Should You Send a Thank-You Email After a Japanese Job Interview?
In Japan, a thank-you email after a job interview isn’t expected, and not sending one won’t count against you. But a short, polite email sent the same day or the next morning is never rude, can help you stand out at foreign-owned companies and with recruiters, and is a good chance to show you can write natural business Japanese. Keep it to a few lines: thank them for their time, mention one thing from the interview, and say you look forward to hearing from them. Don’t ask about the result.
When it helps most
| Situation | Thank-you email? |
|---|---|
| Japanese company, formal process | Optional. A short one is fine; don’t expect a reply. |
| Foreign-owned company in Japan | Often appreciated, as in Western hiring. |
| Through a recruiter | Thank the recruiter; ask if they’ll pass on your thanks. |
| After an office visit or informal meeting | Yes, a thank-you is natural. |
Subject line and structure
Use a clear subject such as 本日の面接のお礼（氏名） (thank you for today’s interview, your name). Then write the company name and the person’s name with 様, a one-line introduction, your thanks, one specific point, a closing line and your signature.
A sample email
株式会社〇〇
人事部 〇〇様
本日、〇〇職の面接をしていただきました〇〇と申します。
お忙しいところ、貴重なお時間をいただき、誠にありがとうございました。
〇〇様から伺った新しいプロジェクトのお話を聞き、貴社で働きたいという気持ちがいっそう強くなりました。
取り急ぎ、面接のお礼を申し上げたく、ご連絡いたしました。
何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます。
This says: “I’m … , who had an interview for the … position today. Thank you very much for taking the time. Hearing about your new project made me even keener to work for your company. I wanted to thank you for the interview.”
What not to write
- Don’t ask about the result or the timeline in the same email.
- Don’t repeat your whole self-PR; one point is enough.
- Don’t send it late at night; schedule it for the morning if needed.
- Don’t use casual Japanese or emojis. See Japanese business email.
For the interview itself, see our Japanese job interview guide, and for applying, job application emails in Japanese. If you get an offer, see understanding a Japanese job offer.
How Hanabuddies can help
We check your Japanese emails, résumé and career history so they read naturally, and a native tutor can run practice interviews with you online before the next round. See career coaching for Japan.