You want to use Japanese at work. Maybe you’re planning to work in Japan, or your company has Japanese clients, or you want to stand out in your industry.
But business Japanese feels intimidating. Keigo, formal emails, meeting etiquette… where do you even begin?
This guide gives you a clear starting point.
Do You Need Business Japanese?
First, be honest about what you actually need.
You need business Japanese if:
- You’ll work in a Japanese company
- You’ll communicate with Japanese clients or partners
- You’ll attend meetings conducted in Japanese
- You need to write emails or documents in Japanese
You might not need it yet if:
- You’re still at N5 level
- Your workplace uses English as the main language
- You just want to have casual conversations with Japanese colleagues
Keigo (formal language) appears partway through N4, so you can start learning business Japanese around that level. However, business Japanese requires understanding cultural context, so it’s better to learn from a teacher rather than self-study.
The Core Skills of Business Japanese
1. Keigo (Formal Language)
This is the big one. Japanese has three levels of politeness:
- Teineigo (丁寧語): Polite language (desu/masu). You probably know this.
- Sonkeigo (尊敬語): Respectful language (elevating others).
- Kenjougo (謙譲語): Humble language (lowering yourself).
In business, you need all three.
Example — “to say”:
- Casual: 言う (iu)
- Polite: 言います (iimasu)
- Respectful: おっしゃる (ossharu) — when someone else says
- Humble: 申す (mousu) — when you say
This is hard. Even Japanese people make mistakes with keigo. But you need to understand the basics to function in a business environment.
2. Email Writing
Japanese business emails follow strict conventions.
Basic structure:
- 宛名 (atena) — Recipient’s name and title
- 挨拶 (aisatsu) — Greeting
- 本文 (honbun) — Main content
- 結び (musubi) — Closing
- 署名 (shomei) — Signature
Common phrases:
- お世話になっております (osewa ni natte orimasu) — Standard opening
- ご確認のほど、よろしくお願いいたします — Please confirm
- 何卒よろしくお願いいたします — Formal closing
3. Meeting Language
Meetings have their own vocabulary and flow.
Useful phrases:
- 本日はお忙しい中… (honjitsu wa oisogashii naka…) — Thank you for making time today
- ご質問はございますか — Are there any questions?
- 検討させていただきます — We will consider it
- 確認いたします — I will confirm
4. Phone Etiquette
Phone calls in Japanese are notoriously formal.
Answering:
- はい、[会社名]の[名前]でございます
Common phrases:
- 少々お待ちください — Please wait a moment
- 折り返しお電話いたします — I will call you back
- 申し訳ございません、ただいま席を外しております — I’m sorry, they’re away from their desk
Where to Start: A Practical Path
Step 1: Start keigo around N4 level
Keigo appears partway through N4. As you work through your textbook, start becoming aware of business Japanese.
Step 2: Learn basic keigo patterns
Start with the most common verbs in keigo form:
| Plain | Respectful (others) | Humble (self) |
|---|---|---|
| 言う | おっしゃる | 申す |
| 行く | いらっしゃる | 参る |
| 来る | いらっしゃる | 参る |
| 見る | ご覧になる | 拝見する |
| 食べる | 召し上がる | いただく |
| する | なさる | いたす |
| いる | いらっしゃる | おる |
Step 3: Learn email templates
Don’t try to write emails from scratch. Learn templates and adapt them.
Get a business Japanese textbook with email examples. Copy them. Modify them for your needs.
Step 4: Practice with real scenarios
Find a teacher who can role-play business situations with you:
- Introducing yourself at a meeting
- Making a phone call
- Explaining a problem to a client
- Apologising for a delay
Step 5: Immerse in business content
- Watch Japanese business dramas (Hanzawa Naoki, etc.)
- Read business news (NHK, Nikkei)
- Listen to business podcasts
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using casual language with clients Even if your Japanese colleague speaks casually to you, don’t assume you can do the same with external clients.
2. Overusing keigo Too much keigo sounds unnatural and sometimes even sarcastic. Balance is key.
3. Direct translation from English Japanese business communication is indirect. “That’s difficult” often means “no.”
4. Ignoring non-verbal cues Bowing, business card exchange, seating order — these matter in Japanese business culture.
Resources for Business Japanese
Textbooks
- にほんごで働く！ビジネス日本語30時間 — Practical, focused on real situations
- 新にほんご敬語トレーニング — Keigo-focused
Online
- NHK World Business News — Free, real content
- 日経電子版 — Business news in Japanese
Certification
- BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test) — Specifically for business Japanese
- JLPT N2/N1 — Not business-specific, but often required
How Long Does It Take?
Starting from N4 level:
| Goal | Time needed |
|---|---|
| Basic business emails | 3-6 months |
| Simple meetings | 6-12 months |
| Confident phone calls | 1+ years |
| Full business fluency | 2+ years |
This assumes regular study and practice. Business Japanese requires understanding cultural context, so learning from a teacher is more efficient than self-study.
Learn Business Japanese with Nihon GO!
Nihon GO! offers specialised business Japanese lessons.
What we cover:
- Keigo fundamentals
- Email and document writing
- Meeting and phone skills
- Industry-specific vocabulary
- Japanese business culture
All teachers have professional work experience in Japan — not just language knowledge, but real business experience.
Related Articles
- Keigo: Your First Step Into Business Japanese
- Is JLPT Worth It?
- How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?
- Can You Pass JLPT Through Self-Study?
Written by Ayaka Uchida – CEO of A-Digital Works, founder of Nihon GO! World. All teachers hold government-certified qualifications, have lived in Japan, and have professional work experience there.