How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese (Jikoshōkai)
In Japan, introducing yourself is a small ritual with its own name: 自己紹介 jikoshōkai. You will do it in class, at a new job, at parties and in meetings. The good news is that it follows a set pattern, so a few phrases will carry you through almost any first meeting.
The basic pattern
A typical self-introduction has three parts: a greeting, a few facts about you, and a closing phrase. It is usually short. Thirty seconds is plenty unless you are asked to say more.
- Greeting: はじめまして。 hajimemashite, “nice to meet you” (literally “for the first time”). Only use it the first time you meet someone.
- Your name: スミスです。 Sumisu desu, “I’m Smith.” In more formal settings, use スミスと申します。 Sumisu to mōshimasu.
- A few details: where you are from, what you do, perhaps a hobby.
- Closing: よろしくお願いします。 yoroshiku onegai shimasu. There is no exact English equivalent. It means something like “I look forward to getting along with you” or “please treat me kindly”, and it signals the end of your introduction.
The other person will often reply こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。 kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu, “likewise”. A small bow usually goes with both the greeting and the closing.
Japanese people usually introduce themselves by family name, but as a foreigner you can give your name the way you are normally called. If you’d like a particular name used, add マリアと呼んでください。 Maria to yonde kudasai, “please call me Maria.”
Useful phrases for the middle part
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| イギリスから来ました。 | igirisu kara kimashita | I’m from the UK. (I came from the UK.) |
| 東京に住んでいます。 | tōkyō ni sunde imasu | I live in Tokyo. |
| エンジニアです。 | enjinia desu | I’m an engineer. |
| IT企業で働いています。 | aitī kigyō de hataraite imasu | I work for an IT company. |
| 大学生です。 | daigakusei desu | I’m a university student. |
| 趣味は料理です。 | shumi wa ryōri desu | My hobby is cooking. |
| 日本語を勉強しています。 | nihongo o benkyō shite imasu | I’m studying Japanese. |
| まだ下手ですが、がんばります。 | mada heta desu ga, ganbarimasu | I’m not good yet, but I’ll do my best. |
You don’t need to start every sentence with 私は watashi wa (I). Once it is clear you are talking about yourself, Japanese usually leaves it out, and repeating it can sound a little stiff.
Casual introductions
With people your own age at a party, a language exchange or a shared house, the same pattern works with lighter endings:
- Your first name is fine, and many people will simply call you by it with さん san at first.
- はじめまして still works, but you can also start with a simple こんにちは or nothing at all.
- Close with よろしく！ yoroshiku or よろしくね。 yoroshiku ne instead of the full phrase.
Even in casual settings, many Japanese people stay polite with です and ます on first meeting, so you won’t sound odd if you do the same.
Business introductions
At work, the tone is more formal, and you usually give your company before your name:
- Name with company: ABC商事のスミスと申します。 ēbīshī shōji no Sumisu to mōshimasu, “I’m Smith from ABC Trading.”
- A more formal closing: どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
- On your first day at a new workplace: 本日からお世話になります。 honjitsu kara osewa ni narimasu, roughly “I’ll be joining you from today.”
- Business cards: introductions with clients are often combined with exchanging cards, given and received with both hands. Customs differ between companies, so watch what your colleagues do.
申します and いたします are humble forms, part of keigo. Our guide to keigo for work explains how they fit together.
Sample introductions
In a class or language exchange
はじめまして。マリアです。スペインから来ました。今、大阪に住んでいます。趣味は写真です。日本語はまだ下手ですが、がんばります。よろしくお願いします。
“Nice to meet you. I’m Maria. I’m from Spain. I live in Osaka now. My hobby is photography. My Japanese isn’t good yet, but I’ll do my best. Nice to meet you.”
On your first day at work
はじめまして。本日から営業部に配属になりました、ジョン・スミスと申します。前職ではIT業界で営業を担当しておりました。ご迷惑をおかけすることもあるかと思いますが、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
“Nice to meet you. I’m John Smith, and I’ve joined the sales department from today. In my previous job I worked in sales in the IT industry. I may cause you some trouble at first, but I hope you’ll bear with me.”
The line about causing trouble is a common, modest formula in Japanese workplaces, not a real apology.
Practise your own introduction
Your self-introduction is one of the first things worth polishing, because you will use it again and again: in class, at work and in a job interview. A native tutor can help you write a version that fits you, check that it sounds natural, and practise it until you can say it without notes. At Hanabuddies, your first online lesson is a good place to try it out.