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First Day Survival Kit

Master the art of Japanese business etiquette. Scripts, bows, and hacks to survive Day 1.

Jiko Shoukai Generator

The "Self-Introduction" is your debut. Everyone will be watching. Keep it humble, short, and polite.

Your Script (Read this!)

はじめまして。 [Country]から来ました、[Name]と申します。 [Dept]に配属されました。 精一杯頑張りますので、ご指導よろしくお願いします！

Hajimemashite. [Country] kara kimashita, [Name] to moushimasu. [Dept] ni haizoku saremashita. Seiippai ganbarimasu node, go-shidou yoroshiku onegai shimasu!

Nice to meet you. I am [Name] from [Country]. I have been assigned to [Dept]. I will do my absolute best, so please guide me!

Frequently Asked Questions

When exchanging business cards (meishi koukan) in Japan, present your card with both hands at a slight bow with the printed text facing the recipient so they can read it without turning it. Receive the other person's card with both hands, take a moment to read it carefully and acknowledge it, and place it respectfully on the table in front of you during a meeting or in a card holder — never in your back pocket or writing on it, both of which are considered serious business manner violations.
Bowing depth in Japanese business contexts communicates the level of respect intended: a 15-degree bow (eshaku) is used for casual acknowledgment when passing colleagues in a hallway, a 30-degree bow (keirei) is the standard greeting bow for business meetings and introductions, and a 45-degree bow (saikeirei) expresses deep respect, gratitude, or a sincere apology. When meeting someone for the first time in a business context, match the depth of their bow or go slightly deeper to show respect.
Japanese meeting room seating follows a strict kamiza/shimoza protocol: the seat farthest from the entrance door is the kamiza (seat of honor) reserved for the highest-ranking guest, and seniority decreases progressively toward the door. The host company's lowest-ranking member sits nearest the door at the shimoza (low seat) position to be available for serving tea and handling logistics. Arriving early allows you to ask your Japanese counterpart where guests should sit, which is always appreciated as a show of cultural awareness.
When presenting a gift in a Japanese business context, offer it with both hands accompanied by a self-deprecating phrase such as 'tsumaranai mono desu ga' (it is nothing special, but please accept it). Avoid gifts in sets of 4 items (the word 'shi' sounds like death) or 9 items (sounds like suffering). Gifts wrapped in department store packaging are preferred over unwrapped or casually packaged items. Business gifts are typically not opened immediately in front of the giver — the recipient usually waits until later as a sign of restraint.
Punctuality is one of the most non-negotiable business manners expectations in Japan — arriving even 1 minute late for a meeting requires an immediate apology (moushiwake gozaimasen). The standard practice is to arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. When you are unavoidably delayed, call ahead as soon as possible to notify the other party. Train delays are a widely accepted excuse for which you can obtain a delay certificate (chien shoumeisho) from station staff, which is commonly presented at workplaces.

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