How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: Complete Jikoshoukai Guide
Master the Japanese self-introduction (自己紹介)! Learn exactly what to say at work, school, or social events with templates, examples, and cultural tips.
Your first impression in Japan often comes from one crucial moment: the 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai) – your self-introduction. Whether you're meeting colleagues, classmates, or new friends, knowing how to introduce yourself in Japanese opens doors and instantly earns respect.
This guide gives you word-for-word templates you can use TODAY, plus the cultural know-how to nail any introduction! 🎯
The Basic Self-Introduction Formula
Every jikoshoukai follows this simple structure:
1. Greeting
2. Name
3. Background (origin, company, school)
4. One personal detail
5. Closing phrase
The 30-Second Template (All-Purpose)
Here's your go-to introduction:
はじめまして。 Hajimemashite. (Nice to meet you.)
[名前]と申します。 [Name] to moushimasu. (My name is [Name].)
[国/出身地]から来ました。 [Country/City] kara kimashita. (I'm from [Country/City].)
[趣味/興味]が好きです。 [Hobby/Interest] ga suki desu. (I like [hobby/interest].)
どうぞよろしくお願いします。 Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu. (Please treat me kindly / I look forward to working with you.)
Real Example:
はじめまして。 マイケル・ジョンソンと申します。 アメリカのカリフォルニアから来ました。 日本語と音楽が好きです。 どうぞよろしくお願いします。
Translation: "Nice to meet you. My name is Michael Johnson. I'm from California, USA. I like Japanese and music. Please take care of me."
Essential Phrases Breakdown 🔍
Greetings
| Japanese | Romaji | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| はじめまして | hajimemashite | First-time meetings (most common) |
| おはようございます | ohayou gozaimasu | Morning introductions |
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Afternoon (casual settings) |
Saying Your Name
| Formality | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Polite (business) | 〇〇と申します | __ to moushimasu |
| Standard | 〇〇といいます | __ to iimasu |
| Casual | 〇〇です | __ desu |
Format note: In Japan, say family name FIRST:
- Japanese order: 田中太郎 (Tanaka Tarou)
- Your order choice: "Michael Johnson" or "Johnson Michael"
Either works for foreigners – Japanese people will understand!
Where You're From
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〇〇から来ました | __ kara kimashita | I came from __ |
| 〇〇出身です | __ shusshin desu | I'm originally from __ |
| 〇〇に住んでいます | __ ni sunde imasu | I live in __ |
Examples:
- アメリカから来ました (I'm from America)
- イギリス出身です (I'm from the UK)
- 東京に住んでいます (I live in Tokyo)
The Magic Closing
どうぞよろしくお願いします (Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu)
This phrase is ESSENTIAL. It roughly means:
- "Please treat me kindly"
- "I look forward to your support"
- "Let's have a good relationship"
There's no exact English translation – it's pure Japanese relationship-building! 🤝
Self-Introductions by Situation 📋
🏢 Business/Work Introduction
Formal, includes company and role:
はじめまして。 ABC株式会社のマイケル・ジョンソンと申します。 マーケティング部で働いています。 アメリカのニューヨークから参りました。 日本は初めてですが、一生懸命頑張ります。 どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Translation: "Nice to meet you. I'm Michael Johnson from ABC Corporation. I work in the Marketing Department. I came from New York, USA. This is my first time in Japan, but I will work hard. I humbly ask for your kind support."
Key phrases:
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 株式会社 (kabushikigaisha) | Corporation |
| 〇〇部 (__ bu) | __ Department |
| 働いています (hataraite imasu) | I work/am working |
| 一生懸命 (isshoukenmei) | With all my effort |
| 頑張ります (ganbarimasu) | I will do my best |
🎓 School/University Introduction
Includes major and year:
はじめまして。 サラ・スミスといいます。 カナダから来ました。 東京大学の二年生で、経済学を勉強しています。 趣味はアニメを見ることです。 よろしくお願いします。
Translation: "Nice to meet you. My name is Sarah Smith. I'm from Canada. I'm a second-year student at Tokyo University, studying economics. My hobby is watching anime. Please take care of me."
Year levels:
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 一年生 (ichinensei) | 1st year |
| 二年生 (ninensei) | 2nd year |
| 三年生 (sannensei) | 3rd year |
| 四年生 (yonensei) | 4th year |
| 大学院生 (daigakuinsei) | Graduate student |
🎉 Casual/Social Introduction
Relaxed, focus on personality:
はじめまして！ エマです。 オーストラリアから来ました。 日本語を勉強中です！まだ下手ですけど...（笑） スポーツとカラオケが大好きです。 よろしくね！
Translation: "Nice to meet you! I'm Emma. I'm from Australia. I'm currently studying Japanese! I'm still not good at it though... (laugh) I love sports and karaoke. Nice to meet ya!"
Casual shortcuts:
| Formal | Casual |
|---|---|
| と申します | です |
| どうぞよろしくお願いします | よろしく！/ よろしくね！ |
| 〇〇が好きです | 〇〇が大好き！ |
🗣️ Language Exchange/Online
Includes learning goals:
こんにちは！ アレックスといいます。 ブラジル出身で、今はサンパウロに住んでいます。 日本語を1年間勉強しています。 会話の練習がしたいです！ 趣味は映画とゲームです。 よろしくお願いします！
Translation: "Hello! My name is Alex. I'm from Brazil and currently live in São Paulo. I've been studying Japanese for 1 year. I want to practice conversation! My hobbies are movies and games. Nice to meet you!"
Adding Personality ✨
Talking About Hobbies
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 趣味は〇〇です | shumi wa __ desu | My hobby is __ |
| 〇〇が好きです | __ ga suki desu | I like __ |
| 〇〇が大好きです | __ ga daisuki desu | I love __ |
Popular hobbies to mention:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 映画を見ること | eiga wo miru koto | Watching movies |
| 音楽を聴くこと | ongaku wo kiku koto | Listening to music |
| 料理 | ryouri | Cooking |
| 旅行 | ryokou | Traveling |
| スポーツ | supootsu | Sports |
| 読書 | dokusho | Reading |
| ゲーム | geemu | Gaming |
| アニメ | anime | Anime |
| 写真を撮ること | shashin wo toru koto | Photography |
Talking About Your Job
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〇〇として働いています | __ toshite hataraite imasu | I work as a __ |
| 〇〇をしています | __ wo shite imasu | I do __ |
| 仕事は〇〇です | shigoto wa __ desu | My job is __ |
Common jobs:
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| エンジニア | Engineer |
| 教師/先生 | Teacher |
| 学生 | Student |
| 会社員 | Office worker |
| デザイナー | Designer |
| 看護師 | Nurse |
| 医者 | Doctor |
Why You're Learning Japanese
This ALWAYS impresses people!
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 日本の文化が好きなので... | Because I like Japanese culture... |
| 日本で働きたいので... | Because I want to work in Japan... |
| アニメがきっかけで... | Anime was what got me started... |
| 日本に住んでいるので... | Because I live in Japan... |
| 日本語の響きが好きなので... | Because I love how Japanese sounds... |
Pro Tips for a Great Introduction 🌟
1. Speak Slowly and Clearly
Japanese people appreciate clear pronunciation over speed. Take your time!
2. Use Appropriate Bowing
- Slight nod (15°) for casual
- Medium bow (30°) for business
- Deep bow (45°+) for very formal
3. Make Eye Contact (But Not Too Much)
Brief eye contact shows confidence, but sustained staring can be uncomfortable.
4. Smile Genuinely
A warm smile transcends language barriers!
5. Prepare for Follow-Up Questions
Common questions after introduction:
| Question | Meaning |
|---|---|
| お仕事は何ですか？ | What's your job? |
| 日本語はどこで勉強しましたか？ | Where did you study Japanese? |
| 日本はどのくらいですか？ | How long have you been in Japan? |
| どこに住んでいますか？ | Where do you live? |
Common Mistakes to Avoid ❌
❌ Using あなたの (anata no - "your")
Don't say "あなたの名前は何ですか？" – too direct! ✅ Say "お名前は何ですか？" instead.
❌ Forgetting よろしくお願いします
This closing is NOT optional in formal situations!
❌ Speaking Too Fast
Nerves make us rush. Consciously slow down.
❌ Over-Apologizing About Your Japanese
One humble mention is fine; constant apologizing is awkward.
❌ Forgetting to Listen
After your introduction, focus on understanding theirs!
Fill-in-the-Blank Templates 📝
Template 1: All-Purpose
はじめまして。
__________ と申します。
__________ から来ました。
趣味は __________ です。
どうぞよろしくお願いします。
Template 2: Business
はじめまして。
__________ 会社の __________ と申します。
__________ 部で働いています。
__________ から参りました。
どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Template 3: Student
はじめまして。
__________ といいます。
__________ 大学の __________ 年生です。
__________ を勉強しています。
よろしくお願いします。
Template 4: Ultra-Casual
はじめまして！
__________ です！
__________ から来た！
__________ が大好き！
よろしく！
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use my English name or a Japanese name?
Use your real name! Japanese people expect foreigners to have foreign names. Just pronounce it slowly.
What if my name is hard to pronounce in Japanese?
Simplify it! "Christopher" can become "クリス" (Kurisu). Many foreigners use nicknames.
How long should my introduction be?
30 seconds to 1 minute. Don't ramble – keep it concise!
What if I mess up?
Smile and continue! Japanese people are incredibly forgiving of language mistakes. They appreciate the effort.
Conclusion: Make Your First Impression Count! 🎯
A confident 自己紹介 opens doors in Japan. With these templates, you're ready for:
Key takeaways: ✅ Always start with はじめまして ✅ Include name, origin, and one personal detail ✅ NEVER forget どうぞよろしくお願いします ✅ Match formality to the situation ✅ Smile and speak clearly!
Your next step: To read these phrases and practice them, you need hiragana! Master hiragana with KanaDojo → and perfect your self-introduction!
自己紹介、頑張ってね！ (Jikoshoukai, ganbatte ne!) Good luck with your self-introduction!
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