How to Introduce Yourself in Business Japanese

Ready-to-Use Business Self-Introduction Script

Use a short, polite 自己紹介 (jikoshōkai, self-introduction) that gives your company, name, role, and a formal closing. In Japanese business settings, the goal is not to impress people with a long speech. The goal is to make the other person feel that you are calm, respectful, and easy to work with.

Here is a standard first-meeting script:

はじめまして。
Hajimemashite.
Nice to meet you.

ABC社の田中と申します。
ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu.
I am Tanaka from ABC Company.

営業を担当しております。
Eigyō o tantō shite orimasu.
I am in charge of sales.

本日はどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Honjitsu wa dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
I look forward to today’s meeting.

You can replace ABC社 (ABC-sha, ABC Company), 田中 (Tanaka, Tanaka), and 営業 (eigyō, sales) with your own information. If you are not confident with keigo yet, memorize this structure first. It is formal enough for many client meetings, interviews, and first business calls.

If you also need a general, non-business version, review our guide to introducing yourself in Japanese with basic phrases and templates.

Phrase Breakdown and Reference Table

The safest structure is “company or organization + の (no, from/of) + name + と申します (to mōshimasu, I am called).” This sounds more polished than simply saying です (desu, am/is), especially when meeting someone for the first time in a professional setting.

The most important sentence is:

ABC社の田中と申します。
ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu.
I am Tanaka from ABC Company.

Avoid adding 私は (watashi wa, I) unless you need contrast. In business introductions, the context already tells the listener you are talking about yourself, so ABC社の田中と申します (ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu, I am Tanaka from ABC Company) sounds smoother than 私はABC社の田中と申します (watashi wa ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu, I am Tanaka from ABC Company).

Business Card Exchange and Bowing Etiquette

For in-person meetings, give and receive business cards with both hands, then treat the received card carefully. 名刺交換 (meishi kōkan, business card exchange) is part of the introduction, not a separate performance. Your words, bow, and card handling should feel calm and coordinated.

A natural sequence is:

1. Say はじめまして (hajimemashite, nice to meet you).
2. Give your company name and name: ABC社の田中と申します (ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu, I am Tanaka from ABC Company).
3. Offer your card with both hands, facing the other person.
4. Receive the other person’s card with both hands.
5. Say 頂戴いたします (chōdai itashimasu, I humbly receive it).
6. Look briefly at the card before putting it down.
7. Close with どうぞよろしくお願いいたします (dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu, I look forward to working with you).

During a meeting, received cards are often placed neatly on the table, usually in a way that helps you remember people’s seating order. Do not write on, fold, bend, or casually pocket a card in front of the person who gave it to you.

If you expect to meet Japanese clients in person, our detailed Japanese business card etiquette guide explains the exchange flow more fully.

Online Meeting Introductions

For video calls, keep the same formal script, but replace card-exchange manners with clear pacing, eye contact, and a small seated bow. Online business Japanese still uses keigo; the setting is more casual physically, but the language should stay professional.

Before speaking, make sure your name is visible on the call if possible. When you bow, keep it small enough that your face does not disappear from the camera. Pause slightly between your company name, your name, and your role, because video-call latency can make fast Japanese harder to catch.

A clean online version is:

はじめまして。ABC社の田中と申します。
Hajimemashite. ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu.
Nice to meet you. I am Tanaka from ABC Company.

本日はどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Honjitsu wa dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
I look forward to today’s meeting.

If your Japanese is still beginner level, do not rush. Clear, slow, polite Japanese is better than fast memorized Japanese that becomes unclear.

Common Mistakes and Pronunciation Fixes

The biggest mistakes are sounding too casual, translating directly from English, and shortening long vowels. These are small details, but they strongly affect how polished your introduction sounds.

Learners often say:

私はABC社です。
Watashi wa ABC-sha desu.
I am ABC Company.

This sounds like you are saying you are the company itself. Say this instead:

ABC社の田中と申します。
ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu.
I am Tanaka from ABC Company.

Another common mistake is using only よろしく (yoroshiku, regards/please treat me well). This is too casual by itself for a first business meeting. Use どうぞよろしくお願いいたします (dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu, I look forward to working with you) when speaking to clients, interviewers, or senior contacts.

For pronunciation, drill long vowels by holding them for one extra beat: mō-shi-ma-su, dō-zo. Do not make them dramatic; just make them clearly longer than a short “o.” This is especially important in と申します (to mōshimasu, I am called), because the long ō helps the phrase sound natural and careful.

Also be careful with business apology language. A self-introduction may lead into a delay, mistake, or schedule change, and casual apologies can weaken the tone. For that situation, learn how to apologize in business Japanese separately instead of trying to improvise.

Practice: Adapt the Script to Your Situation

Change only the parts that need changing: company, name, role, and closing phrase. The core order should stay stable.

Client meeting:

はじめまして。ABC社の田中と申します。営業を担当しております。本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Hajimemashite. ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu. Eigyō o tantō shite orimasu. Honjitsu wa ojikan o itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Nice to meet you. I am Tanaka from ABC Company. I am in charge of sales. Thank you for your time today. I look forward to working with you.

Job interview:

はじめまして。田中と申します。本日は面接の機会をいただき、ありがとうございます。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Hajimemashite. Tanaka to mōshimasu. Honjitsu wa mensetsu no kikai o itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Nice to meet you. I am Tanaka. Thank you for the interview opportunity today. I look forward to speaking with you.

Internal new-joiner introduction:

本日より営業部でお世話になります、田中と申します。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Honjitsu yori eigyō-bu de osewa ni narimasu, Tanaka to mōshimasu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
I will be joining the Sales Department from today. My name is Tanaka. I look forward to working with you.

If you want direct feedback on your own business 自己紹介 (jikoshōkai, self-introduction), you can practice the exact script with a real teacher over LINE in a Kind Japanese Free Trial lesson.

FAQ

Is “dōzo yoroshiku” enough in business Japanese?

どうぞよろしく (dōzo yoroshiku, please treat me well / regards) is understandable, but it is often too short for a formal first meeting. Use どうぞよろしくお願いいたします (dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu, I look forward to working with you) for clients, interviews, and first business contacts.

Should I use keigo when introducing myself?

Yes. Use basic 敬語 (keigo, honorific language), but do not overcomplicate it. For most first meetings, はじめまして (hajimemashite, nice to meet you), と申します (to mōshimasu, I am called), 担当しております (tantō shite orimasu, I am in charge of), and a formal closing are enough.

How long should a business self-introduction be?

Keep it brief: usually company, name, role, and one polite closing. A long personal story can feel distracting in a formal Japanese business setting. If the other person wants more detail, they will ask. Start short, clear, and respectful.

What if my Japanese level is still low?

Use a simple, accurate script and speak slowly. A beginner who says ABC社の田中と申します (ABC-sha no Tanaka to mōshimasu, I am Tanaka from ABC Company) clearly sounds more professional than someone who rushes through advanced phrases. If your long-term goal is school or work in Japan, read about how much Japanese you need to study in Japan.

Continue learning

Next, build the surrounding skills: business greetings, apologies, card exchange, and general self-introductions. The most useful follow-up is to practice one formal script until it feels automatic, then learn the related phrases you will need when the meeting continues.

This standalone Kind Japanese guide supports learners preparing for real Japanese business introductions, from online first meetings to in-person client greetings.