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Working in Japan

Your Farewell Speech When Leaving a Japanese Company

By the Hanabuddies team · · 2 min read

When you leave a Japanese company, or move to another office, you will usually be asked to say a few words (退職のあいさつ or 異動のあいさつ), often at a morning meeting or a farewell party (送別会). Keep it to about a minute: thank everyone, mention one or two good memories or things you learned, say a word about what’s next, and close with a bow and お世話になりました (thank you for everything). Short, warm and positive is what people expect, even if you are leaving for a better job. This guide gives a structure, a sample speech and the phrases you need.

The usual structure

  1. Opening: 皆さん、少しお時間をいただけますか。(May I have a moment, everyone?)
  2. The news: 本日をもちまして退職することになりました。(Today is my last day.) or 〇〇支社に異動することになりました。
  3. Thanks: 在職中は大変お世話になりました。
  4. A memory or lesson: one specific example.
  5. What’s next: brief and positive. You don’t need to give reasons.
  6. Close: 皆さんのご活躍をお祈りしています。本当にありがとうございました。

A sample speech

皆さん、少しお時間をいただけますか。本日をもちまして退職することになりました。三年間、本当にお世話になりました。来日したばかりのころは日本語も仕事もわからないことばかりでしたが、皆さんが丁寧に教えてくださったおかげで、ここまで続けることができました。特に、初めての展示会を皆さんと一緒に準備したことは、一生の思い出です。来月からは国に戻り、新しい仕事に挑戦します。皆さんのご健康とご活躍をお祈りしています。本当にありがとうございました。

(Everyone, may I have a moment? Today is my last day. Thank you so much for these three years. When I first arrived I didn’t understand the language or the job, but thanks to your patient help I made it this far. Preparing our first trade show together is a memory I’ll keep forever. From next month I’ll go back home and take on a new job. I wish you all good health and success. Thank you very much.)

Useful phrases

  • 大変お世話になりました。Thank you for everything.
  • 〇〇さんには特にお世話になりました。I owe special thanks to …
  • ここで学んだことを次の仕事でも生かしたいと思います。I want to use what I learned here in my next job.
  • また機会があれば、ぜひよろしくお願いします。I hope our paths cross again.

The farewell party, gifts and email

  • 送別会: colleagues often hold a party and may give flowers or a gift. You may be asked to speak again; a shorter version is fine. See nomikai etiquette.
  • Small gifts: many people bring individually wrapped sweets (お菓子) for the team on their last day.
  • Goodbye email: send a short email to colleagues and clients on your last day with your thanks and, if you like, personal contact details.

For the steps before your last day, see how to resign from a Japanese company. For speeches in general, see giving a short speech in Japanese. If you’re leaving Japan too, see the leaving Japan checklist and a farewell letter when leaving Japan.

How Hanabuddies can help

Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one online, in English, and can help you write a farewell speech and email that sound natural, then rehearse them until you feel confident. Your first 15 minutes are a free trial.