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Working in Japan

Speaking Up in Japanese Meetings: Phrases for Agreeing, Asking and Disagreeing

By the Hanabuddies team · · 3 min read

To speak up confidently in a Japanese meeting, learn a small set of phrases for each move you need to make: agreeing, asking a question, adding an idea, disagreeing politely and confirming what was decided. Use polite です／ます forms, soften opinions with phrases like 〜と思います, and frame disagreement as a question or a concern rather than a flat “no”. Much of the real discussion in Japanese companies also happens before and after the meeting, so knowing when to speak matters as much as what to say. Here are the phrases and the habits behind them.

How Japanese meetings differ

  • Many meetings confirm rather than decide. Ideas are often discussed one-to-one beforehand, a process called 根回し (nemawashi). If you have a new proposal or a concern, raising it informally first is often more effective.
  • Seniority shapes who speaks. Senior people may speak last, and juniors often hold back. As a newcomer, a short, polite contribution is welcome; a long monologue may not be.
  • Silence is normal. A pause doesn’t mean disagreement or boredom. Don’t rush to fill it.
  • Directness is softened. Strong statements are usually cushioned, and “that might be difficult” can mean “no”.

For the bigger picture, see Japanese workplace culture.

Agreeing and showing you’re following

  • おっしゃる通りだと思います。 I think you’re exactly right. (respectful)
  • 賛成です。 I agree.
  • なるほど、確かにそうですね。 I see, that’s certainly true.

Adding your idea

  • 一つ提案があるのですが、よろしいでしょうか。 I have a suggestion, if I may.
  • 補足させていただくと、〜 To add to that, …
  • 個人的には、〜と思います。 Personally, I think …
  • 〜という方法もあるかと思います。 I think there may also be the option of …

Asking questions

  • 一点、確認させてください。 Let me check one point.
  • すみません、〇〇について、もう少し詳しく教えていただけますか。 Sorry, could you tell me a little more about ○○?
  • 今のお話は、〜ということでしょうか。 Do you mean that …?

Asking to confirm is never a weakness in Japanese meetings. It is seen as careful and responsible, especially for someone working in a second language.

Disagreeing politely

Open with a cushion, acknowledge the other view, then raise your point as a concern or a question:

  • おっしゃることはよくわかるのですが、〜 I understand your point well, but …
  • 一つ気になる点があります。 There’s one point that concerns me.
  • 〜という可能性はないでしょうか。 Could there be a possibility that …?
  • 別の見方をすると、〜 Looking at it another way, …

Avoid flat statements like それは違います (“that’s wrong”), especially to someone senior.

When you didn’t catch something

  • 申し訳ありません、聞き取れなかったので、もう一度お願いできますか。 I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?
  • 後ほど資料を確認させてください。 Let me check the materials afterwards.

Wrapping up and next steps

  • では、私のほうで〇〇を進めます。 Then I’ll go ahead with ○○.
  • 期限は〇日でよろしいでしょうか。 Is the deadline the ○th OK?
  • 本日の内容をまとめて、後ほど共有します。 I’ll summarise today’s meeting and share it later.

Following up in writing is part of 報連相 (hōrensō: report, contact, consult). See writing chat messages at work for how to word the follow-up.

Practical tips

  • Prepare one or two points in advance, written out, and practise saying them out loud.
  • Read the agenda and materials beforehand so you can follow even when speech is fast.
  • Speak early with a short comment; it’s easier than breaking in later.
  • For online meetings, use the chat for questions if it’s hard to find a gap. See working remotely for a Japanese company.
  • If you’re presenting, see how to give a presentation in Japanese.

Practise before the real thing

These phrases become natural only with use. In business Japanese lessons, a tutor can run mock meetings based on your real agenda, practise disagreeing politely with you playing different roles, and correct your keigo on the spot. If a meeting is too important to risk misunderstandings, an interpreter is another option while you build your confidence.