Japanese Business Email: Templates That Work
Copy-paste level templates for the emails you actually need to send.
Japanese business emails follow a strict structure: greeting, context, request, and closing. Every part has set phrases that people expect to see. Skip one and it feels off. This guide gives you the building blocks so you can assemble any email you need.
Opening
お世話になっております。
Osewa ni natte orimasu.
Thank you for your continued support. (standard opener)
初めてメールいたします。○○の△△と申します。
Hajimete meeru itashimasu. XX no XX to moushimasu.
This is my first time emailing you. I'm [name] from [company].
ご無沙汰しております。
Gobusata shite orimasu.
It's been a while. (when you haven't been in touch)
お忙しいところ恐れ入りますが、
Oisogashii tokoro osoreirimasu ga,
I know you're busy, but... (before a request)
Body / Request
○○の件でご連絡いたしました。
XX no ken de gorenraku itashimashita.
I'm writing regarding [topic].
添付ファイルをご確認いただけますでしょうか。
Tenpu fairu wo gokakunin itadakemasu deshou ka.
Could you please check the attached file?
ご検討いただけますと幸いです。
Gokentou itadakemasu to saiwai desu.
I'd be grateful if you could consider this.
お手数おかけしますが、ご対応お願いいたします。
Otesuu okake shimasu ga, gotaiou onegai itashimasu.
Sorry for the trouble, but please handle this.
○日までにお返事をいただけますでしょうか。
XX nichi made ni ohenji wo itadakemasu deshou ka.
Could I receive your reply by [date]?
Closing
ご確認のほど、よろしくお願いいたします。
Gokakunin no hodo, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Thank you for your confirmation.
お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、何卒よろしくお願いいたします。
Oisogashii tokoro kyoushuku desu ga, nanitozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
I apologize for bothering you while busy. Thank you very much.
引き続きどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Hikitsuzuki douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
I look forward to your continued support.
ご不明な点がございましたら、お気軽にご連絡ください。
Gofumei na ten ga gozaimashitara, okigaru ni gorenraku kudasai.
If anything is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Full Templates
件名：○○のご確認
Kenmei: XX no gokakunin
Subject: Confirmation of [topic]
○○様 お世話になっております。△△の□□です。
XX-sama Osewa ni natte orimasu. XX no XX desu.
[Name]-san, Thank you for your support. I'm [name] from [company].
以上、ご確認のほどよろしくお願いいたします。 □□
Ijou, gokakunin no hodo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. XX
That's all. Thank you for checking. [Your name]
件名：打ち合わせ日程のご相談
Kenmei: Uchiawase nittei no gosoudan
Subject: Meeting schedule discussion
Cultural Tips
- "Osewa ni natte orimasu" is the single most important phrase in Japanese business. Use it to open every email to someone you've worked with before.
- Never start a business email with just "Hello" — Japanese people expect the ritual greeting. Skipping it is like walking into someone's house without taking your shoes off.
- End every email with "yoroshiku onegai itashimasu" or a variation. It's expected. Leaving it out feels abrupt.
FAQ
Can I use English in Japanese business emails?
Some companies are OK with mixed English-Japanese emails, but the safe bet is full Japanese. If you must mix, keep the structure (greeting, body, closing) in Japanese and only use English for technical terms.
How formal should my email be?
Default to very formal. Use kenjougo (humble forms) about your own actions and sonkeigo (respectful forms) about the recipient's. It's better to be too formal than too casual in email.
With SayLy, just type in your language and send natural Japanese. No memorization needed.
Download on the App StoreFree to use. No account needed.