa {hobby} desu.) My hobby is ~.

趣味はギターです。 ( Shumi wa gitā desu. ) My hobby is the guitar.

For some hobbies, there are special words you can use like: 読書( dokusho ): reading books

趣味は読書です。 ( Shumi wa dokusho desu. ) My hobby is reading books.

3. Likes/Dislikes

Talking about your likes is a bit similar to talking about your hobby. However, saying what you like in Japanese is easy using this pattern:

～が好きです。 ( ~ga suki desu. ) I like ~.

Let’s take a look examples using が好きです.

1. 絵を描くことが好きです。 ( E o kaku koto ga suki desu.) I like to draw pictures.

2. ギターを弾くことが好きです。 ( Gitā o hiku koto ga suki desu. ) I like to play the guitar.

3. 本を読むことが好きです。 ( Hon o yomu koto ga suki desu. ) I like to read books.

You usually don’t say things you don’t like during your introduction, as it can come off sounding negative or even rude.

If you really would like to say that you don’t like something in Japanese, you could use this sentence structure:

~好きじゃないです。 (~s uki janai desu. )* I don’t like ~.

Or a slightly more formal phrase: ~好きではないです。 (~s uki dewa nai desu. ) I don’t like ~.

*Note: While these phrases allow you to talk about things you don’t like, it’s better NOT to use them in your self-introduction. Using these phrases will sound negative and out of place in almost any case.

If you really feel that you need to talk about things you don’t like in your introduction, a much better option would be to use “苦手 ( nigate ).” 苦手 means “to be poor or not good at something.” However, it is also a more elegant way to say that you don’t like something.

Examples:

1. 辛い物は苦手です。 ( Karai mono wa nigate desu. ) I’m not so good with spicy foods.

2. スポーツは苦手です。 ( Supōtsu wa nigate desu. ) I’m not good at sports.

4. Your Activities

These phrases express what you are doing in Japan. You could use this in a club you join, a community event, a language class, or a meet-up, among other socializing situations.

1. 日本語学校で日本語を勉強しています。 ( Nihongo gakkō de nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu. ) I study Japanese at a Japanese language school.

2. 渋谷にあるカフェでアルバイトをしています。 ( Shibuya ni aru kafe de arubaito o shiteimasu. ) I have a part-time job at a cafe in Shibuya.

3. 会社員をしています。 ( Kaisha-in o shiteimasu. ) I’m an office worker.

4. 梅田にある会社で働いています。 ( Umeda ni aru kaisha de hataraiteimasu. ) I work at a company in Umeda (a district in Osaka).

5. 英語の先生をしています。 ( Eigo no sensei o shiteimasu. ) I’m an English teacher.

5. What Brings You To Japan?

In your self-introduction, you can express your reason for being there. These are some examples you can use for semi-informal to formal circumstances.

1. ALTとして働くために来ました。 ( ALT toshite hataraku tame ni kimashita. ) I came [to Japan] to be an ALT.

2. 日本語を勉強するために日本に来ました。 ( Nihongo o benkyō suru tame ni Nihon ni kimashita. ) I moved to Japan to study Japanese.

3. 夫が日本人なので日本に引っ越して来ました。 ( Otto ga Nihonjin nanode Nihon ni hikkoshite kimashita. ) I moved to Japan because my husband is Japanese.

4. 日本の文化に興味があったので日本に来ました。 ( Nihon no bunka ni kyōmi ga atta node Nihon ni kimashita .) I came to Japan because I have an interest in Japanese culture.

Japanese Self-Introduction Examples

Let’s look at some self-introduction examples using the sections covered above. The following two examples are suitable for most situations (at your job, a new school, joining a club, etc.).

はじめまして。 ( Hajimemashite. ) Nice to meet you.

ジョン・スミスといいます。 ( Jon Sumisu to iimasu. ) My name is John Smith.

カリフォルニアから来ました。 ( Kariforunia kara kimashita. ) I’m from California.

JETプログラムで来ました。 ( JET puroguramu de kimashita. ) I came to Japan through the JET program.

趣味はヨガをすることです。 ( Shumi wa yoga o suru koto desu. ) My hobby is doing yoga.

料理をすることも好きです。 ( Ryori o suru koto mo suki desu. ) I also like to cook.

どうぞよろしく。 ( Dōzo yoroshiku. ) Pleased to meet you.

はじめまして。 ( Hajimemashite. ) Hello.

アリス・リデルです。 ( Arisu Rideru desu. ) I’m Alice Liddell.

イギリスのロンドン出身です。 ( Igirisu no Rondon shusshin desu. ) My hometown is London, England.

ABC大学で工学を勉強しています。 ( ABC daigaku de kōgaku o benkyō shiteimasu. ) I study engineering at ABC university.

趣味は映画を見ることで、日本の映画もよく見ます。 ( Shumi wa eiga o miru koto de, Nihon no eiga mo yoku mimasu. ) My hobby is watching movies, and I often watch Japanese movies too.

ホラー映画は苦手です。 ( Horā eiga wa nigate desu. ) I don’t like horror movies.

よろしくお願いします。 ( Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. ) Nice to meet you.

Advanced Self-Introductions in Japanese for Business

A panel of business people (three men and one woman) are sitting behind a long table look at a woman sitting in front of them, as if giving an interview.

Now you have some Japanese under your belt, and you’d like to sound more natural. This part is for advanced speakers and will include more formal language, which is perfect for when you need to use “business Japanese.”

1. Previous Work History

What did you do before you came to Japan to work? Let’s go through some examples.

A helpful phrase you may want to use is: 日本に来る前は~ ( Nihon ni kuru mae wa~ ) Before I came to Japan~

1. 日本に来る前は大学生でした。 ( Nihon ni kuru mae wa daigakusei deshita. ) Before coming to Japan, I was a college student.

2. 日本に来る前は高校で数学を教えていました。 ( Nihon ni kuru mae wa kōkō de sūgaku o oshiete imashita. ) Before coming to Japan, I was teaching math at a high school.

3. 日本に来る前はシステムエンジニアをしていました。 ( Nihon ni kuru mae wa shisutemu enjinia o shiteimashita. ) Before coming to Japan, I was a systems engineer.

2. Work Experience

In this section, you can see how to express your previous experiences.

You can discuss where you were and how long you were there.

1. 2年ほど前にニューヨークから来まして、ABC大学でコンピューターサイエンスを勉強しています。 ( Ni nen hodo mae ni Nyūyōku kara kimashite, ABC daigaku de konpyūtā saiensu o benkyou shiteimasu. ) I came from New York about two years ago and have been studying computer science at ABC University until now.

2. 去年日本に来て1年間日本語学校で日本語を勉強してきました。 ( Kyonen Nihon ni kite ichi nenkan Nihongo gakkō de Nihongo o benkyō shite kimashita. ) I came to Japan last year and have been studying Japanese at a Japanese language school for a year.

3. もともとロンドンにある会社で働いていたのですが、転勤になって半年前に日本に来ました。 ( Moto moto Rondon ni aru kaisha de hataraiteita no desu ga, tenkin ni natte hantoshi mae ni Nihon ni kimashita. ) I originally worked at a company in London, but I transferred to Japan half a year ago.

3. Feelings About Working at Your New Job

It’s common for native Japanese speakers to give their feelings or impressions of their new job. Here are some of the phrases you can use to do this in your self-intro.

1. いろいろとご迷惑をおかけするかもしれませんが、一生懸命がんばりますのでどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 ( Iroiro to gomeiwaku o okake suru kamoshiremasen ga, isshōkenmei ganbarimasu node dōzo yoroshiku onegai-itashimasu. ) (Since I’m new) I may cause some trouble for you, but I’ll do my best.

2. いろいろと教えていただくことがたくさんあるかと思いますが、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 ( Iroiro to oshiete itadaku koto ga takusan aru ka to omoimasu ga, dōzo yoroshiku onegai-itashimasu. ) I’ll try not to get in your way and work hard.

3. いろいろとご迷惑をおかけするかと思いますが、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 ( Iroiro to gomeiwaku o okakesuru ka to omoimasu ga, dōzo yoroshiku onegai-itashimasu. ) I may cause you trouble, but I’ll do my best.

4. みなさんのご迷惑にならないように、一生懸命がんばりたいと思います。 ( Mina-san no gomeiwaku ni naranai you ni, isshoukenmei ganbaritai to omoimasu. ) I’ll do my best not to cause you any trouble.

As you may have noticed, the expressions above are very humble. Being humble is a part of Japanese culture, and showing this through your self-introduction can make a good first impression.

Super Polite Self-Introductions: Using Keigo

If you want to challenge yourself and be super formal or polite, this section will show you how.

敬語 (Keigo): Honorific Language

This is a step above the standard formal and informal polite language (丁寧語 teineigo ) we have been using thus far. Keigo is used when you are in a very formal situation or are addressing someone with a very high social status. You might use keigo in situations like job interviews or when speaking to the owner or president of your company. Businesses also use it with their business partners and customers. If you ever go to a Japanese department store, you’ll probably hear the employees using keigo .

Keigo is an all-encompassing term for super polite formal levels in Japanese.

There are two forms – 尊敬語 ( sonkeigo ): honorific language and 謙譲語 ( kenjōgo ): humble language.

尊敬語 ( sonkeigo ) is primarily used to honor and elevate others.

When you enter a store in Japan, employees might say “いらっしゃいませ ( irrashaimase )” to welcome you. This is a 尊敬語 word to pay respect to you, the customer.

謙譲語 ( kenjōgo ) is used to lower your position and humble yourself.

Example:

します ( shimasu ) → 致します ( itashimasu )

お願いします( onegaishimasu ) →お願い致します ( onegai itashimasu )

Instead of using the standard polite form します (shimasu), meaning “to do,” it changes to 致します ( itashimasu ) in the humble form.

Being Extra Polite: Useful to Know

Here are some words you can use in your introduction to make it much more formal (and professional) and polite.

1. です (Desu)/といいます (To Iimasu) → と申します (To Mōshimasu): My Name is~

We introduced the words です ( desu ) and といいます( to iimasu ) to say your name, but a more polite way is to use と申します ( to mōshimasu ).

申す( mōsu ) is the humble form of 言う ( iu) : to say.

2. ～から来ました (Kara Kimashita) → 参りました (Mairimashita): ~Came From

Saying where you are from in a standard self-introduction, you would use ～から来まし ( kara kimashita ), or 出身 ( shusshin ) explained above. However, if you are in a very formal situation, or your audience is people you highly respect, you may want to use 参りました ( mairimashita ), which is the humble way to say “I came (from).”

3. 改めまして (Aratamemashite): Once Again

You may have learned that また ( mata ) means “again” in Japanese. 改めまして ( aratamemashite ) is not keigo , but it is a much more formal and polite way to say また in Japanese. You’ll often hear it in business/workplace situations.

1. 改めまして後日お電話させていただきます。 ( Aratamemashite gojitsu odenwa sasete itadakimasu. ) I’ll call you again at a later date.

2. 改めまして、本日はお集まり頂きありがとうございました。 ( Aratamemashite, honjitsu wa oatsumari itadaki arigatō gozaimashita. ) Thank you all again, for gathering today.

ご・お (御) (Go/O): Polite Prefixes

In polite language, ご ( go ) and お ( o ) are attached to specific words to make them honorific.

迷惑 ( meiwaku ) → ご迷惑 ( gomeiwaku ): trouble
作る ( tsukuru ) → お作る ( otsukuru ): to make
指導 ( shido) → ご指導 ( goshido ): guidance
金 ( kane ) → お金 ( okane ): money
土産 ( miyage ) →お土産 ( omiyage ): souvenir

Some words, like okane and omiyag e, always use the polite “o” regardless of formality. If you didn’t say it with the “o” (kane and miyage), it would sound rough and even rude.

While there are some exceptions, お ( o ) is used for words of Japanese origin, while ご ( go ) is used for words of Chinese origin.

Super Polite (Business) Japanese Self-Introduction Examples

If you need to do a formal or polite self introduction in Japanese in a business situation, these examples would work well for you.

はじめまして。 (Hajimemashite.) How do you do?

本日から配属になりました、スティーブ・ロジャースと申します。 ( Honjitsu kara haizoku ni narimashita, Sutību Rojāsu to mōshimasu. ) I will be joining this company from today. My name is Steve Rogers.

アメリカから参りました。 ( Amerika kara mairimashita. ) I come from America.

趣味は運動をすることで、日本でマラソン大会に挑戦したいと思います。 ( Shumi wa undō o suru koto de, Nihon de marason taikai ni chōsen shitai to omoimasu. ) My hobby is exercising, and I would like to attempt a marathon in Japan.

ご指導のほどよろしくお願い致します。 ( Goshido no hodo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. ) Thank you for your guidance. Please treat me kindly.

おはようございます。 ( Ohayō gozaimasu. ) Good morning.

本日より入社いたしましたミカサ・アッカーマンと申します。 ( Honjitsu yori nyūsha itashimashita Mikasa Akkāman to mōshimasu. ) I am Mikasa Ackerman, and I will start working with this company today.

日本語を勉強するために一年前に日本に来ました。 ( Nihongo o benkyō suru tame ni ichinen mae ni Nihon ni kimashita. ) I came to Japan a year ago to study Japanese.

日本に来る前は、パラディ島でプログラマーとして働いていました。 ( Nihon ni kuru mae wa, Paradi-tō de puroguramā toshite hataraiteimashita. ) Before coming to Japan, I worked on Paradis Island as a programmer.

趣味は料理を作ることで、最近は日本食にも挑戦しています。 ( Shumi wa ryōri o tsukuru koto de, saikin wa Nihon-shoku ni mo chōsenshiteimasu. ) I’m interested in cooking, and lately, I have even tried making Japanese food.

いろいろとご迷惑をおかけするかもしれませんが、一生懸命がんばりますのでどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 ( Iroiro to go-meiwaku o o-kakesuru kamoshiremasen ga, isshōkenmei ganbarimasu node dōzo yoroshiku onegai-itashimasu. ) I may cause some problems, but I’ll do my best.

お辞儀 (Ojigi): Bowing

An illustration of two silhouettes of men facing each other and bowing. The man on the right is holding a briefcase. There is a big flag of Japan in the background.

It is important to show respect and greet others with a bow in Japanese business and casual situations. However, even bowing has levels of formality in Japan!

Bowing in Japan: 3 Types of Bowing

These are the 3 types of bowing you will see (and use) in Japan.

1. 会釈 (Eshaku): A Slight Bow

This is the most common form of bowing in your daily life. You will use this to greet people shopping, friends, and other instances where formality is unimportant.

The textbook definition of this bow says to lower your head and torso at a 15-degree angle. However, it’s more of a nod of your head in common practice, like when saying “yes” to agree with someone.

2. 敬礼 (Keirei): A Polite Bow

This type of bowing is for business interactions such as meeting clients, superiors, or formal meetings.

To do this type of bow, lower your head and torso at a 30-degree angle.

3. 最敬礼 (Saikeirei): Respectful Bowing

This bow shows the greatest amount of respect. It should be used when formally apologizing or in a very formal situation (like giving a speech).

This bow involves lowering your head and torso at a 45 to 70-degree angle.

Your eyes should also be looking down. Both men and women can keep their arms at their sides. Women may also have their hands in front of them, one on top of each other.

Casual/Informal Self-Introductions in Japanese

A group of people are sitting around a square table. In the middle, two men, one on each side of the table, are standing up and shaking hands over the table.

Let’s take a break from all that formality to look at casual self-introductions. These will be with people your age or younger or in situations where formality is not an issue.

砕けた話し方 (Kudaketa Hanashikata): Casual Language

Casual language usually aims to be as easy and short as possible. You may omit entire words like です ( desu) or particles like は ( wa ) and が ( ga ) when speaking.

Here are some examples of how to speak more casually using the categories listed above.

Likes/Interests

1. 旅行をするのが好き。 ( Ryokō o suru no ga suki. ) I like to travel.

2. 釣りが好き。 ( Tsuri ga suki. ) I like to fish.

3. ビデオゲームをするのが好き。 ( Bideo gēmu o suru no ga suki. ) I like to play video games.

1. ニュースを見るのは好きじゃない。 ( Nyūsu o miru no wa suki janai. ) I don’t like to watch the news.

2. 雑誌を読むのは好きじゃない。 ( Zasshi o yomu no wa suki janai. ) I don’t like to read magazines.

3. サッカーをするのは好きじゃない。 (S akkā o suru no wa suki janai. ) I don’t like to play soccer.

Reasons for Coming to Japan

1. 交換留学生として来たの。 ( Kōkan ryūgakusei toshite kita no. ) I came as an exchange student.

2. 日本で仕事を見つけたので日本に来たの。 ( Nihon de shigoto o mitsuketa no de Nihon ni kita no. ) I came to Japan because I found a job in Japan.

3. 日本語を勉強するために日本に来たの。 ( Nihongo o benkyō suru tame ni Nihon ni kita no. ) I came to Japan to study Japanese.

What You Do in Japan

1. 英語を教えてる。 ( Eigo o oshieteru. ) I teach English.

2. 会社員をしてる。 ( Kaisha-in o shiteru. ) I work in a company.

3. 専門学校でデザインを勉強してる。 ( Senmon gakkō de dezain o benkyō shiteru. ) I study design at a vocational school.

What You Did Before Coming to Japan

1. 大学生だったの。 ( Daigakusei datta no. ) I was a university student.

2. 写真家をしてた ** の。 ( Shashinka o shiteta no. ) I was a photographer.

3. 大学院で歴史を勉強してたの *** 。 ( Daigakuin de rekishi o benkyō shiteta no. ) I studied history in grad school.

**Note: Instead of shite i ru or shite i masu, you can omit the い ( i ) sound and change it to casual form shiteru . (Past tense: shite i ta→shiteta)

***Note: Putting verbs in dictionary form and adding の ( no ) softens the language and makes it friendlier.

Kristin Szabo

Self-Introduction In Japanese: 16 Phrases You Should Know

This is a list of useful Japanese phrases that you can use, from basic self-introduction to phrases convenient for making conversation. Master these phrases to make new friends in Japan!

Kyoka Yamamoto

How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

With a few Japanese greetings on hand, being in Japan will be more fun.

In this article, we have compiled a list of useful Japanese phrases that you can use, from basic self-introduction to phrases useful for daily communication.

Basic Self-Introduction in Japanese

1. Nice to meet you!

[hazimemashite] This phrase is used to greet someone you meet for the first time. Let's practice speaking in Japanese!

2. My name is ◯◯.

[watashino namaewa ◯◯des]

This phrase is used to introduce your name.

If you have a nickname, you say

"Please call me 〇〇."

[〇〇to yonde kudasai]

My name is Tanaka Miki.

[watashino namaewa tanaka mikikodes]

Please call me Miki.

[mikito yonde kudasai]

3. I am from ◯◯.

[◯◯kara kimashita]

Insert the name of your country into 〇〇 to introduce where you are from to others.

I am from America.

[amerikakara kimashita]

4. I am a ◯◯.

[watashiwa ◯◯des]

Insert your occupation, such as student (gakusei), company employee (kaishain), into 〇〇 when introducing your occupation to others.

I am a student.

[watashiwa gakuseides]

I am a designer.

[watashiwa dezaina:des]

5. Nice to meet you! / Thank you for your time / Please keep me in mind

[yoroshiku onegai shimas]

This phrase is used at the end of self-introductions. It can also be used in various situations, like when asking for a favor and signing off an e-mail . It is a convenient phrase to express politeness.

Learning More About Others in Japanese

6. What is your name?

[onamaewa nandeska] This phrase is used to ask for someone's name.

For example, someone with the name Tanaka Mikiko would reply,

"My name is Tanaka Mikiko."

[tanaka mikikodes]

"How should I address you?"

[nanto yobeba i:deska]

This phrase is used to ask someone's nickname.

For example, someone with the nickname Miki would reply,

"Please call me Miki."

7. Where are you from?

[shusshinwa dokodeska]

This phrase is used to ask someone where he or she is from.

For example, a person from Kyoto , would reply

"I am from Kyoto."

[shusshinwa kyotodes]

This is the response that comes.

"I am from 〇〇."

After saying where you are from, be sure to ask where your conversation partner is from!

8. What is your occupation?

[oshigotowa nandeska]

This phrase is used to ask someone about their occupation.

For example, a student would reply,

"I am a student."

This phrase comes after introducing your occupation to others.

"I am a 〇〇."

Getting To Know Each Other in Japanese

9. I like 〇〇.

[watashiwa 〇〇ga skides]

This phrase is used to introduce your hobbies and preferences to others.

I like sushi .

[watashiwa sushiga skides]

To further emphasize this expression, you say

"I like 〇〇 very much."

[watashiwa ◯◯ga daiskides]

I like anime very much.

[watashiwa animega daiskides]

10. How about you?

[anatawa do:deska]

This phrase is used to learn more about the preferences and opinions of others.

11. I went to 〇〇.

[watashiwa 〇〇ni ikimashita]

This phrase is used to tell someone about the places you have been to visit.

This phrase is suitable for striking up a conversation with your Japanese friends, sharing with them about the different places you have visited in Japan.

I went to Asakusa .

[watashiwa asakusani ikimashita]

12. Would you like to go to 〇〇 together?

[isshoni 〇〇ni ikimasenka]

Insert the name of the place into 〇〇 .

Would you like to go to the sushi restaurant together?

[isshoni sushiyani ikimasenka]

Would you like to visit Shinjuku together?

[isshoni shinjukuni ikimasenka]

13. Can I have your Facebook?

[feisubukku o oshiete kudasai] You would like to keep in touch with your new Japanese friends after returning home. Use this phrase to connect with them on Facebook!

Japanese Conversation Tips

[he: so:nandesne] These phrases are used to show the speaker that you are following the conversation and understand what they are saying.

In the event you do not understand the speaker, you say

"What does that mean?"

[sorewa do:iu imideska]

[kawai:] This phrase is used to compliment someone's attire or personal belongings. You can also use this phrase to describe things you find adorable.

[sugoi] This phrase is used when you see or hear something terrific.

"That was awesome!"

[sugokatta des] This phrase can also be used to express your thoughts and opinions about something amazing.

1.Nice to meet you! [hazimemashite]

2. My name is ◯◯. Please call me ◯◯! [watashino namaewa ◯◯des. ◯◯to yonde kudasai]

3. I am from ◯◯. [◯◯kara kimashita]

4. I am a ◯◯. [watashiwa ◯◯des]

5. Nice to meet you! / Please be kind to me! /Yours Sincerely / Thank you for your valuable time! [yoroshiku onegai shimas]

6. What is your name? [onamaewa nandeska]

7. Where are you from? [shusshinwa dokodeska]

8. What is your occupation? [oshigotowa nandeska]

9. I like 〇〇. [watashiwa ◯◯ga skides]

10. What about you? [anatawa do:deska]

11. I went to 〇〇. [watashiwa ◯◯ni ikimashita]

12. Would you like to go to 〇〇 together? [isshoni ◯◯ni ikimasenka]

13. Can I have your Facebook? [feisubukku o oshiete kudasai]

14. I see. [he: so:nandesne]

15. Cute! [kawai:]

16. Wow! [sugoi]

Review Quiz

Challenge yourself by answering the following two questions we have prepared, based on the phrases introduced in this article.

Please select the correct answer for the following multiple-choice questions. (Answers can be found at the end of this article)

Q1. Which phrase should you use to introduce your name to others?

1. isshoni ◯◯ni ikimasenka? 2. watashiwa ◯◯ga slides. 3. watashino namaewa ◯◯des.

Q2. Which phrase should you use to invite someone to go somewhere together?

1. yoroshiku onegai shimas. 2. isshoni ◯◯ni ikimasenka? 3. ◯◯kara kimashita.

Speak Japanese and make new friends in Japan!

By mastering the phrases introduced in this article, you are a step closer to striking a natural conversation with Japanese people. Feel free to put these phrases into practical use and make new friends during your next trip to Japan!

Do you ever use someone's first name in Japan?

In Japan, the use of first names is less common in formal or professional settings. Instead, people often address each other using their family names with appropriate honorifics, such as "-san" attached, especially in initial interactions or in hierarchical relationships. It is more common to use first names in informal or casual environments, among close friends, or among individuals of similar status.

How do you call a Japanese name politely?

When addressing someone politely in Japan, especially in formal or professional settings, it is customary to use their family name followed by the honorific "-san." For instance, if someone's name is Taro Tanaka, you would address them as "Tanaka-san." Using honorific titles like "-san" demonstrates respect and is considered appropriate in most situations, especially when addressing someone for the first time or when there is a difference in status.

What is the Japanese term for self introduction?

The Japanese term for self-introduction is "jikoshoukai." This term encompasses the act of introducing oneself, often including information such as name, occupation, and other relevant personal details in social or formal settings.

Do you introduce yourself with your last name in Japan?

In Japan, it's customary to introduce yourself using your last name, particularly in more formal or professional settings. This practice is especially common when meeting someone for the first time or when addressing individuals in a hierarchical relationship. However, if you are visiting Japan and/or interacting with Japanese individuals in a more casual setting, it is acceptable to introduce yourself with your first name, especially if it's easier to pronounce than your last name. Your Japanese friends will be happy if you allow them to call you by your first name.

Why do Japanese not use first names?

In Japan, the cultural norm of primarily using family names rather than first names reflects the country's emphasis on hierarchy, respect, and maintaining harmonious relationships. This practice has historical and cultural roots, and it helps reinforce social structure and etiquette. Every individual is seen as an entity that belongs to a family or community; this is why the family name usually comes first.

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How to Speak Japanese /

How to introduce yourself in Japanese

How to introduce yourself in Japanese (Easy to detailed self introduction)

Whatever your reason for learning Japanese, you will probably end up in a lot of situations where you need to introduce yourself. Therefore, we have compiled a few sentence structures, some vocabulary and other important points you can use for your own self-introduction.

[How to start your self-introduction]

The very first word you will need to start your self-introduction with is “初めまして (Nice to meet you)”. Saying “初めまして” is considered polite upon meeting someone for the first time and will help you leave a good impression. 初はじめまして。 Nice to meet you, something you say upon meeting someone for the first time

[Stating your name]

After beginning with “初めまして”, the natural thing to do next is telling the other person your name. There are several ways to say your name:

So, for example, you can say: “ 私わたしはしほです。 (My name is Shiho)”. If you have a name other than your real name that you would like to be called, e.g. a nickname, you can follow up by saying the following:

So, for example you could say:

[Stating where you are from]

The next thing to do is let everyone know where you are from. For the place, you can use your country or hometown, depending on the situation you are introducing yourself in. Usually, as a foreigner in Japan, it is most common to state your country.

If where you were born/are from originally and where you currently live are two different places, you can follow up by specifically stating where you are residing at the moment:

So to give you an example, you could say:

[Stating your occupation]

Next up, you can let everyone know what your current occupation is. The hard thing about this might actually be knowing what your own occupation means in Japanese, so don’t forget to look it up beforehand! Also, see the different version for stating when you are a student and what you are studying:

You can follow up on this and give more specifics by mentioning where exactly you work.

So for example, you could say:

You can also combine stating your work and workplace in one sentence. In that case, please try using the following sentence.

[Stating your hobbies]

The next part is really important. To have everyone know what kind of person you are, you can talk about your hobbies or other important things in your life. You can also line up several hobbies by using the particles “と” or “や”.

If you have a lot of hobbies, it’s best not to say them all in one sentence. If you have a wide variety of interests and would like to introduce them all, say your most favorite ones first. Then you continue the sentence with “あとは (Furthermore)”. See the example below:

If you would like to elaborate even further, you can explain why exactly you like these things. Since Japan values food very highly, something that can also be mentioned when introducing yourself is what kind of food you like or dislike.

Furthermore, you could talk about what you like to do on your day off. That way, you can give people an idea as to what you are up to on weekends and try to let them know what kind of person you are.

[Wrapping up]

Since most of you reading this article are probably Japanese learners, one final thing you can let everyone know is why you started learning Japanese. Mostly every Japanese person will be curious about this, so here is how it goes:

Now, the final step of your self-introduction is wrapping everything up and giving it a natural sounding ending. There are several ways you can end your self-introduction naturally. Pick one of the following:

“ 以上いじょうです” is a somewhat stiff, formal way of ending your self-introduction. It’s best used in very formal settings, e.g. at your workplace if it has a rather formal environment.

Lastly, why don’t you revise Shiho’s own self-introduction and see if you can come up with something similar?

皆さん、初めまして。私はしほと言います。私は東京出身で、今も東京に住んでいます。私の趣味は外国の映画やテレビドラマを観ること。それから、美味しいものを探したり、食べたりすることです。好きな映画はほんっとにたくさんあるんですけど、特に好きなのは「キューティ・ブロンド」という映画です。この映画はもう何十回も観たことのある、私にとって特別な映画です。好きな食べ物もすごくたくさんあります。特に好きなのはスイーツとか、和食、イタリア、それからタイ料理等の、エスニックですね。そういったものをよく食べています。もっと色んな国の、色んな料理を食べてみたいなーといつも思っています。あとは、運動したりとか、ショッピングをすること。それから、旅行に行ったり、カフェでのんびり本を読んだりするのもすごく好きです。では、私の自己紹介はこれで終わりにしたいと思います。皆さん、よろしくお願いします。

If any of the grammar used in this article is unclear, head over to our full list of Japanese grammar reference.

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese (Jikoshoukai)

Self-introduction (jikoshoukai) in English is considered to be pretty straightforward. Depending on whether it is a formal or an informal introduction, the choice of words is simple. For instance, if it’s an informal setting, you would say: “Hello there! I’m…”

Then, a handshake ensues, and the small talk begins. If you have enrolled for Japanese language lessons in Singapore, introducing yourself is most likely your first lesson in class. You must have noticed that it isn’t very different in Japanese. Also, just like in English, the setting is an important consideration when crafting an appropriate way to introduce yourself.

Here’s a look at some of the most common ways of introducing yourself in Japanese.

Greeting in Japanese

Japanese greetings aren’t all the same. The way you do it depends on the context in which you use them. For instance, when meeting someone for the first time, you would usually say ‘”O-genki desu ka?”‘ (How are you?). This is likely to be followed by an exchange of business cards.

If this exchange takes place at your job, then you can expect a more formal word of greeting like ‘”Ohayou gozaimasu!”‘ (Good morning). On your part, make sure that you follow up with an equally polite form of reply like “^_^ Genki desu.” If both parties possess the same level of formality, then it is customary to follow greetings with ‘”Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.”‘ (Please take care of me).

There are proper, improper, formal, and informal ways to greet in Japanese and in most other languages. As with the English language, so too does Japanese possess its own alternatives for ‘”How are you?”‘

How to say “hello” in Japan

Just like in English, greetings are governed by time and environment. Whether it is a formal or informal set-up, you’ll need to say hello in an appropriate way. If you want to speak and learn Japanese , you first need to know how to say hello in Japanese. You need to understand that one greeting does not fit all occasions.

Greetings are important when it comes to establishing contact with people. Also, the choice of words and its details depends on whether you are addressing Japanese friends, colleagues, or strangers. It is, therefore, necessary for learners of the Japanese language to master different ways of saying hello in Japan.

Greeting people the first time you see them during the day or night is another way to say hello. Here’s how you can say good morning and good evening in Japanese:

おはよう — Good morning

こんばんは — Good evening

How to Say “Nice to meet you” in Japanese

When speaking of introductions, it requires you to be on your best behaviour. Since interaction is usually the first thing that happens when meeting someone, you need to make a good impression by speaking politely. You can speak and learn how to say nice to meet you in Japanese depending on who it is that you are meeting for the first time.

For friends and family, you can say “O-tsukare sama deshita”. This is a casual Japanese way to say nice to meet you. If it is a colleague that you are meeting for the first time at your job, then saying “Gok shoukai shimasu” (Nice to meet you) in Japanese is the right thing to do.

Self Introduction in Japanese

During Japanese classes, you will learn that what you do is very important for Japanese people and their culture. Therefore, all introductions must include your career, position, and title. For instance, if you were to introduce yourself and say that you are a writer, you must mention that you are a writer, including your employer and your rank (supervisor, manager, etc.)

So, if you are attending Japanese classes for business purposes , learn how to say your profession and title in Japanese aside from your name too.

Suppose you are in an informal set-up. Maybe you’ve met up with a group of young Japanese people for a drink you can greet them in different ways. For instance, you can use:

おす！— Hey! (if you are among young men)

よぉ！— Yo! (used mainly by teenagers)

Then, proceed to introduce yourself. Remember to pronounce your name in Japanese.

Here’s how to introduce yourself in Japanese by saying the following phrases in both settings:

Stating Your Name (Using Watashi wa or 私は)

When it comes to self-introductions, you need to introduce yourself by mentioning your name in your native language. The polite way of saying “my name is” to someone you just met is “Watashi no namae was_____ desu.” or Watashi wa ___ to moushimasu. (My name is ___). You can also say “To saru shimasu” or と申します which also has the same idea and meaning as the two phrases we just mentioned.

You can use this basic sentence or phrase when you want to introduce yourself in Japanese. However, if your name is long, it would be more appropriate if you shortened it and used “O-namae wa ___ desu.” If you are already comfortable with the person, you can informally say your name by saying ‘”Watashi wa ____ desu”‘ (I’m ____).

Where You’re From

When someone asks you where you are from, you can answer them by saying “Watashi wa ____ kara desu.” (I’m from _____). If you have a nationality, then you can say it. You can also add your city or your hometown after the word ‘”kara,”‘ which means “from.” You can do so by saying “Kara kimashita” – から来ました which means “I came from ___).

When formally telling someone your job or occupation, you can say ‘Shigoto desu.” (I am a _____). If you are comfortable with the person you’re conversing with, you can tell them what is your occupation in an informal way by saying ‘Shigoto wa _____ desu.” which means “My occupation is _____.”

If you’re a student, you can say this by saying “Gakusei desu” which means “I’m a student”. If you want to tell someone about the school you attended, you can formally tell them by saying ‘”Gakkou de hataraita desu/hatarakaimashita”‘. This means I studied in _____.

If you want to tell someone about your current school, you can say it informally by saying, “Shukudai o suru gakkou wa _____ desu.” which means “My school is _____.”

When you want to formally tell someone your hobbies, you can say ‘”Shumi desu.”‘. If you are comfortable with the person you’re conversing with, you can tell them what is your hobby in an informal way by saying ‘O-shigoto wa _____ desu.’ which means “My hobby is ____”.

Ending the conversation

All conversations should come to an end. You can end it in Japanese by saying’ “O-tsukare sama deshita.”. This is a casual Japanese way to say nice to meet you.mWhen you want to end the conversation, you can say “doumo”. This means thank you in Japanese.

When ending conversations, you should say ‘Otsukaresama deshita.’ This means thank you for your hard work. You can also say Yoroshiku onegaishimasu or よろしくお願いします, which means, please be nice to me. People use this method to meet with their boss, adviser, or someone they want to add to their circle.

Informal (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu or よろしくお願いします)

Ending conversations in an informal set-up can be done by saying “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu” or よろしくお願いします which means Please be nice to me. People who use this basic phrase are those meeting with their new friends, classmates, or someone with who they want to be friends.

Etiquette is an important part of Japanese culture. From greeting them to offering your business card, there are some things you should consider. If you are meeting with someone older than you, you should bow your head slightly down until they look at you again. The length of the bow depends on how much respect an individual deserves for their age or position. Once they have looked up at you, it means that the conversation has ended and the other person is ready to leave now.

Here are some tips to show proper etiquette:

Don’t Talk About Yourself Too Much.

Refrain from talking too much about yourself. Keep conversations on an equal basis by asking questions back to whoever is talking with you and answering any questions that they may have for you. Once you are comfortable enough, start asking your own questions about their lives.

Bowing vs Handshake

Bowing and offering a handshake can show respect and express gratitude. In Japan, you can bow to anyone that is within your age range and of equal status/rank. This is an acceptable way to formally greet someone.

People who are superior or older than you should be bowed to with a short nod of the head. As for handshakes, it depends on who you are meeting. If you are meeting with someone that is older, then shaking their hand is not proper. It would be acceptable to bow while offering your hand for them to shake hands with you if they choose to do so

Holding Your Hands Behind Your Back

When one holds their hands behind their backs, this means that they are at ease. This is the most common way to introduce yourself in Japanese when you meet someone. It is also one of the very casual interactions when meeting someone for the first time in Japan.

Don’t Bow While Talking

Conversing with someone with your hands behind your back is a sign of respect, but if you bow while conversing with someone, then this means that you are very anxious or frightened. If you feel uncomfortable around the person for any reason, then bowing is fine. However, don’t be nervous just because it’s Japan.

When learning Japanese, you should know that introducing yourself in Japan is very much like introducing yourself anywhere else. You just have to start out slowly until you get accustomed to the culture and new language. Eventually, you’ll learn that there are many other ways to introduce yourself in Japanese.

On some occasions, like semi-formal meetings, reaching out to your counterpart is an appropriate and proactive way of introducing yourself. A popular way of doing this in English is by reaching out and saying, “Nice to meet you, I’m….”

An equivalent of this in Japanese would be はじめまして. It’s short, polite.

In conclusion, the key to Japanese self-introduction or jikoshoukai is to keep it short, concise and as relaxed as possible. When learning Japanese lessons , you should always remember that the way you introduce yourself rules if it’s a formal set-up. Also, keep in mind the tips we’ve mentioned to ensure that you are showing proper etiquette.

Tips To Help You Use Japanese Phonetics Like A Pro

Best tips on how to master the japanese language fast.

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese (Formally or Casually)

In Japanese, a one-size-fits-all self-introduction isn’t always appropriate—much like in English!

When getting to know your intimidating new boss, you’d say something like, “It’s a pleasure to be working with you. Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Em,” rather than, “Hey there, nice to meet you! I’m Em! Let’s be best friends!”

How you introduce yourself depends on the situation and level of formality involved.

Below, we cover the most common methods of self-introduction in Japanese, as well as other tidbits you should know (such as vocabulary and culture).

How to Write Your Name in Katakana

Self-introduction in japanese: essential vocabulary, business card culture in japan, how to introduce yourself in japanese (formal), 1. “hello.”, 2. お元気ですか？ (おげんきですか？) — how are you, 3. … と申します。 (…ともうします。) — i am…, 4. 初めまして。どうぞよろしくお願いします。 (はじめまして。どうぞよろしくおねがいします。) — nice to meet you. i look forward to working with you., 5. “goodbye.”, 6. optional: 自己紹介させていただきます。 (じこしょうかいさせていただきます。) — i will begin my self-introduction., how to introduce yourself in japanese (informal), 2. お元気ですか？ (おげんきですか？) / 元気？ (げんき？) — how are you, 3. … です。 — i am…, 4. 初めまして。 (はじめまして。) — nice to meet you., 5. よろしくお願いします。 (よろしくおねがいします。) — please show me kindness., 6. “goodbye.”, and one more thing....

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The Japanese language has a pretty strict set of syllables. It can be difficult for native Japanese speakers to pronounce foreign words and names.

Because of this, it’s important to understand katakana and figure out how to pronounce your name the Japanese way before diving into introductions.

Katakana, like hiragana , is a syllabary where one character represents a particular Japanese syllable. The only difference is that katakana was developed for writing and pronouncing foreign words in the Japanese language.

Using katakana, work out how you’d say your name within the limit of the Japanese syllable system. Here are a few examples:

ジョナサン (じょなさん) — Jonathan

エム (えむ) — Em

ザカリー (ざかりー) — Zachary

ジェシカ (じぇしか) — Jessica

Practice katakana and develop the correct way to pronounce your name in Japanese for improved communication.

When introducing yourself, it’s often appropriate to include your position, career, status or any other information about yourself that the other person might need to know. Whether you’re a student, writer or a supervisor at a company, it’s a good idea to learn the relevant vocabulary.

Here are some common words you might use to describe your work in situations like a job interview :

学生 (がくせい) — student

医者 (いしゃ) — doctor

看護師 (かんごし) — nurse

先生 (せんせい) / 教師 (きょうし) — teacher

芸術家 (げいじゅつか) — artist

作家 (さっか) — writer

政治家 (せいじか) — politician

調理師 (ちょうりし) — chef

会計士 (かいけいし) — accountant

兵士 (へいし) — soldier

会社員 (かいしゃいん) — employee

サラリーマン (さらりーまん) — salaryman

フリーター (ふりーたー) — part-timer

監督 (かんとく) / 管理者 (かんりしゃ) — supervisor

エンジニア (えんじにあ) — engineer

If none of these describe you, look up the Japanese word for your profession or the position you hold in your company. It’ll make meeting people much easier, as this is usually one of the first bits of information new acquaintances exchange.

Business cards are important for professional situations in Japan, even for casual networking opportunities.

Study up on Japanese business card culture and put together your own business cards if you plan on working in Japan. It can definitely end up being a major part of how you introduce yourself to other professionals.

Now that you’ve gained some important context on how to introduce yourself in Japanese, let’s finally get into the phrases!

If you just met a Japanese speaker and you’re not sure how to introduce yourself to them, it’s best to err on the side of caution and use the formal register first. That way, you’ll lower your chances of making a faux pas.

Even in situations where you should’ve used the informal register instead, you’re less likely to offend the other person by being overly polite first than by being too chummy from the get-go.

There are a few formal and polite ways to greet someone in Japanese:

おはようございます — Good morning (used for morning greetings until around 10 a.m.)

おはよう様です ( おはようさまです ) — Good morning (slightly less formal)

こんにちは — Hello (used for greetings from around 10 a.m. to dusk)

こんばんは — Good evening (used for the whole evening)

おやすみなさい — Good night (used right before bedtime)

This is the same whether you’re in a formal or informal situation.

It can be optional, but it adds a sense of caring to your conversation and can help you seem more approachable.

と申します is the more formal way of saying “my name is” or “I am.” Simply precede the phrase with your name. (Note: If you’d like to follow this up with your profession, you should still use … です for that!)

If you’re in a work setting, it may be wise to introduce yourself by your last, then first name.

This extended version of よろしくお願いします isn’t appropriate for all formal situations and is mostly used for first meetings in school or at work.

This phrase is usually accompanied by a nod or brief bow .

In a formal situation, it would be rude to end a conversation with “later, dude.” Here are a few more polite ways to say goodbye:

さようなら — Goodbye

失礼します (しつれいします) — Excuse me (I’m leaving now)

お疲れ様でした (おつかれさまでした ) — Thank you for your hard work (used at the end of a work day)

お先に失礼します (おさきにしつれいします) — Excuse me for leaving first

You could also see this phrase as a way of saying “allow me to introduce myself.” This is a very formal phrase you’d use to introduce yourself to someone at a formal get-together such as a wedding or business trip when you approach them first.

If you’re giving a speech, it would be wise to open with this phrase before beginning the rest of your self-introduction.

In any other situation, this phrase is just a bit too formal to use.

The key to informal introductions in Japanese is to keep things as brief and relaxed as possible, while still being polite and respecting introduction “rules.”

There are a few ways to say hello in Japanese based on the time of day and the vibe of the situation:

おはよう — Good morning (used for morning greetings until around 10 a.m.)

こんちゃ — Hello (shortened version of こんにちは)

おーい！ — Hey!

ヤッホー！ (やっほー！) — Hi!

おす！ — Hey! (Used by young men among each other)

よぉ！ — Yo! (Used in a really comfortable setting)

These are common expressions used in casual conversation. You may not get a very in-depth response, perhaps as little as a nod with a smile.

The phrases both literally mean “are you healthy?” but they work just like the English “how are you?”—as a greeting, not an actual inquiry into someone’s health or well-being.

元気？is usually used between good friends, while お元気ですか？is a bit more polite.

Precede です with your name. For example:

ジョナサンです。 — I am Jonathan.

エムです。 — I am Em.

ザカリーです。 — I am Zachary.

ジェシカです。 — I am Jessica.

This is also how you’d use any one of the essential career words we mentioned above. For instance:

学生です。 — I am a student.

It’s quick, to the point and polite without being overbearingly formal.

This isn’t the most commonly used phrase out there, but there are a few situations in which you’d use it. If a friend introduces you to someone or you’re networking with someone but not formally working with them yet, this phrase can help you seem friendlier.

There isn’t an exact translation of this term in English, but the closest concept is that you’re asking your new friend to be gentle with your feelings.

Remember, keeping things short and sweet but still genuine is the key to making a great informal introduction. Here are a few ways to wrap things up:

またね — See you soon

バイバイ (ばいばい) — Bye-bye

では、また — Well then, see you

Watching actual Japanese speakers introduce themselves to each other is an excellent way to learn the nuances and pick up even more self-introduction vocab. You can also visit some tried-and-tested websites to learn Japanese like FluentU .

This list of phrases might seem a little complicated if you’ve never introduced yourself in Japanese before. Keep in mind that you won’t have to use all of these constantly if you’re planning on traveling to or living in Japan.

Knowing how to introduce yourself in Japanese, however, will really help you improve your overall fluency—and make some friends along the way!

If you love learning Japanese with authentic materials, then I should also tell you more about FluentU .

FluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning Japanese language and culture. You'll learn real Japanese as it's spoken in real life.

FluentU has a broad range of contemporary videos as you'll see below:

FluentU makes these native Japanese videos approachable through interactive transcripts. Tap on any word to look it up instantly.

All definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Japanese learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.

And FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.

The best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You'll have a 100% personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese. EASY Phrases

Want to know how to introduce yourself in Japanese?

Quick and easy answer – just say:

I am (name) .
English Pronunciation: Watashi wa (name) desu.
Japanese: 私は (name) です。

But if you want to sound a little smarter… and introduce yourself the RIGHT way in Japanese…

…you should read on and see the FULL way to introduce yourself. And the beauty of this is…

If you learn to how to introduce yourself in Japanese, you can handle most simple Japanese conversations .

So, here’s what you’ll need for a self Japanese self introduction. You can also use this as a Japanese bio in your social profiles.

I’ll give you two ways.

The first one is a simple and easy one that most people use. It includes “my name is…” and “nice to meet you.” The second one is more lengthy where you can talk about yourself in more detail.

Way #1: The quick way to introduce yourself.

Everyone uses this. It’s used when meeting new people.

1. Nice to meet you – 初めまして

English Pronunciation: Hajimemashite
Japanese: 初めまして

“Hajimemashite (ha-jee-meh-mashte)” is how you say “nice to meet you” in Japanese. This word does not literally mean “nice to meet you” but it’s one of the many “ Japanese set phrases ” that are used without thinking.

2. My name is (name) – 私は (name) です

There can be several variations.

You should also listen and hear real Japanese – Press play below. Try this Free Lesson from JapanesePod101.com (click here to visit) for the complete explanation about introducing yourself!

Or, you can try this.

My name is (name).
English Pronunciation: Watashi no namae wa (name) desu –
Japanese: 私の名前は (name) です。

Finally, you can try the most casual way to introduce yourself in Japanese.

I’m (name)
English Pronunciation: (name) desu.
Japanese: (name) です。 (Note: this is very casual)

Finally, you need this next final phrase.

3. Please treat me well – よろしくお願いします。

English Pronunciation: Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Japanese: よろしくお願いします。

What in the world is “Please treat me well?” It is a rough translation and has no equivalent in English. This is simply a “ Japanese set phrase ” that you need to use in such encounters and first time meetings. Why? Because that’s how the Japanese language and culture work. Because politeness. And because why wouldn’t you be treating a new person well?

So, here’s your script you can use.

初めまして。私は (name) です。よろしくお願いします。 Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (name) desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

You can use this safely as it’s quite polite. If you want to a super cool and casual introduction, then just drop a few words.

(name) です。よろしく。 (name) desu. Yoroshiku.

Way #2 – the 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai)

In other words, this is your elevator pitch that you’ll use over and over when you need to talk about yourself.

In Japanese, this is called a jikoshoukai (自己紹介) or self-introduction, that’s a lot more detailed than the method we used above. It’s often used in group settings when everyone has to say a little about themselves. For example, you’ll hear this at work events or group dates.

This second method is very useful to know because now you can talk about yourself.

Hello, nice to meet you.
My name is ……
I am from …….
I am …… years old.
I am a (student/occupation).
I’ve been learning Japanese for…
I am learning Japanese because…
Please treat me well.

Here’s how to introduce yourself in Japanese with the full “jikoshoukai.”

1. こんにちは, 初めまして – Hello, nice to meet you.

Hello – konnichiwa – こんにちは

First, we have the word “konnichiwa” which is just a way to say hello in Japanese .

Nice to meet you – Hajimemashite – 初めまして

2. (name) です My name is ……

(name) desu.

So, if you’re Bob, you say “Bob desu.”

3. (Place) からきました。 I am from …….

(Place) kara kimashita. (Place) からきました。
Use it to say where you’re from.

Being able to talk about where are you from in Japanese is a must. Japanese people will also ask you so you should have an answer ready. Or, you can mention your ethnicity or nationality instead.

Amerikajin desu. アメリカ人です。
I am American.

4. (age)歳です。 I am …… years old.

(age) sai desu. (age) 歳です。

For this one, you will need to know Japanese numbers . Here are some random examples though:

Ni juu go sai desu.
Juu kyuu sai desu.
Ni juu nana sai desu.
San juu yon sai desu.

5. (position)です。 I am a (student/occupation).

Next, you may want to talk about what you do. Whether you’re a student or working.

I am a student: gakusei desu. 学生です。
My job is programming: Watash no shigoto wa puroguramingu desu. 仕事プログラミングです。
Just means “I’m doing (job), ” as if you’re answering “What do you do.”

6. I’ve been learning Japanese for…

This line is also good to know. If you’re decent, Japanese people will be impressed and will want to know how long you’ve been learning for.

example: 1 year. Ichi nen kan nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu. 一年間日本語を勉強しています。

7. I am learning Japanese because…

Of course, being able to talk about your reason is also important. People will ask you.

example: Because you’re interested in Japan.
Nihon ni kyoumi ga aru kara, nihongo o benyoishiteimasu. 日本に興味があるから、日本語をべんきょうしています。

9. Please treat me well

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu – よろしくお願いします。

This “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” is one of the most common Japanese set phrases that’s used all the time. You’ll hear it a lot. It has various meanings depending on the context, but here… it’s just “please treat me well” or “be good to me.” Don’t think it much here.

So, here’s your Japanese introduction script.

こんにちは, 初めまして。私は (name) です。アメリカ人です。 (age) 歳です。仕事は (job) です。 (time) 間日本語を勉強しています。 (reason) だ/から、日本語をべんきょうしています。よろしくお願いします。

Or, if you can’t read yet and just want to say it out loud:

Konnichiwa, Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (name) desu. Amerikajin desu. ( age) sai desu. Shigoto wa (job) desu. (Time) kan nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu. (Reason) da/kara, nihongo o benkyoushiteimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Conclusion – Back To You!

Did you notice that I took out all of the “watashi wa” from most of the sentences?

Why did I do that?

You should omit 90% of the “watashi’s” there to sound more natural.

After you said it once, people understand you’re talking about yourself. Japanese is a very context-heavy language and there’s no point in going “watashi wa… watashi wa… watashi wa…” in every sentence because you already set the context.

So, that’s how to introduce yourself in Japanese naturally.

And you can use the phrases above for your Japanese bio on your socials.

Here’s what you do now.

Create your self introduction.
Leave me a comment and introduce yourself.
And start learning even more Japanese.

– The Main Junkie

P.S. For a similar guide, check out this other article: how to introduce yourself in Japanese .

P.P.S. I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!

[…] This is a great question to know as you will hear it millions of times. In your cause, someone may ask you and you will have to introduce yourself in Japanese. […]

[…] If you want be able to answer this question, then you’ll need to learn how to introduce yourself in Japanese. […]

[…] How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese: 2 Best Ways […]

I’ve never heard a Japanese person pause between saying their last name and first name. They always say both names together as if their names were just one long word and they blurt it out as fast as humanly possible. They say such a mouthful and are completely incomprehensible

Unless it’s a formal occasion, why do they need to give both names?

I always dread hearing their names.

初めまして。私の名前はケイリンです。アメリカ人です。１月にはじめて日本にいきます。私はXで作家です。6ヶ月間日本語をべんきょうしています。日本に住みたいから、日本語をべんきょうしています。よろしくお願いします。:D

初めまして。私の名前はケイリンです。アメリカ人です。１月にはじめて日本にいきます。私はXで作家です。6ヶ月間日本語をべんきょうしています。私は日本に住みたいから、日本語をべんきょうしています。よろしくお願いします。：D

I didnt really like to repeat watashi, watashi, watashi… sounds really bad. Could you teach us more ways of saying this for example “‘name’ to moushimasu” instead of using watashi so much, please? Thank you!

こんにちわ! ジョナサンさんです! よろしく!

please help me

はじめまして。私はワイクルー•ロリーです。ユタから来ました。23歳です。スノー短期大学の生徒です。1年生です。私は1年間日本語を勉強しています。まだ上手じゃありません。日本に興味があるから, 日本語をべんよいしています。よろしくお願いします。

こんにちは, 初めまして。私はAlexです。 Nice! Great lesson!

[…] Remember how to introduce yourself in Japanese?(click) It follows the same pattern. […]

[…] Japanese Phrases: How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese […]

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Learn Japanese 2022.08.15 2023.09.29 Koji Sudo

Jikoshoukai (自己紹介): How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All Important Things You Need to Know

Do you know how to introduce yourself in Japanese? If you are studying the Japanese language or visiting Japan for travel, school, or business purposes, you will frequently find it necessary to introduce yourself.

Whether you are a friend, colleague, student, employee, neighbor, or anyone else, proper introductions are crucial to developing meaningful relationships with others. It is important to learn how to introduce yourself in Japanese, such as the use of the phrase “My name is…” in Japanese sentences.

This article explores the ways in which you can introduce yourself in Japanese and provides some practical examples. This discussion is beneficial for various situations. Let us delve further into the topic.

In addition, if you are currently studying Japanese, it is also important to familiarize yourself with commonly used expressions in everyday life. Please refer to the following recommendations from our discussion below!

Read also: How are You in Japanese: All You Need to Know Japanese Honorifics: San, Chan, Kun, and Other 15 Great Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese

A Brief Overview about Jikoshoukai (自己紹介)

Jikoshoukai (自己紹介): self introduction in japanese, the japanese cultural aspect regarding jikoshoukai (自己紹介), the basic “jikoshoukai (自己紹介)” practice, the conversation tips for jikoshoukai (自己紹介), the useful words for jioshoukai (自己紹介) to remember.

Before we delve into the basic structure for introducing oneself, let us provide some essential tips for introducing oneself to the Japanese people. When introducing yourself in Japan, you should keep some cultural aspects in mind.

Generally, it is advisable to use formal and polite language while introducing yourself and refrain from disclosing too many personal details immediately.

When introducing yourself in Japan, it’s important to note that the family name comes before the given name. For example, if your name is Kevin Smith, your introduction should begin with “Smith,” followed by “Kevin.”

Jikoshoukai (自己紹介): Self Introduction in Japanese - EDOPEN Japan

In Japanese culture, 自己紹介 (jikoushoukai) or “self-introductions” are an important step towards integrating with locals. It is similar to introducing oneself in any other culture. “Jiko (自己)” means “self” in English, and “Shoukai (紹介)” can be directly translated to “introduction.”

However, there are specific cultural differences and procedures one should follow in practice. It is important to make a good first impression, so it is important to learn how to conduct a proper self-introduction.

1. The Basic Self Introduction

After mastering basic greetings such as “Ohayou Gozaimasu” for Good Morning, “Konnichiwa” for Good Afternoon, and “Konbanwa” for Good Evening, it’s time to learn the basic “Jikoshoukai” in Japanese. Here are some useful phrases you need to know.

はじめまして (Hajimemashite) This means, “Nice to meet you.” Greetings to people who meet each other for the first time. Let’s talk cheerfully.
私の名前は◯◯です。 (Watashino namaewa ◯◯desu.)　 My name is ◯◯. If you have a nickname, you can say 〇〇to yonde kudasai which means “Please call me 〇〇”. Please look at the following example for more understanding. Look at the quick examples below! Ex : 私の名前はタナカミキです。 (Watashino namaewa Tanaka miki desu) My name is Miki Tanaka. Ex : ミキと呼んでください。 (Miki to yonde kudasai) Please call me Miki.
◯◯から来ました。 (◯◯kara kimashita.) Here, you mention your country or region you come from. Look at the example below! Ex : アメリカから来ました。 (America kara kimashita) I come from Amerika.
私は◯◯です。 (Watashiwa ◯◯desu) You can mention your occupation here. Ex : 私は学生です。 (Watashiwa gakuseidesu) I am a student. Ex : 私はデザイナーです。 (Watashiwa dezaina-desu) I am a designer.
よろしくお願いします！ (Yoroshiku onegai shimasu) It means “Nice to meet you” or “How do you do”. We say it at the end of the self-introduction. You can also use it when you ask for something or at the end of an email. It’s a practical phrase that increases politeness when you add it.

2. The Other Additional Phrases for Jikoshoukai (自己紹介)

お名前はなんですか？ (Onamaewa nandeska? ） What is your name?
出身はどこですか？ (Shusshinwa dokodeska?） Where are you from? If you are asked this question, try to give the answer using the example below! Answer: ◯◯から来ました。 ○○kara kimashita） which means “I am from 〇〇”.
お仕事はなんですか? (Oshigotowa nandeska? What is your occupation? This phrase comes after introducing your occupation to others. Use the following sentence to answer! Answer: わたしは○○です。 Watashiwa ◯◯desu, which means “I am a 〇〇”

3. The Other Additional Phrases for Jikoshoukai (自己紹介)

わたしは○○が好きです。 (Watashiwa 〇〇ga sukidesu. ) meaning, I like 〇〇. Example: わたしはすしが好きです。 (Watashiwa sushiga sukidesu.) meaning, I like sushi. Then, In order to emphasize this expression, you can say the following sentences: わたしは○○が大好きです。 (Watashiwa ◯◯ga daiskidesu.) meaning, I like 〇〇 very much.
あなたはどうですか? (Anatawa doudeska?) meaning, how about you? This phrase is used to learn more about the preferences and opinions of others.
わたしは○○に行きました。 (Watashiwa 〇〇ni ikimashita) meaning, I went to 〇〇. This phrase is suitable for striking up a conversation with your Japanese friends, and sharing with them about the different places you have visited in Japan as well.
いっしょに○○に行きませんか? (Isshoni 〇〇ni ikimasenka?) meaning Would you like to go to 〇〇 together?　 Here, you can insert the name of the place into 〇〇. Please look at the following example to get a deeper understanding! Ex 1 : いっしょにすし屋に行きませんか? (Isshoni sushiyani ikimasenka?) Meaning, would you like to go to the sushi restaurant together?　 Ex 2 : いっしょに新宿に行きませんか? (Isshoni shinjukuni ikimasenka?)　 Meaning, would you like to visit Shinjuku together?

The Japanese Cultural Aspect Regarding Jikoshoukai (自己紹介) - EDOPEN Japan

While knowing the appropriate words to use is helpful, it is equally important to use them correctly. It is important to be aware of cultural differences when introducing yourself in Japanese. Attention to detail in your “Jikoshoukai” can give you a social advantage when meeting new Japanese acquaintances as these nuances hold subtle but significant meaning.

First name and Family name In Japanese, people usually introduce themselves by their family names or full names. When they introduce their full name, the family name comes first, and the first name comes second.
Occupation In English, when you asked what you do for work, you give a summary of your job, or the name of your profession.　In Japan, it’s common to answer only , ” Kaishain-desu” (I’m an office worker, or I work for a company.) However, if you introduce yourself to someone in a business setting, mention your company in your self-intro. Example: Toyotaのコウイチと申します。(Toyota no Kouichi to moushimasu.) Means, I’m Koichi from Toyota.
Don’t talk about yourself too much Japanese people sometimes say lightly self-deprecating things as a form of humility, but it’s usually followed by something positive. Example: 至らない点が多いかもしれませんが、よろしくおねがいします。（Itaranaitenga ooikamoshiremasenga, yoroshikuonegaishimasu）This means, I might have many flaws, but I’ll do my best so please be kind to me.

However, it is commonly observed that Japanese individuals tend to keep their strengths to themselves. There is no need to state anything of that sort. It’s acceptable to share a couple of your strengths, but providing a list of all your extraordinary abilities may irritate others.

Bowing VS Handshake It is customary not to engage in handshakes in Japan, particularly if your status is equal to or lower than that of your counterpart. Handshakes between equals are acceptable in Japan. Instead of the traditional handshake, Japanese custom dictates that you bow after greeting. Bowing, or お辞儀 (ojigi), is a sign of respect in Japan. As a general rule, always bow at least 15 degrees and remember to keep your hands in front of you.

The Basic “Jikoshoukai (自己紹介)” Practice - EDOPEN Japan

Maybe you’ve been giving your Japanese self-introduction for an extended period, reciting the same three phrases repeatedly. Perhaps you have already read this manual and comprehended the fundamentals. It’s time to enhance! The following are examples of expressions you can integrate into your typical “Jikoshoukai” to add piquancy and make your self-introduction unforgettable.

1. Say “はじめまして (nice to meet you)”

Earlier we learned how to use “Hajimemashite ( はじめまして)” (nice to meet you, how do you do). Here’s a few ways to add to this set phrase.

2. Mention your “name”

For formal situations, it is recommended to use both your first and last names when introducing yourself. In more casual situations, it is common for Japanese individuals to use only their family name. Here are a few different ways to introduce yourself, listed in ascending order of politeness. Look at the following example for further understanding!

3. Say “please be kind to me”

When introducing oneself in Japan, it is common practice to use a phrase that requests a favorable impression, such as “Please treat me kindly” or “Please remember me favorably.” Once the standard greeting of “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu” is mastered, one can then explore more casual or formal variations. Below are variations arranged by level of politeness.

4. Say “where you are from”

“Shusshin ( 出身 )” refers to a person’s place of birth or upbringing, rather than their current location. “Mairu ( 参る or まいる )” is a more modest alternative to “Kuru (来る)” or “Iku (行く)”. Thus, when discussing one’s place of origin in the phrase “アメリカから参りました,” using “Mairu (参る)” conveys humility and should be used appropriately.

5. Say “your school: Daigaku (大学) or University/College”

School, from elementary through university, plays a significant role in Japanese culture. Expect to be asked about your alma mater and area of study. Alternatively, preempt the inquiry by incorporating the information into your “Jikoshoukai.” Look at the following example!

わたしは Ⓐ 大学 Ⓑ 学部 Ⓒ科出身です。 Watashiwa Ⓐ Daigaku Ⓑ Gakubu Ⓒ Ka Shusshinn desu. This means I graduated from the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
わたしは Ⓐ 大学 Ⓑ 学部 Ⓒ科の学生です。 Watashiwa Ⓐ Daigaku Ⓑ Gakubu Ⓒ Ka no Gakusei desu. This means I am a student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.

6. Mention “your work”

A quick grammar note: some of the Jikoshoukai example sentences use the continuous state conjugation of “Suru (する)” which is “Shiteimasu (しています)”. To enhance politeness, replace “Shiteimasu (しています)” with “Shiteorimasu (しております)”. This simple switch will enable you to convey your work situation in a professional manner to CEOs and presidents.

7. Say “where you live”

In the Japanese we call it, “Sumu (住む or すむ)” which means live.

The Conversation Tips for Jikoshoukai (自己紹介) - EDOPEN Japan

Introduce yourself, what you like to eat most and what your hobbies are. Please look at the following points!

The Useful Words for Jioshoukai (自己紹介) to Remember! - EDOPEN Japan

1. Occupation

How was that? If you have the opportunity to introduce yourself in Japanese, there are many ways to do so. Saying a few phrases can lead to great conversations in the Japanese community and help you make lots of friends.

To sum up this article, please let us recall again the above information in the following points! Please review them together here!

“ Jiko ” refers to the English word “ self ” while “ Shoukai ” can directly be translated to “ introduction . You must be careful to use a formal and polite Japanese style and not tell too much about yourself or reveal too many personal details.
In Japan, the family name always comes first . There are a lot of “ Jikoshoukai ” phrases that go beyond the basic introduction, so make the most of them. It’s better to improve the advanced self-introduction when you’ve mastered the basic self-introduction so that you can converse even better.

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A Guide to Self-Introductions in Japanese Job Interviews

A Quick Jump To…

Structure and delivery of your self-introduction, common job interview questions and sample answers, additional tips.

In the competitive world of Japanese job interviews, making a strong first impression is crucial. Your self-introduction, or 自己紹介 (Jiko shōkai), sets the tone for the entire interview and gives the interviewer a glimpse into your personality, skills, and motivations. Understanding the nuances of Japanese etiquette and tailoring your introduction accordingly can significantly enhance your chances of success.

A well-structured self-introduction typically follows a three-part format:

Greeting and Name: Begin with a polite greeting, such as Good Morning – おはようございます ( Ohayō gozaimasu ) or Good morning or Hello – こんにちは ( Kon’nichiwa ). Clearly state your name and surname.

Background and Educational Qualifications: Briefly introduce your educational background, including the universities or institutes you attended and your degrees or qualifications.

Work Experience and Skills: Highlight your relevant work experience, emphasizing accomplishments and skills that align with the job requirements. Use specific examples to demonstrate your capabilities.

* Everything in red is changeable based on your experience and background. *

Q. 自己紹介をお願いします。 (Jiko shōkai o onegaishimasu) – Tell me about yourself.

This broad question assesses your overall background, personality, and motivations. Be concise and focus on aspects relevant to the job.

Sample Answer

John と申します。現在 25 歳、アメリカ出身で、ニューヨーク大学を卒業しました。アメリカでは 2 年間、日本では 3 年間、ウェブサイト制作を行う会社でエンジニアとして働いてまいりました。よろしくお願いいたします。

John to mōshimasu. Genzai 25 -sai, Amerika shusshin de, nyūyōku daigaku o sotsugyō shimashita. Amerikade wa 2 -nenkan, Nihonde wa 3 -nenkan, u~ebusaito seisaku o okonau kaisha de enjinia to shite hataraite mairimashita. Yoroshikuonegaītashimasu.

My name is John . I’m currently 25 years old, from the United States , and graduated from New York University. I worked as an engineer at a company that creates websites for two years in the United States and three years in Japan . Thank you very much.

Q. なぜ日本に来たのか聞いてもいいですか？ (Naze Nihon ni kita no ka kiite mo īdesu ka?) – May I ask why you came to Japan?

This question asks about your interest in the country and could be used to evaluate your understanding of the Japanese market.

小さいころから日本のゲームソフトやテレビドラマが身近にあり、いつかは日本に行ってみたいという気持ちがあったので、大学では日本語も学びました。エンジニアという職種なら日本で就職しやすいと考え来日を決めました。

Chīsai koro kara Nihon no gēmusofuto ya terebi dorama ga midjika ni ari, itsuka wa Nihon ni itte mitai to iu kimochi ga attanode, daigakude wa nihongo mo manabimashita. Enjinia to iu shokushunara Nihon de shūshoku shi yasui to kangae rainichi o kimemashita.

Ever since I was little, I have been familiar with Japanese game software and TV dramas , and I wanted to go to Japan someday, so I also studied Japanese at university. I decided to come to Japan because I thought it would be easy to get a job in Japan as an engineer .

Q. このポジションに興味を持った理由 (Kono pojishon ni kyōmi o motta riyū) – Why are you interested in this position?

This question evaluates your understanding of the role and your genuine interest in the company. Demonstrate your knowledge of the company’s values and how your skills align with their needs.

志望動機は、自分のスキルを発揮できる場所がほしいと思ったからです。私の対人関係スキルが、ベンダーとの有意義な関係を築くのに役に立つのではないかと感じています。また、デザインソフトを使った経験から、データベースの管理にも自信があります。

Shibou douki wa, jibun no sukiru o hakki dekiru basho ga hoshii to omotta karadesu. Watashi no taijin kankei sukiru ga bendā to no yūigina kankei o kizuku no ni yaku ni tatsu node wanai ka to kanjite imasu. Mata, dezain sofuto o tsukatta keiken kara, dētabēsu no kanri nimo jishin ga arimasu.

I am looking for this job because I am looking for an opportunity to use my skills. I feel that I could be successful in this position because my interpersonal skills will help me develop meaningful relationships with vendors . Additionally, my experience using design software has given me the confidence to manage databases .

Q. あなたの個人的な長所と短所について話してください (Anata no kojin-tekina chōsho to tansho ni tsuite hanashite kudasai) – Please talk about your personal strengths and weaknesses.

This question assesses your self-awareness and ability to identify areas for improvement. Be honest and highlight complementary strengths and weaknesses.

長所は真面目なところ、短所は考えすぎてしまうところです。前職でも納期を必ず守り、ミスが無いよう何重にもチェックをしていました。考えすぎてしまうところは短所ですが、行動に移るのが遅くならないよう、常に前倒しで仕事の段取りを組むようにしています。

Chōsho wa majimena tokoro , tansho wa kangae sugite shimau tokoro desu. Zenshoku demo n ōki o kanarazu mamori, misu ga nai yō nan-jū ni mo chekku o shite imashita. Kangae sugite shimau tokoro wa tanshodesuga, kōdō ni utsuru no ga osoku naranai yō, tsuneni maedaoshi de shigoto no dandori o kumu yō ni shite imasu .

My strength is that I am serious , and my weakness is that I think too much . Even at my previous job, I always met deadlines and checked multiple times to make sure there were no mistakes. My weakness is that I tend to overthink things, but I always try to plan my work ahead of time so that I don’t delay taking action .

Here is another blog on Top 10 Useful Phrases for Japanese Job Interviews to help you sound more Natural ; check it out to ace your interview!

Practice and Rehearse: Rehearse your self-introduction beforehand to ensure a smooth and confident delivery.
Maintain Eye Contact: Make eye contact with the interviewer to convey sincerity and engagement.
Speak Clearly and Concisely: Speak clearly and concisely, using proper grammar and pronunciation.
Show Enthusiasm and Passion: Convey your enthusiasm for the opportunity and your passion for the field.
Express Gratitude: Thank the interviewer for their time and consideration. You can say お時間をいただき、ありがとうございました。よろしくお願いいたします。 ( Ojikan o itadaki arigatōgozaimashita. Yoroshiku onegaiitashimasu. ) 。

You can also check out our blog , which includes different ways to express your gratitude!

Remember, your self-introduction is your chance to make a lasting impression and showcase your suitability for the role. By following these guidelines and tailoring your responses to the specific requirements of the interview, you can increase your chances of success and land your dream job in Japan.

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Introduce Yourself In Japanese With 5 Easy Lines

と申します / 名前は (to moushimasu / namae wa) is the one of the way to sa ‘My name is…’ in Jepanese. Whether you are a student, tourist, or a new employee, learning how to introduce yourself in Japanese properly can significantly affect how the locals will treat you.

In the Japanese culture, self-introductions are called 自己紹介 (じこしょうかい) or Jikoshoukai , and they are deemed an essential step in order to establish yourself among the locals. The word jiko refers to the English word “self,” while shoukai can directly be translated to “introduction.”

In this post, we will walk you through learning Japanese and how you can prepare to introduce yourself (may it be for formal or casual encounters) so that you can connect better with the locals when the time comes.

A Few Tips Before Introducing Yourself In Japanese

Planning to go on a trip or to work in Tokyo? Whenever we meet someone for the first time, most of us merely say hello and follow it up with the name right away. If you

However, that is not the case for Japanese people as they view introductions as a form of respect, and it reflects your enthusiasm for getting to know or working side-by-side with the locals. Of course, you, as a foreigner, are not expected to be fluent in Japanese, but having some knowledge of how even the basic greetings work can earn you an extra brownie point.

Before we go on a deep dive into the basic structure that you can use, allow us to give you a few tips that you must know while introducing the Japanese people.

To say your name in Japanese, do remember that the family name comes first, followed by the second name. This means that if your name is Kevin Smith, your introduction should start with Smith, followed by Kevin.
It is considered polite or 丁寧 ( teinei ) whenever you introduce yourself if you discuss one or two of your major strengths. Never go beyond that number, as the locals may view it as a form of arrogance. Remember : Japanese people are always humble, and they even follow up their achievements with some of their flaws.
Whenever a person asks you about your occupation or 職業 ( shokugyō) , you do not have to follow the Western standard where you discuss your role, company, duties, etc. In Japan, the only response they are looking for is simple, like “ I work at an office, or I work for + Company Name.”
Instead of the traditional handshake when you are done with your introductions, the Japanese standard that you have to remember is that they bow instead. Bowing or お辞儀 ( ojigi ) is a form of respect for the Japanese people. According to the locals, the angles by which you bow will express the level of respect you have for the other person. As a rule of thumb, always bow at least 15 degrees and remember to put your hands in front of you (left hand on top of right hand).
If you intend to provide your business card or 名刺 ( meishi ) after introducing yourself, always give it out with two hands and make sure that you are not covering any words. If you are in a business group, always give your card to the one with the highest authority first.

Now that you already have an idea of the basic etiquette when introducing yourself in Japanese, let’s now discuss the 5 basic lines that can help you crush that introduction like a pro.

Introduce Yourself In Japanese

Are you looking for a surefire way to introduce yourself to your Japanese colleagues? Aside from mastering the basic greetings in Japanese , you are expected to go beyond and completely describe who you are to the people you meet. Of course, it doesn’t always have to follow all these lines, but our list here is perfect to use if you want to sound polite for a formal and casual introduction.

Japanese Greetings

If you have a friend or colleague who will introduce you to other Japanese people, it would be wise to always start your introduction with a simple greeting such as those listed below.

Before we dive into the rest of the vocabulary, words and phrases, you must be thinking, how do I even memorize these? If you practice daily and think like a native speaker, you will surely achieve your goals. But, you don’t have to do it alone.

Download this app on Google Play and App Store today and discover a new way to learn languages!

Stating Your Name – なまえ

Once you have stated your basic greetings, you can now move on and start to say your name in any of the ways below.

Describing Your Nationality – こくせき

Aside from stating your name, it is totally normal for people to ask where you are from or your nationality . To properly answer this, you can use any of the following expressions below.

Introducing yourself in Japanese - Sharing Information About Your Occupation

Sharing Information About Your Occupation – しょくぎょう

Traditionally, the Japanese have a set of words to describe every job but with today’s modern occupations, it is allowed to use Japanified terms. Japanified (also known as wasei-eigo ) refers to the mixture of English terms in a sentence.

Introduce Yourself In Japanese - closing

Finishing Your Self Introduction

While you can always just end with thank you in the Japanese language, you can also make use of the following classic lines below.

As we reach this part of the article, we hope that you were able to learn all the basic self-introduction lines that you can use at school, work, online, or for casual interactions. Suppose you enjoyed this post and would like to learn more about the Japanese language and culture. In that case, we highly recommend that you read out other related posts like how to greet using the Japanese language, the basic sentence structure , and how to say I love you ; like a real native!

On the flip side, if you are someone who is truly passionate about Japan and would like to learn Japanese , then we’ve got a language learning resource that will definitely interest you. Read on below to find out what it is.

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How to Say “My Name is,” in Japanese and More!

When you’re learning Japanese and starting to make new friends, or visiting Japan for travel, school, or business, there will be many occasions where you need to introduce yourself. Introducing yourself is always important in starting a good relationship with someone: friends, peers, students, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

Hence, it’s important to learn things like how to say “My name is,” in Japanese, as well as other ways of introducing yourself in Japanese phrases.

There are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to introducing yourself in Japan, from a cultural perspective. For example, you should usually use a formal and polite style of Japanese when you introduce yourself, and it’s better not to talk about yourself too much or give too many personal details right away.

Ready to learn how to introduce yourself and learn Japanese with us? Here’s our list of practical phrases and tips for introducing yourself in Japanese words.

P.S., you can find more information on how to introduce yourself in Japanese business on our site!

Table of Contents

Identifying Yourself
Stating Your Name
Stating Your Age
Stating Where You’re From
Placing Yourself in Society
Sharing Personal Details
Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Identifying Yourself

1- Greeting

The first thing you do when meeting someone, before introducing yourself, is offer them a greeting. There’s also a greeting word the Japanese use to close an introduction, which we’ll familiarize you with below. These can also be good ways of how to introduce yourself in Japanese interviews.

Romanization: Hajimemashite. English Translation: Nice to meet you.

When you first meet someone, Hajimemashite , or “Nice to meet you” in Japanese, is the first word of greeting. Hajimemashite means to start knowing someone new or to start a new relationship with someone. Essentially, it’s a good way to introduce yourself in Japanese.

This term is formal and can be used for any occasion. For a very official occasion, there’s another way to say “Nice to meet you,” more politely and with respect: お会いできて光栄です。( O-ai dekite kōei desu. ). Keep in mind that this may be a good phrase for how to introduce yourself in Japanese email.

はじめまして。私はマリコです。 Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Mariko desu. Nice to meet you. I am Mariko.

Note: Watashi wa meaning in Japanese is “(as for) me.”

2. よろしくお願いします。

Romanization: Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. English Translation: Please treat me well.

This is used at the end of an introduction, after you’ve finished introducing yourself. It actually has many meanings, but in this case, it means “Please treat me well,” or “Please be nice/kind to me.” This may sound awkward in English, but it’s an important greeting phrase in Japan to show your gratitude and humbleness, especially in hoping to have a good relationship with that person. In a casual situation, you can just say Yoroshiku as a shortened version.

今日からここで働きます鈴木です。よろしくお願いします。 Kyō kara koko de hatarakimasu Suzuki desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. I am Suzuki and I start work here today. Please be good to me.

When you greet and introduce yourself for the first time, most of the time you should bow and shake hands.

2. Stating Your Name

Learning how to say your name is an essential aspect of Japanese introductions, especially when it comes to how to introduce yourself in Japanese for interview. Following Hajimemashite , it’s very common to state your name to start your introduction in Japanese. There are a few ways to say your name in Japanese.

Romanization: Watashi wa Yumi desu. English Translation: I am Yumi.

This is the most common phrase to tell someone your name.

Watashi = I
wa = am / is / are
desu = This is a Japanese 述語 ( Jutsugo ) or predicate in a polite style, which is added to the end of a sentence.

2- 私はユミと言いいます。

Romanization: Watashi wa Yumi to iimasu. English Translation: I am called Yumi .

This is another typical way to say your name in Japanese. It literally means “I am said to be Yumi.”

iimasu = This is a conjugated form of 言う ( iu ) which means “to say.”
To = This is a Japanese postpositional particle which means “as” in this case.

This phrase sounds a bit more formal. In order to say it even more politely for an official occasion, you can say mōshimasu instead of iimasu , which is the respectful form ( Keigo 敬語 ) of “say” in Japanese.

3- 私の名前はユミです。

Romanization: Watashi no namae wa Yumi desu. English Translation: My name is Yumi.

When you’re asked “What is your name?”, you can answer with this phrase.

namae = name
Watashi no namae = my name

4- ユーミンと呼んでください。

Romanization: Yūmin to yonde kudasai. English Translation: Please call me Yūmin .

If you have a nickname or あだ名 ( adana ) which is different from your real name, you can use this phrase after introducing your actual name.

yonde = This is a conjugation of 呼ぶ ( yobu ) which means “to call.”
kudasai = This is a Japanese Jutsugo (述語) or predicate in a polite style which means “please (call me)” in this case.

It’s not very common to state your age to a person you meet for the first time, especially if you’re an adult woman. In some situations, however, you’re expected to introduce your age or when you were born. On such occasions, here are some expressions for how to state your age.

1- 私は16歳です。

Romanization: Watashi wa 16-sai desu. English Translation: I am 16 years old.

sai is “year(s) old.”
For Japanese numbers, please visit here for more details.
You can use any Japanese number to say “XX years old,” except for twenty.
“Twenty” is ni-jū as a Japanese number, but it’s read as はたち ( hatachi ) only when it’s expressed as an age.

2- 私は今年25歳になります。

Romanization: Watashi wa kotoshi 25-sai ni narimasu. English Translation: I become 25 years old this year.

kotoshi is “this year.”
ni is a Japanese particle which is usually used to indicate destination or direction. In this case, it indicates the result of change.
narimasu is a conjugated form of なる ( naru ) which means “to become.”

3- 私は1990年生まれです。

Romanization: Watashi wa 1990-nen umare desu. English Translation: I was born in 1990.

You can also express your age by stating the year of your birth. This phrase is a common answer when you’re asked when you were born, in situations such as confirming your legal age when you buy cigarettes or alcohol (the legal age for these is twenty in Japan).

nen is “year.”
umare is “was born” in noun form.
In order to express a year, unlike in English, the Japanese say the whole number.
For example, “1990” in Japanese numbers is read “one-thousand nine-hundred ninety” in Japanese, which is sen kyū-hyaku kyū-jū .

4. Stating Where You’re From

When thinking about how to introduce yourself in a Japanese job interview, in particular, you should learn how to talk about where you’re from. Different regions have different features. It’s common to state where you’re from in your introduction in Japan. When you find that someone is from the same city or region of your city, it makes it easier to familiarize yourselves with each other.

1- 私は東京出身です。

Romanization: Watashi wa Tōkyō shusshin desu. English Translation: I am from Tokyo.

shusshin is a noun word which means “come from” or “a place of one’s origin.”
If you’re a foreign person in Japan, state your country.

2- 私はカナダ人です。

Romanization: Watashi wa Canada-jin desu. English Translation: I am Canadian.

You can also state your nationality or ethnicity instead of the country you’re from.
jin denotes nationality when it’s attached to the name of a country.

3- 私は大阪に住んでいます。

Romanization: Watashi wa Ōsaka ni sunde imasu. English Translation: I live in Osaka.

You can also mention where you reside now.
Sunde imasu is a conjugated form of 住む ( sumu ) which means “(I am) living.”

5. Placing Yourself in Society

1- Stating Your School and Major [for Students]

1. 私は東京大学に通っています。.

Romanization: Watashi wa Tōkyō Daigaku ni kayotte imasu. English Translation: I go to Tokyo University.

daigaku is “university.”
kayotte imasu is a conjugated form of 通う ( kayō ) which means “(I am) going” when talking about a place where you constantly and repeatedly go.
Vocabulary related to school : – 大学 ( Daigaku ) — University – 短期大学 ( Tanki daigaku ) — Junior college – 専門学校 (Senmon gakkō) — Vocational school / Technical school – 高校 ( Kōkō ) — High school – 中学校 ( Chūgakkō ) — Middle high school – 小学校 ( Shōgakkō ) — Elementary school

2. 私は経済学を学んでいます。

Romanization: Watashi wa keizaigaku o manande imasu. English Translation: I study economics.

keizai is “economics” and gaku denotes a subject.
Vocabulary related to subjects: – 経営 ( Keiei ) — Business management – 法律 ( Hōritsu ) — Law – 生物 ( Seibutsu ) — Biology – 国際関係 ( Kokusai kankei ) — International relations – 情報技術 ( Jōhō gijutsu ) — Information technology – 金融 ( Kinyū ) — Finance – 芸術 ( Geijutsu ) — Art – 心理学 ( Shinrigaku ) — Psychology

2- Stating Your Profession [for Workers]

1. 私は看護師です。.

Romanization: Watashi wa kangoshi desu. English Translation: I am a nurse.

Put the word for your occupation where the underlined word is in the example.
Vocabulary related to occupation: – 看護師 ( Kangoshi ) — Nurse – コンピュータープログラマー ( Konpyūtā puroguramā ) — Computer programmer – 医者 ( Isha ) — Doctor – 先生 ( Sensei ) — Teacher – 販売員 ( Hanbaiin ) — Shop staff – 会計士 ( Kaikeishi ) — Accountant – スポーツインストラクター ( Supōtsu insutorakutā ) — Sports instructor – 美容師 ( Biyōshi ) — Hairdresser

2. 私は銀行で働いています。

Romanization: Watashi wa ginkō de hataraite imasu. English Translation: I work at a bank.

This is another phrase used to mention where you work.

de means “at.”
hataraite imasu is a conjugated form of 働く ( hataraku ) which means “(I am) working.”
Vocabulary related to where you work: – 銀行 ( Ginkō ) — Bank – 会社 ( Kaisha ) — Company [general term] – 貿易会社 ( Bōekigaisha ) — Trading company – 広告会社 ( Kōkokugaisha ) — Advertising company – 建築事務所 ( Kenchiku jimusho ) — Architectural firm – アパレル会社 ( Aparerugaisha ) — Apparel/clothing company – 病院 ( Byōin ) — Hospital – レストラン ( Resutoran ) — Restaurant – デパート ( Depāto ) — Department store

In Japan, people often introduce themselves by saying which company they work for, but it’s also nice to explain what you do for work as a profession.

6. Sharing Personal Details

1- information about your family and pets.

Here’s some information on how to introduce yourself and your family in Japanese! After all, family is a universal topic and one that’s so important.

1. 私は5人家族です。

Romanization: Watashi wa go-nin kazoku desu. English Translation: I have a family of five members.

It’s common to say how many members are in your family. Put the number of members in your family in place of the underlined go (“five”) in the example sentence.

nin is a counter word used to count people, which means “person,” and it’s attached after a number.
kazoku means “family.”

2. 私は姉と弟がいます。

Romanization: Watashi wa ane to otōto ga imasu. English Translation: I have a big sister and a younger brother.

You can also introduce how many brothers and sisters you have. For more details about family, please visit Family in Japan.

ane means “older sister.”
otōto means “younger brother.”
imasu is a conjugated form of いる ( iru ) which means “there is/are” in a polite style.

3. 私は犬を飼っています。

Romanization: Watashi wa inu o katte imasu. English Translation: I have a dog.

inu means “dog.”
o indicates an object.
katte imasu is a conjugated form of 飼う ( kau ) which means “(I am) keeping and raising (animals).”
Vocabulary related to pets: – 犬 ( Inu ) — Dog – ハムスター ( Hamusutā ) — Hamster – 小鳥 ( Kotori ) — Small bird(s) – ヘビ ( Hebi ) — Snake – うさぎ ( Usagi ) — Rabbit – ねこ ( Neko ) — Cat

2- Describing Hobbies

1. 私の趣味は登山です。.

Romanization: Watashi no shumi wa tozan desu. English Translation: My hobby is climbing mountains.

It’s always nice to introduce what you like to do in your free time in order to let people know more about you. It’s common to share information about your hobbies in Japan, unless it’s too personal (such as political or religious activities).

Watashi no means “my.”
shumi means “hobby.”
Vocabulary related to hobbies: – 登山 ( Tozan ) — Climbing mountains – 映画鑑賞 ( Eiga kanshō ) — Watching movies – 写真 ( Shashin ) — Photography – 旅行 ( Ryokō ) — Traveling – マンガ ( Manga ) — Comics – スキー ( Skī ) — Ski – サーフィン ( Sāfin ) — Surfing

2. 私はサッカーが得意です。

Romanization: Watashi wa sakkā ga tokui desu. English Translation: I am good at soccer.

You can also introduce what is you’re good at. Insert a suitable vocabulary word in the underlined part of the example sentence.

tokui is a noun that means “being good at.”
Vocabulary related to things you’re good at: – スポーツ ( Supōtsu ) — Sports – プログラミング ( Puroguramingu ) — Programming – デザイン ( Dezain ) — Designing – 歌うこと ( Utau koto ) — Singing – 料理 ( Ryōri ) — Cooking – 楽器の演奏 ( Gakki no ensō ) — Playing instruments – ゲーム ( Gēmu ) — Game

3- Describing Your Favorite Foods

1. 私はラーメンが好きです。.

Romanization: Watashi wa rāmen ga suki desu. English Translation: I like ramen.

Food is always an easy topic to talk about and can expand any conversation. Insert a suitable vocabulary word in the underlined part of the example sentence. 　

suki means “like.”
ga indicates an object.
Vocabulary related to food: – 日本食 ( Nihonshoku ) — Japanese cuisine – 中華料理 ( Chūka ryōri ) — Chinese cuisine – 韓国料理 ( Kankoku ryōri ) — Korean cuisine – イタリア料理 ( Itaria ryōri ) — Italian cuisine – フランス料理 ( Furansu ryōri ) — French cuisine – メキシコ料理 ( Mekishiko ryōri ) — Mexican cuisine – 焼肉 ( Yakiniku ) — Japanese BBQ – カツ丼 ( Katsudon ) — Pork cutlet bowl – お好み焼き ( Okonomiyaki ) — Japanese pancake – 果物 ( Kudamono ) — Fruits – 甘いもの ( Amai mono ) — Sweets

4- Describing Your SNS (Social Network Service)

1. 私はインスタグラムを使っています。.

Romanization: Watashi wa Insutaguramu o tsukatte imasu. English Translation: I use Instagram.

When introducing yourself during a casual occasion, such as when you’re trying to make new friends, you can make mention of your SNS to connect with them.

tsukatte imasu is a conjugated form of tsukau (使う) which means “(I am) using.”
Insert the name of an SNS, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., in the underlined part of the example sentence.

This is a great way of introducing yourself to a Japanese friend!

2. 私のユーザー名はsakura123です。

Romanization: Watashi no yūzāmei wa sakura123 desu. English Translation: My username is sakura123.

If you’re introducing yourself to a friend in Japanese and want them to search for your SNS account and add you as a friend, this phrase is useful.

yūzā is a Japanese version of how to say “user.”
mei is “name.”
Insert the name of your account in the underlined part of the example sentence.

3. 私はブログを書いています

Romanization: Watashi wa burogu o kaite imasu. English Translation: I write a blog.

kaite imasu is a conjugated form of 書く ( kaku ) which means “(I am) writing.”

7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this article on introducing yourself in Japanese is helpful and that it makes your communication with Japanese people more enjoyable! Hopefully you can now see that knowing how to introduce yourself in Japanese language learning is essential.

Which of these Japanese greetings did you find most useful? Why not practice introducing yourself in Japanese by writing out a self-introductory paragraph in Japanese in the comments? We’d love to hear from you!

If you’d like to learn more Japanese, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com . We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For example, 10 Lines You Need for Introducing Yourself is useful for practicing your Japanese introduction with audio.

We also have a YouTube channel: JapanesePod101 . It’s always fun to learn Japanese language by watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation. And don’t forget to check out our free vocabulary lists and more blog posts like this one to help you gain insight into Japanese culture and the language!

Know that your determination will pay off, and we’ll be here for each step of your language-learning journey with support and useful tools !

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

Last Updated: May 4, 2023 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 17 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 476,870 times. Learn more...

So you've just met someone who speaks Japanese, and you want to show respect to Ye Olde Nippon by making formalities in their mother tongue. It doesn't matter if it's a co-worker, exchange student, neighbor, or mutual friend – and it also doesn't matter whether or not they speak any English. Here are some quick rules of thumb that should help you make a good first impression.

Initial Greetings

"Ohayou" (pronounced just like "Ohio") means "good morning" and is used pretty much anytime before noon. To make it more polite, say "ohayou gozaimasu" (go-zah-ee-MAHS).
"Konnichiwa" (KO-nee-chee-wah) means "good afternoon" and is also a standard hello. It can be used between noon and about 5 PM. [3] X Research source
"Konbanwa" (kon-BAHN-wah) means "good evening," and is used between 5 PM and midnight. If you want to mix things up, you can say the Japanese equivalent of "Greetings," which is aisatsu (AH-ee-saht-soo).

For example: "Watashi no namae wa Miyazaki Hayao desu," means "My name is Hayao Miyazaki."
Bear in mind that Japanese people rarely use "watashi" in conversation. When introducing yourself, you can omit the "watashi wa" if you're comfortable trying to sound like a local. "Anata," which means "you," is similarly avoided. Thus, you can simply say "Joe desu," to tell someone that your name is Joe.

For a more casual form, you can just say "Yoroshiku." In almost all cases, however, you should err on the side of the more formal, more polite form.
If you're introducing yourself casually to a young person of similar social standing, you can omit almost all of the extra words. Simply say, "Joe desu. Yoroshiku," to mean "I'm Joe. Nice to meet you." [6] X Research source

Beginning a Conversation

You could also replace " arigatou " with "okagesama de" (oh-KAH-geh-sah-mah deh) which means basically the same thing.

Community Q&A

Don't worry if you flub up on pronunciation. Japanese people usually find it cute when foreigners mess up at their language. Plus, they think of English in the same way that many English-speakers think of Japanese—cool, intriguing, and even mystic—so don't be embarrassed! Thanks Helpful 70 Not Helpful 6

Tips from our Readers

As they say, practice makes perfect, so make sure you're constantly practicing these phrases until you're absolutely positive you have them in your head. Practice, practice, practice!

If you ever have a choice between polite and casual, go with polite – even in what seem like casual situations. Thanks Helpful 59 Not Helpful 9
Never put an honorific title (-san, -chan, -kun, etc.) after your own name. This is viewed as egotistical and rude. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/jikoshoukai/
↑ https://www.coscom.co.jp/learnjapanese101/wordcategory/basicwords_greeting.html
↑ http://www.linguajunkie.com/japanese/japanese-introduce-yourself
↑ https://www.kanpai-japan.com/learn-japanese/introduction-hajimemashite
↑ https://www.mlcjapanese.co.jp/survival_02.html
↑ http://learnjapanesepod.com/how-to-introduce-yourself-in-japanese/
↑ https://www.coscom.co.jp/ebksample/smp_ejp123/index_mokuji.html
↑ https://tokyocheapo.com/living/how-to-start-a-conversation-in-japanese/
↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33901966

About This Article

To introduce yourself in Japanese, say "Watashi no namae wa Sarah desu," which translates to "My name is Sarah." For a shortened, less formal introduction, you can just say "Sarah desu." You can also say "Hajimemashite," which means "Nice to meet you." Whenever you introduce yourself to someone in Japanese, always end with "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu," which means "Please be nice to me." To learn how to start a conversation with someone new in Japanese, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Do a Self-Introduction in a Japanese Resume or an Interview

October 15, 2021

Job hunting in Japan always includes submitting a resume, which details your academic background, work experience, any certifications you might have, reasons for applying, and more. A typical Japanese resume will also have a section for self-introduction (自己PR). Japanese companies pay close attention to it to make sure that a candidate is the kind of person they want working for them, so it’s important to promote yourself as best as possible in that section. In this article, we’ll discuss the best way to handle the self-introduction portion of a Japanese CV or an interview.

What Is the Self-Introduction Section of a Japanese Resume?

A resume is a document that you submit while job hunting, which details your academic background, work experience, skills, and other information. It’s an essential tool that companies use to screen candidates. A typical Japanese CV will include sections like Education, Professional Experience, Skills, and, notably, Self-Introduction where you have to promote yourself by describing your personality, strong points, and other things that will make you appear as an attractive candidate. Companies read through this section to ascertain what kind of person you are, what you can bring to the company, and if you’re the type of employee they’re looking for.

Things to Keep in Mind When Writing a Japanese Self-Introduction

In this section, we will discuss things to be mindful of when filling out the Self-Introduction portion of a Japanese resume.

Companies use self-introductions to judge whether a candidate is the right fit for their workplace. So, look over the job ad carefully and write something that will highlight the kind of abilities, experiences, achievements, and parts of your character that will make you look as appealing as possible to that specific potential employer.

However, simply listing your strengths and abilities won’t be enough. You also need to back up your claims by detailing your relevant experiences and achievements. In short, you have to be specific in order to be credible. Below, we’ve listed a few things to include in your self-introduction that should resonate with a recruiter.

• Emphasize your strong points and abilities that will make you sound like the perfect candidate for the job. • Back up your claims by detailing specific and relevant accomplishments or work evaluations. • Write about all the effort and labor you put into overcoming the obstacles on the road to achieving your accomplishments. • Write about how your strong points will be an asset to the company.

Follow the advice above and you’ll soon be writing self-introductions that Japanese companies will definitely take notice of!

Not All Self-Introductions Are Written

Filling out the Self-Introduction section of a Japanese resume does not mean you can sit back and relax. Once your resume passes the initial screening, you will be asked to do another self-introduction during the interview by answering questions like “What is your field of expertise?” or “How will you be an asset to the company?” This is your chance to really sell yourself to a potential employer, so make sure you are prepared for these sorts of interview questions.

It’s important to not just repeat what you wrote in your resume during the interview. Instead, talk briefly about specific experiences that illustrate your expertise, how those experiences can be an asset to the company, and what you’d like to achieve as their employee.

That being said, make sure to not go overboard and bombard the interviewer with story after story about your triumphs and accomplishments. If you do it too much, they will lose their appeal and take the interviewer’s interest with them.

Effective Writing Tips for Self-Introductions That Will Help You Land That Job!

Recruiters read through self-introductions to assess how a candidate can be an asset to the company in the role that they’re applying to. More specifically, they want to know what kind of a person you are and what kind of roles you hope to fill if hired. By including that kind of information in your self-introduction, you improve your chances of your resume making it past the initial screening. Below, we’ve included a few examples of well-written self-introductions divided by specific industries. We hope they’ll provide useful tips for when you’re writing your own self-promotion.

• Hotel Front Desk Staff My strong point is my attention to detail when it comes to hospitality. The hotel I’m currently working at sees a lot of foreign guests from all over the world. Here’s an example of how I provide the most high-quality service possible to people with vastly different needs and character traits: I check the reservation list to confirm what country they come from so that I can greet them in their native language during check-in or prepare a custom map of local restaurants popular with people from their country. I believe that constant attention to details like this is the key to helping make each guest’s stay at the hotel as enjoyable as possible. Thanks to this, I was awarded the Best Front Staff Award, which is based on customer surveys, three years in a row since 2017. I can assure you that I will bring the same kind of dedication and meticulousness to your company and make the happiness of your guests my priority.

• Corporate Salesperson I’m currently employed at a computer vendor where I’m responsible for overseeing 18 companies, including a major clothing manufacturer. I met 115% of my sales quota for the first half of the year, making me the most successful salesperson in the company out of 38 other people in similar positions. I believe the key to my success is thoroughly grasping the needs of the customer. When I got word that a major food manufacturer was behind on their digitization, I personally went to talk to them, assessed their needs, then provided them with specific figures showing how much they could gain using our computers. In the end, I acquired a new client and managed to increase sales. I would like to use my skills at properly assessing a customer’s needs to acquire more clients for your company.

• Web Designer At my previous company, I was responsible for website design. In one year’s time, I was responsible for a 110% increase in orders for our services, which I credit to my ability to think ahead and meticulously plan out every step of the design process and beyond. For example, I actually conducted market research while designing websites, predicted post-launch traffic, set up a periodical evaluation scheme, and provided other thorough follow-up services. This has earned me our clients’ trust which in turn led to the website operations running more smoothly, resulting in an increase of orders. I’m certain that my focus on results and my ability to view the entirety of the design process can be an asset to your company.

A Good Japanese Resume Starts With a Proper Self-Introduction

Companies in Japan take self-introductions very seriously, so knowing how to do them right from start to finish can be what ultimately decides whether you land your dream job or not. We hope that the tips in this article about composing a persuasive self-introduction that highlights the sort of skills a potential employer is looking for will help you while job hunting. Good luck!

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Jikoshoukai: How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese
Bow instead, and do so at the beginning and end of your jikoshoukai. 5. Holding Your Hands Behind Your Back. In Japan, holding your hands behind your back signals importance, so it may make you look full of yourself. Put your hands in front of you (the left hand on top of the right), or put your hands beside you. 6.
Japanese Writing Lab #1: Basic self-introduction
Keep in mind that for a self-introduction in Japanese, it is usually best to use at minimum basic polite language, like ~です and ~ます, since you aren't likely to be on very familiar terms with those you are speaking to. General template for basic self-introduction. Name (名前）. 僕（私) の名前は [your name here] です ...
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Starting a Self-Introduction Session in Japanese. Begin with a greeting and state your name. Whether you prepare to introduce yourself to a curious crowd of classmates or to one person, make sure to say hello first! Depending on the time of the day, you may say ohayou gozaimasu, konnichiwa, konbanwa.
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One way to introduce yourself is by saying your name. You can usually say it with "I am" plus your name. "I am" in Japanese is expressed with わたしは (watashi wa). When using わたしは (watashi wa) to say your name, you'll usually end your sentence with です (desu). です (desu) at the end of a sentence signifies politeness.
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The very first word you will need to start your self-introduction with is "初めまして (Nice to meet you)". Saying "初めまして" is considered polite upon meeting someone for the first time and will help you leave a good impression. 初はじめまして。. Nice to meet you, something you say upon meeting someone for the ...
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A popular way of doing this in English is by reaching out and saying, "Nice to meet you, I'm….". An equivalent of this in Japanese would be はじめまして. It's short, polite. In conclusion, the key to Japanese self-introduction or jikoshoukai is to keep it short, concise and as relaxed as possible.
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と申します is the more formal way of saying "my name is" or "I am.". Simply precede the phrase with your name. (Note: If you'd like to follow this up with your profession, you should still use …. です for that!) If you're in a work setting, it may be wise to introduce yourself by your last, then first name. 4.
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1. Nice to meet you - 初めまして. "Hajimemashite (ha-jee-meh-mashte)" is how you say "nice to meet you" in Japanese. This word does not literally mean "nice to meet you" but it's one of the many " Japanese set phrases " that are used without thinking. 2. My name is (name) - 私は (name) です. There can be several ...
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Your Step-by-Step Jikoshoukai Guide Learn the basics, practice, and create an advanced Japanese self-introduction

Jikoshoukai Vocabulary

Jikoshoukai Etiquette

Expanding the Basic Jikoshoukai

Custom Jikoshoukai Modification

Japanese Writing Lab #1: Basic self-introduction

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All You Need To Know

How to introduce yourself in Japanese?

What is “self-introduction” in Japanese?

Japanese Greetings

Good morning in Japanese

Good afternoon in Japanese

Good evening in Japanese

Nice to meet you in Japanese

Saying your name in Japanese

“I am” in Japanese

“My name is” in Japanese

“I am called” in Japanese

“I’m” in Japanese

Saying where you’re from in Japanese

からきました (kara kimashita)

からまいりました(kara mairimashita)

からです(kara desu)

すんでいます (sunde imasu)

しゅっしんです (shusshin desu)

Share information about yourself in Japanese

Ending you じこしょうじゃい (jikoshoukai | self-introduction)

Is it rude to shake hands?

Things to Remember!

6 replies to "How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All You Need To Know"

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: The Complete Guide to Jikoshōkai

Japanese Self-Introduction: The Basics

1. はじめまして (Hajimemashite): Nice to Meet You!

2. {Name} ~といいます。({Name} To Iimasu . ): My Name Is~

3. Finising Your Self-Introduction – よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu): PleaseTake Care of Me.

Example: Basic Self-Introduction in Japanese in 3 Steps

Step 2: Saying Your Name

Step 3: Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu

2. Making Your Self-Introduction Longer: Adding Personal Information

1. どこから来ましたか？(Doko Kara Kimashita Ka?): Where Are You From?

2. Hobbies

3. Likes/Dislikes

Examples:

4. Your Activities

5. What Brings You To Japan?

Japanese Self-Introduction Examples

Advanced Self-Introductions in Japanese for Business

1. Previous Work History

2. Work Experience

3. Feelings About Working at Your New Job

Super Polite Self-Introductions: Using Keigo

敬語 (Keigo): Honorific Language

Example:

Being Extra Polite: Useful to Know

1. です (Desu)/といいます (To Iimasu) → と申します (To Mōshimasu): My Name is~

2. ～から来ました (Kara Kimashita) → 参りました (Mairimashita): ~Came From

3. 改めまして (Aratamemashite): Once Again

ご・お (御) (Go/O): Polite Prefixes

Super Polite (Business) Japanese Self-Introduction Examples

お辞儀 (Ojigi): Bowing

Bowing in Japan: 3 Types of Bowing

1. 会釈 (Eshaku): A Slight Bow

2. 敬礼 (Keirei): A Polite Bow

3. 最敬礼 (Saikeirei): Respectful Bowing

Casual/Informal Self-Introductions in Japanese

砕けた話し方 (Kudaketa Hanashikata): Casual Language

Likes/Interests

Reasons for Coming to Japan

What You Do in Japan

What You Did Before Coming to Japan

Kristin Szabo

Self-Introduction In Japanese: 16 Phrases You Should Know

How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

Table of Contents:

Basic Self-Introduction in Japanese

1. Nice to meet you!

Stating Your Name (Using Watashi wa or 私は)