Japanese for Sales Professionals: Visits, Proposals and Reading “We’ll Consider It”
Selling in Japan is relationship-first and slow to close. Customers want to meet you, often more than once, before they buy; decisions are made by a group, through internal approval (稟議, ringi) and quiet groundwork (根回し, nemawashi); and a polite “we’ll consider it” (検討します) may mean “not now”. The Japanese you need is respectful keigo for visits and calls, the vocabulary of proposals and quotes, and the ability to read soft answers. Patience and fast, accurate follow-up matter more than a hard close.
How a Japanese sale usually goes
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First contact | Introductions through a partner or event work better than cold email. |
| Visit (訪問) | Business cards, small talk, a short presentation, many questions. |
| Proposal and quote | A detailed 提案書 and 見積書, often revised. |
| Internal approval | Your contact builds consensus and circulates a ringi. This takes weeks. |
| Decision | Often a trial or small first order before a larger commitment. |
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 営業 | eigyō | Sales (and sales person) |
| 提案書 | teiansho | Proposal |
| 見積書 | mitsumorisho | Quote, estimate |
| 導入 | dōnyū | Introducing, adopting (a product) |
| 稟議 | ringi | Internal approval process |
| 決裁者 | kessaisha | Decision-maker |
| 担当者 | tantōsha | Person in charge, your contact |
| 事例 | jirei | Case study, example |
Polite phrases
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。 | honjitsu wa ojikan o itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu. | Thank you for your time today. |
| 弊社の〇〇についてご紹介させていただきます。 | heisha no … ni tsuite goshōkai sasete itadakimasu. | Let me introduce our … |
| 御社の課題を伺ってもよろしいでしょうか。 | onsha no kadai o ukagatte mo yoroshii deshō ka. | May I ask about the challenges you’re facing? |
| ご検討いただけますでしょうか。 | gokentō itadakemasu deshō ka. | Would you consider it? |
| 資料をお送りいたします。 | shiryō o ookuri itashimasu. | I’ll send you the materials. |
For the right level of politeness, see keigo for work and honorifics.
Reading soft answers
検討します (we’ll consider it) and 社内で確認します (we’ll check internally) can mean genuine interest or a polite no. Ask gentle follow-up questions, such as who else needs to be involved and what information would help, rather than pushing for a yes. See how Japanese say no and negotiating with Japanese companies.
How Hanabuddies can help
A native tutor can teach you the sales Japanese, keigo and etiquette you need in online lessons, and rehearse your pitch. We also translate proposals, quotes and case studies, and provide English–Japanese interpreters for sales calls online and visits in person; see interpreting sales calls.