- Even in an English interview, a few Japanese touchpoints signal respect: open with 「本日はよろしくお願いいたします」 and close with 「本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございました」.
- The self-introduction (自己紹介) opens most Japanese interviews, keep it 60–90 seconds: name (申します), experience, one signature achievement, why you're here.
- The motivation answer (志望動機) is weighted heavily, connect your trajectory to their specific business, not generic enthusiasm.
- Knowing polite phrases to buy time or ask for clarification beats pretending to understand and answering the wrong question.
- Soften money talk with framing like 「御社の規定に従いますが…」 rather than blunt demands.
You don't need to be fluent to use a handful of Japanese phrases in your interview, even a few well-deployed lines signal cultural awareness and respect. Use these alongside your normal English (or Japanese) answers.
Entering the room and greetings
| Japanese | Romaji | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 失礼いたします。 | Shitsurei itashimasu. | Entering or leaving the room (literally "excuse me") |
| 本日はよろしくお願いいたします。 | Honjitsu wa yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. | Opening greeting after sitting down |
| お忙しいところお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。 | O-isogashii tokoro o-jikan o itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu. | "Thank you for taking time despite being busy", graceful opener |
| 失礼いたします。 | Shitsurei itashimasu. | Before sitting down (after you're invited) |
| 頂戴いたします。 | Chōdai itashimasu. | When receiving a business card |
Self-introduction (自己紹介 / jiko-shōkai)
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自己紹介させていただきます。 | Jiko-shōkai sasete itadakimasu. | "Please allow me to introduce myself" |
| 〜と申します。 | ~ to mōshimasu. | "My name is ~" (formal) |
| 〜の出身です。 | ~ no shusshin desu. | "I'm from ~" |
| 前職では〜として働いておりました。 | Zenshoku de wa ~ toshite hataraite orimashita. | "At my previous role, I worked as ~" |
| 〜の経験があります。 | ~ no keiken ga arimasu. | "I have experience in ~" |
| 〜に取り組んでまいりました。 | ~ ni torikunde mairimashita. | "I have been working on ~" (humble form) |
| 本日はどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 | Honjitsu wa dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. | Closing the self-introduction |
Answering common questions
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 御社で働きたい理由は〜です。 | Onsha de hatarakitai riyū wa ~ desu. | "My reason for wanting to work at your company is ~" |
| 御社の〜という製品に強く共感しております。 | Onsha no ~ to iu seihin ni tsuyoku kyōkan shite orimasu. | "I strongly identify with your company's ~ product" (for "why this company?") |
| これまでの経験を活かして、〜に貢献したいと考えております。 | Kore made no keiken o ikashite, ~ ni kōken shitai to kangaete orimasu. | "Using my past experience, I'd like to contribute to ~" |
| 長期的にキャリアを築きたいと考えております。 | Chōkiteki ni kyaria o kizukitai to kangaete orimasu. | "I want to build a long-term career" (good answer to "where in 5 years?") |
| 強みは〜です。 | Tsuyomi wa ~ desu. | "My strength is ~" |
| 課題は〜と考えており、現在〜に取り組んでおります。 | Kadai wa ~ to kangaete ori, genzai ~ ni torikunde orimasu. | "I see ~ as a challenge and am currently working on ~" (weaknesses) |
Asking questions back
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一点伺ってもよろしいでしょうか。 | Itten ukagatte mo yoroshii deshō ka. | "May I ask one question?" |
| このポジションで成功している方の共通点を教えていただけますか。 | Kono pojishon de seikō shite iru kata no kyōtsūten o oshiete itadakemasu ka. | "What do successful people in this role have in common?" |
| 入社後の最初の3ヶ月で期待される成果は何でしょうか。 | Nyūsha-go no saisho no san-ka-getsu de kitai sareru seika wa nan deshō ka. | "What outcomes are expected in the first 3 months after joining?" |
| チームの構成について教えていただけますでしょうか。 | Chīmu no kōsei ni tsuite oshiete itadakemasu deshō ka. | "Could you tell me about the team's structure?" |
| 評価制度について伺ってもよろしいでしょうか。 | Hyōka seido ni tsuite ukagatte mo yoroshii deshō ka. | "May I ask about the evaluation system?" |
Closing and thank-you
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 本日は貴重なお時間をいただき、ありがとうございました。 | Honjitsu wa kichō na o-jikan o itadaki, arigatō gozaimashita. | "Thank you for your valuable time today" |
| 引き続き、よろしくお願いいたします。 | Hikitsuzuki, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. | "I look forward to continuing the process" |
| 失礼いたします。 | Shitsurei itashimasu. | Final phrase as you leave the room |
When you don't understand
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 恐れ入りますが、もう一度お願いできますでしょうか。 | Osoreirimasu ga, mō ichido onegai dekimasu deshō ka. | "I'm sorry, could you say that again?" (formal) |
| もう少しゆっくりお願いできますでしょうか。 | Mō sukoshi yukkuri onegai dekimasu deshō ka. | "Could you speak a little more slowly, please?" |
| 申し訳ございませんが、英語でお答えしてもよろしいでしょうか。 | Mōshiwake gozaimasen ga, eigo de o-kotae shite mo yoroshii deshō ka. | "My apologies, may I answer in English?" |
| 少し考える時間をいただいてもよろしいでしょうか。 | Sukoshi kangaeru jikan o itadaite mo yoroshii deshō ka. | "May I have a moment to think?" |
Common keigo errors foreigners make
The 10 most common keigo (Japanese honorific language) errors in interviews:
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 御社の社長 | 御社の社長様 (or "社長の〇〇様") | Use 様 with the title or name; bare title is informal. |
| 御社で頑張りたい | 御社で貢献したい | 頑張る is colloquial; 貢献する shows intent to add value. |
| 御社のサービスを使ってます | 御社のサービスを使わせていただいております | The humble form acknowledges privilege of using the service. |
| 分かりました | 承知いたしました or かしこまりました | 分かりました is fine for peers but too plain for interviewers. |
| すみません (everything) | 申し訳ございません / 失礼いたしました | すみません is informal; reserve for very minor things. |
| 大丈夫です | 問題ございません or 結構です | 大丈夫 is fine in daily life but too plain for interviews. |
| あなたの会社 | 御社 (in speech) / 貴社 (in writing) | あなた is too direct in this context. |
| させてもらう | させていただく | させていただく is the proper humble version. |
| うちの会社 | 弊社 or 当社 | うち is too casual when speaking to outsiders. |
| 聞かせていただけませんか | お聞かせいただけませんか or お聞かせ願えませんか | Add お to make it more polite. |
Phrases for tough questions
When you don't know an answer
- "申し訳ございません、その点については存じ上げません. 入社後にぜひ学ばせていただきたいと思います."
("I apologise, I'm not familiar with that point. I'd very much like to learn about it after joining.") - "〇〇については経験がございませんが、近い経験として△△を御紹介させていただけますでしょうか."
("I don't have experience with X, but may I share related experience with Y?")
When discussing past failures
- "当時は〇〇の課題があり、解決のため△△を試みましたが、結果としては□□となりました.
その経験を踏まえ、現在は◇◇の点に注意するようにしております."
(Structure: there was X challenge; I tried Y; result was Z; based on that experience I now pay attention to W.)
When explaining a gap in your career
- "〇〇から△△までの期間は、家族の事情で一時帰国しておりました." (Family reasons.)
- "資格取得 / スキルアップのための学習期間としておりました." (Studying for certifications / upskilling.)
Phrases for salary discussions
- "希望年収は、〇〇万円から△△万円を想定しております."
("My expected annual is in the range of ¥X to ¥Y.") - "前職の年収を参考に、貢献度に応じた評価をいただければと考えております."
("Based on my previous annual, I would appreciate compensation that reflects my contribution.") - "具体的な金額については、御社の規定とご相談させていただければと存じます."
("I would like to discuss the specific amount based on your company's compensation structure.") - "福利厚生も含めた総合的な条件で検討させていただきたいと考えております."
("I would like to evaluate the offer including total benefits.")
Phrases for declining or clarifying
Declining a question politely
- "申し訳ございませんが、その件については現在お話しできる状況にございません."
("I apologise, but I'm not in a position to discuss that at the moment.")
Asking for clarification
- "恐れ入りますが、もう一度お伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか."
("Excuse me, could I ask you to repeat that?") - "〇〇という理解でよろしいでしょうか."
("Is my understanding correct that... X?")
Indicating you need to think
- "少し考えるお時間をいただけますか."
("May I have a moment to think?")
Phrases specific to video interviews
- Opening: "本日はオンラインでの面接の機会をいただき、ありがとうございます." ("Thank you for the online interview opportunity today.")
- Audio/video issues: "申し訳ございません、音声が少し聞き取りづらかったのですが、 もう一度お願いできますでしょうか." ("I apologise, the audio was hard to hear; could you repeat?")
- Ending: "本日は貴重なお時間をいただき、誠にありがとうございました. 引き続きどうぞよろしくお願いいたします." ("Thank you for your valuable time today. I look forward to continuing the process.")
- Hanging up: "それでは、失礼いたします." ("Then, please excuse me."), wait for the interviewer to hang up first.
Opening & closing the interview
Even in an English interview, a few Japanese touchpoints signal respect and effort:
- On entering / starting: 「本日はよろしくお願いいたします。」 (Honjitsu wa yoroshiku onegai itashimasu), "Thank you for your time today."
- On leaving: 「本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございました。」 (…otaisetsu na ojikan o itadaki, arigatō gozaimashita), "Thank you for your time."
The self-introduction (jiko-shōkai)
The 自己紹介 usually opens a Japanese interview. A clean template:
- 「〇〇と申します。」, "My name is ◯◯." (humble form)
- Current role + years of experience + one signature achievement.
- One line on why you're here for this role.
- Close: 「よろしくお願いいたします。」
Keep it ~60–90 seconds; rambling reads as unprepared. Practise it out loud until it's automatic, nerves hit hardest in the first minute.
Explaining your motivation (shibō dōki)
The 志望動機 ("why this company") is weighted heavily in Japan. Strong answers connect your trajectory to their specific business, not "I love Japan" but "your work on X aligns with my experience in Y, and I want to contribute by Z." Generic enthusiasm reads as low effort; specificity reads as serious.
Buying time & asking for clarification
- 「少し考えさせていただけますか。」, "May I take a moment to think?"
- 「もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか。」, "Could you say that once more?"
- 「〇〇という理解でよろしいでしょうか。」, "Is my understanding that ◯◯ correct?"
Using these well is more impressive than pretending to understand and answering the wrong question, it shows composure and real communication skill, which (per the JLPT discussion) employers value over a certificate.
Talking money politely
Direct salary demands can feel blunt in Japanese business culture; soften with framing:
- 「御社の規定に従いますが、現職では〇〇万円をいただいております。」, "I'll follow your guidelines; in my current role I receive ¥◯◯." (anchors without demanding)
- For a target: 「〇〇万円程度を希望しておりますが、ご相談させていただければ幸いです。」, "I'm hoping for around ¥◯◯, but I'd welcome a discussion."
At foreign-capital firms you can be more direct in English; see the negotiation playbook.
Phrases for video/remote rounds
- If audio cuts: 「音声が途切れてしまいました。もう一度お願いできますか。」, "The audio cut out, could you repeat that?"
- To confirm you can be heard: 「お声は問題なく聞こえております。」, "I can hear you clearly."
- Closing remotely: 「本日はオンラインで貴重なお時間をありがとうございました。」
Frequently asked questions
How do I introduce myself in a Japanese job interview?
Use the humble form: 「〇〇と申します」 (My name is ◯◯), then give your current role, years of experience, and one signature achievement, and close with 「よろしくお願いいたします」. Keep the whole jiko-shōkai to 60–90 seconds and practise it out loud until it's automatic, nerves hit hardest in the first minute.
What Japanese phrases are useful even in an English interview?
A few touchpoints go a long way: open with 「本日はよろしくお願いいたします」 ('thank you for your time today') and close with 「本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございました」. They signal respect and effort without requiring you to conduct the interview in Japanese.
How do I politely buy time or ask for clarification in Japanese?
Three reliable phrases: 「少し考えさせていただけますか」 (may I take a moment to think?), 「もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか」 (could you say that once more?), and 「〇〇という理解でよろしいでしょうか」 (is my understanding that ◯◯ correct?). Using these well is more impressive than pretending to understand, it shows composure and real communication skill.
How do I talk about salary politely in a Japanese interview?
Soften it with framing rather than a blunt demand: 「御社の規定に従いますが、現職では〇〇万円をいただいております」 anchors your current pay without demanding, and 「〇〇万円程度を希望しておりますが、ご相談させていただければ幸いです」 states a target while inviting discussion. At foreign-capital firms you can be more direct in English, see the negotiation playbook.