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Introduction
You've studied hiragana. You know a few words. Then someone at your language exchange, your new job in Tokyo, or the izakaya you somehow ended up at turns to you and says じこしょうかいしてください — please introduce yourself — and everything you memorized disappears.
This isn't a you problem. Japanese self-introductions follow a fairly fixed social script, and the gap between textbook phrases and what people actually say is wide enough to be confusing. The textbook gives you わたしはアメリカじんです on page three. Real life gives you a table of people waiting for you to say something that sounds like a person, not a workbook answer.
This guide covers the actual structure of a 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai), how to build one phrase by phrase, and — just as importantly — how to refer to other people in Japanese without defaulting to pronouns that will sound odd at best and rude at worst.
Key Terminology
Before the phrases, a handful of terms that will show up constantly — and that are worth understanding properly rather than just memorizing as sounds.
The Basic Formula
A standard Japanese self-introduction has a recognizable structure. It isn't rigid — people skip parts, reorder things, and adapt to context — but if you internalize this sequence, you'll have something to work from in most situations.
The Standard 自己紹介 Structure
1
Opening greeting
はじめまして。(Hajimemashite.)
2
Your name
〔名前〕と申します / 〔名前〕です。([name] to moushimasu / [name] desu — I am called [name] / I am [name].)
3
Origin or affiliation
〔国〕から来ました / 〔会社・学校〕の〔役職〕です。([kuni] kara kimashita / [kaisha/gakkou] no [yakushoku] desu — I'm from [country] / I am [role] at [company/school].)
4
Something about you (optional but helpful)
趣味は〔hobby〕です。(Shumi wa [hobby] desu — My hobby is [X].)
5
Closing phrase
よろしくお願いします。(Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
That's it. The whole thing, assembled, takes about 20–30 seconds. The formality of each step adjusts based on context — a job interview leans formal, a language exchange leans casual — but the skeleton stays the same. Let's build each part properly.
Referring to Others: The Pronoun Problem
This section exists because Japanese handles person reference very differently from English, and textbooks often gloss over the practical reality. The short version: Japanese has pronouns, but native speakers use them far less than you'd expect, and several of the ones you'll learn first are awkward in real conversation.
First Person: Referring to Yourself
English has one word: I. Japanese has several, each with distinct social weight.
| Word | Reading | Who Uses It & When |
|---|
| わたし | watashi | The safe default. Polite, gender-neutral. Use this when in doubt. |
| わたくし | watakushi | Very formal. Business presentations, speeches, official contexts. Sounds stilted in casual conversation. |
| ぼく | boku | Casual masculine. Used by boys and young men, or adult men in relaxed settings. Not appropriate in formal contexts. |
| おれ | ore | Casual masculine, rougher register. Common among young men in informal speech. Sounds blunt in polite company. |
| うち | uchi | Casual feminine, especially in Kansai dialect. Increasingly common across regions among women in casual speech. |
| (nothing) | — | Often the most natural choice. When the topic is obvious from context, drop the pronoun entirely. マリアです。アメリカから来ました。(Maria desu. Amerika kara kimashita.) is perfectly natural without a single わたし (watashi). |
The Drop Rule
In Japanese, subjects and topics are dropped whenever they're understood from context. This is grammatically normal, not sloppy. A self-introduction like マリアです。フランスから来ました。大学で経済を勉強しています。よろしくお願いします。(Maria desu. Furansu kara kimashita. Daigaku de keizai wo benkyou shite imasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.) contains zero first-person pronouns and sounds completely natural. Dropping わたし (watashi) after the first sentence is standard, not a mistake.
Second Person: Referring to the Person You're Talking To
This is where learners trip up most. English says you constantly and without social weight. Japanese has multiple options, most of which come with baggage.
| Word | Reading | Reality Check |
|---|
| あなた | anata | Technically correct, but in practice it can sound cold, confrontational, or overly direct — particularly from a man to another man, or in formal speech. In intimate speech, wives use it for husbands. In debate speech, it sounds pointed. Use it sparingly. |
| きみ | kimi | Informal, slightly condescending or affectionate depending on context. Bosses address subordinates with it. Don't use it with anyone whose social position is equal or higher than yours. |
| おまえ | omae | Rough, masculine, and intimate. Close male friends, anime characters. Using it with an acquaintance or stranger would be jarring. |
| 〔名前〕さん | [name]-san | This is what you actually want. Using someone's name with さん (or their appropriate honorific) instead of a pronoun is the standard approach in most real-world situations. 田中さんはどう思いますか？(Tanaka-san wa dou omoimasu ka?) instead of あなたはどう思いますか？(Anata wa dou omoimasu ka?) |
The Practical Rule
When addressing someone directly, use their name + an appropriate honorific rather than a pronoun. When you don't know their name yet, ask: お名前は何ですか？(Onamae wa nan desu ka?) (What is your name?). After you know their name, use it. This is how Japanese adults navigate conversation without triggering the social awkwardness that pronoun overuse creates.
Third Person: Talking About Others
Third-person pronouns exist in Japanese and are grammatically correct. In practice, though, name + honorific (or name + role) is far more common in everyday speech.
Third-person pronouns
かれ (kare) — he / him. Also informally means "boyfriend."
かのじょ (kanojo) — she / her. Also informally means "girlfriend."
かれら (karera) — they (masculine or mixed group)
かのじょら / かのじょたち (kanojora / kanojotachi) — they (feminine group, less common)
What people actually say instead
田中さん (Tanaka-san) — Tanaka-san (use their name)
あの方 (ano kata) — that person (polite)
あの人 (ano hito) — that person (neutral)
先生 (sensei) — teacher (title as reference)
部長 (buchou) — department head (title as reference)
Using かれ (kare) or かのじょ (kanojo) to refer to a third person in conversation isn't wrong, but you'll sound more natural — and more socially aware — if you use names and titles instead. Context usually makes it clear who you're talking about anyway.
Situation by Situation
The same basic information gets packaged very differently depending on where you are. Here are the most common contexts and what to adjust.
1
Language Exchange or Casual Meetup
Casual register. Drop the keigo. といいます (to iimasu) or です (desu) is fine for your name. The goal here is starting a conversation, not impressing anyone with formal vocabulary. Lead with something that gives them a question to ask back.
Example:
はじめまして。ジェイクです。アメリカから来ました。趣味はハイキングと日本語の勉強です。よろしく。
Hajimemashite. Jeiku desu. Amerika kara kimashita. Shumi wa haikingu to nihongo no benkyou desu. Yoroshiku.
Hi, I'm Jake. I'm from America. My hobbies are hiking and studying Japanese. Nice to meet you.
2
University Class or Club (部活 / サークル — bukatsu / saakuru)
Polite but not stiff. Include your year and major — these are the two things everyone wants to know. Club settings in Japan often require a full standing introduction to the group, which is why having a 20-second version practiced is genuinely useful.
Example:
はじめまして。エマといいます。留学生で、経済学部の2年生です。音楽が好きで、このサークルに興味があります。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite. Ema to iimasu. Ryuugakusei de, keizaigakubu no ninen-sei desu. Ongaku ga suki de, kono saakuru ni kyoumi ga arimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Hi, I'm Emma. I'm an international student, second year in the economics department. I like music and I'm interested in this club. Nice to meet you.
3
Business / First Day at Work
Full keigo. Use と申します (to moushimasu) for your name. Include your department, your role, and end with a phrase that signals you're eager to contribute — よろしくお願いいたします (yoroshiku onegai itashimasu) with the more formal いたします (itashimasu) rather than just します (shimasu). Keep it brief and composed. This is not the time for hobbies unless someone asks.
Example:
はじめまして。営業部の田中と申します。本日よりお世話になります。まだ不慣れな点も多いと思いますが、精一杯努力してまいりますので、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Hajimemashite. Eigyoubu no Tanaka to moushimasu. Honjitsu yori osewani narimasu. Mada funareta ten mo ooi to omoimasu ga, seippai doryoku shite mairimasu node, douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
How do you do. I'm Tanaka from the sales department. I'm starting today. I'm sure there are many things I'm still unfamiliar with, but I will do my best, so please take care of me.
4
Nomikai or Social Drinking Event (飲み会 — nomikai)
Don't try to do a full formal introduction here unless the group specifically asks for it. Catch someone during a break, keep it short and warm, and let the conversation develop naturally. A full keigo opening at a nomikai reads as stiff. Say your name, say something easy to respond to, ask a question back.
Example:
あ、はじめまして。マイクといいます。田中さんの友達ですか？
A, hajimemashite. Maiku to iimasu. Tanaka-san no tomodachi desu ka?
Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Mike. Are you a friend of Tanaka's?
Full Example Introductions
Three complete self-introductions at different formality levels, with annotation.
Casual Language Exchange Intro
Japanese:
はじめまして。サラといいます。イギリスのロンドン出身です。今は東京に住んでいます。趣味は映画と料理で、最近は日本料理を作るのにはまっています。よろしく。
Hajimemashite. Sara to iimasu. Igirisu no Rondon shusshin desu. Ima wa Tōkyō ni sunde imasu. Shumi wa eiga to ryouri de, saikin wa nihon ryouri wo tsukuru no ni hamatte imasu. Yoroshiku.
English:
Nice to meet you. I'm Sara. I'm from London in the UK. Right now I live in Tokyo. My hobbies are movies and cooking — lately I've been really into making Japanese food. Nice to meet you.
What works: No わたし (watashi) pronoun anywhere — it's inferred throughout. Ends with casual よろしく (yoroshiku) rather than the full お願いします (onegaishimasu). The specific detail about Japanese cooking is a natural conversation hook.
Polite University Club Intro
Japanese:
はじめまして。ケビンといいます。アメリカから来た留学生で、経済学部の3年生です。日本語を2年間勉強していて、もっと会話を練習したいと思っています。趣味はサッカーと読書です。どうぞよろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite. Kebin to iimasu. Amerika kara kita ryuugakusei de, keizaigakubu no san-nensei desu. Nihongo wo ninen-kan benkyou shite ite, motto kaiwa wo renshuu shitai to omotte imasu. Shumi wa sakkaa to dokusho desu. Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
English:
Nice to meet you. I'm Kevin. I'm an international student from America, in my third year of the economics department. I've been studying Japanese for two years and want to practice conversation more. My hobbies are soccer and reading. Please take care of me.
What works: Year and faculty upfront — the two data points people actually want. Mentioning wanting to practice conversation signals openness. Full よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) appropriate for this register.
Formal Business / New Employee Intro
Japanese:
はじめまして。本日より開発部に配属になりましたアンナと申します。大学では情報工学を専攻しておりました。わからないことも多いと思いますが、早く戦力になれるよう精進してまいります。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Hajimemashite. Honjitsu yori kaihatsubu ni haizoku ni narimashita Anna to moushimasu. Daigaku de wa jouhou kougaku wo senkou shite orimashita. Wakaranai koto mo ooi to omoimasu ga, hayaku senryoku ni nareru you shoujin shite mairimasu. Douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
English:
How do you do. I'm Anna, assigned to the development department starting today. I majored in information engineering at university. I'm sure there will be many things I don't yet understand, but I will work hard to become a contributing member as quickly as possible. Please take good care of me.
What works: Department placement comes first. Humble verb forms throughout (申します (moushimasu), おりました (orimashita), してまいります (shite mairimasu)). Acknowledges inexperience — this is expected and respected, not a weakness signal. Ends with いたします (itashimasu) rather than します (shimasu) for extra formality.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These come up consistently among English speakers learning Japanese. None of them are catastrophic — people will understand you — but fixing them will make you sound noticeably more natural.
Overusing わたし
English speakers are trained to say "I" at the start of almost every sentence. Translating this habit directly into Japanese produces something that sounds robotic or slightly self-absorbed. After you establish yourself as the topic (either explicitly or through context), drop the pronoun. マリアです。フランスから来ました。映画が好きです。(Maria desu. Furansu kara kimashita. Eiga ga suki desu.) — not a single わたし (watashi) and completely natural.
Using あなた as a default "you"
If you've had any Japanese textbook instruction, you probably learned あなた (anata) early. But native speakers rarely say it in direct address — it can come across as cold or confrontational, particularly in business or formal settings. Get the person's name early, then use it. 鈴木さんはどちらから来られましたか？(Suzuki-san wa dochira kara koraremashita ka?) instead of あなたはどこから来ましたか？(Anata wa doko kara kimashita ka?)
Forgetting よろしくお願いします
In English, there's no set closing phrase for an introduction — you might say "nice to meet you" or nothing at all. In Japanese, ending without よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) (or at minimum よろしく (yoroshiku)) leaves the introduction feeling abruptly unfinished. It's a social signal that you're done talking and inviting the relationship forward. Don't omit it.
Applying casual pronouns in formal settings
Using おれ (ore) in a job interview, or きみ (kimi) with a new colleague, signals either overconfidence or a miscalibrated sense of the social situation. When you're new to a context in Japan, err toward わたし (watashi) for yourself and name + さん (san) for others. You can always adjust downward as familiarity increases.
Using さん about yourself
This is one that appears surprisingly often. さん (san) is an honorific for others — never for yourself. わたしは田中さんです (Watashi wa Tanaka-san desu) would suggest either you're talking about someone else named Tanaka, or you've mixed something up fundamentally. Your name alone, no suffix, when referring to yourself.
Mixing formality levels
Starting with formal と申します (to moushimasu) then immediately switching to よろしく (yoroshiku) without the full ending creates an inconsistent register that sounds like you grabbed phrases from different situations. Pick a level and stay consistent. In doubt, land in the middle: といいます … よろしくお願いします (to iimasu … yoroshiku onegaishimasu) covers most situations safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bow when I introduce myself?
Yes, in most contexts. A slight bow (15–30 degrees) accompanies はじめまして (hajimemashite) and よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu). In casual settings, a small nod is fine. In business or formal settings, a deeper bow is appropriate, and matching the depth of whoever you're greeting is a reasonable default. Don't overthink it — the Japanese are generally forgiving of foreigners' bowing technique, and a sincere attempt reads well regardless of perfect execution.
Should I give my family name or given name first?
Japanese name order is family name first, given name second — the reverse of English convention. When introducing yourself in Japanese, you can go either way as a foreign speaker, but if you want to follow Japanese convention, lead with family name. More practically: state both names and indicate which is which if there's any ambiguity, particularly if your name is unfamiliar to Japanese ears. ジョンソン・エマといいます。エマと呼んでください。(Jonson Ema to iimasu. Ema to yonde kudasai.) (I'm Emma Johnson. Please call me Emma.) is a clean solution.
What if I blank mid-introduction and forget what to say?
The two things you absolutely cannot forget are your name and よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu). Everything in between is recoverable. If you blank, say your name, say えーと (ēto) (uh / um) while you gather your thoughts — it's a normal filler — and then say whatever comes to mind about yourself. Silence, followed by すみません、少し緊張しています (Sumimasen, sukoshi kinchou shite imasu) (sorry, I'm a bit nervous), is also completely acceptable and will usually get a warm reaction.
Is it rude to ask someone's age during an introduction?
Less so than in many Western contexts. Age matters in Japanese social interaction because it affects speech levels — whether to use polite, casual, or even elevated language. It's not unusual for two people meeting for the first time to establish who is older as a way of calibrating how to speak to each other. That said, asking a stranger or a professional contact their age in a first meeting is still considered forward. Context determines what's appropriate.
How long should my self-introduction be?
In most casual and semi-formal situations, 20–40 seconds is the target. Long enough to give people something to respond to, short enough to not monopolize the opening. Formal workplace introductions can run slightly longer if warranted, but even then, conciseness is valued. Group introductions where everyone takes a turn have an implicit time pressure — watch how long others take and match it roughly.
Does my Japanese need to be perfect for a good introduction?
No. Grammatical imperfection in a learner is expected and generally well-received. What matters more than flawless Japanese is sincerity and genuine effort. A hesitant, imperfect
はじめまして…わたし…えーと…マリアです。フランスから来ました。よろしくお願いします (Hajimemashite… watashi… ēto… Maria desu. Furansu kara kimashita. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.) lands much better than saying nothing and switching to English. You can get a lot done with simple structures and the right phrases. The
speaking confidence comes with practice — not before it.
Conclusion
The formula is genuinely simple: はじめまして (hajimemashite), your name, where you're from, what you do or study, one thing about yourself, よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu). Practiced once or twice until it flows at normal speed, this handles most situations you'll actually encounter.
The pronoun system takes slightly longer to calibrate — mostly because it requires unlearning the English habit of saying "you" and "I" constantly. The practical shortcut is to use names. Ask early, use them often. Name + さん (san) is almost never wrong.
A Final Note
The best preparation for a real self-introduction is saying it out loud before you need to. Write yours down, read it aloud until it sounds like you're talking rather than reciting, and then say it to an actual person — a language exchange partner, a tutor, anyone. The gap between having the phrases memorized and being able to produce them calmly under mild social pressure is significant, and the only way across it is reps. You'll still be slightly nervous the first few times. That's fine. So is everyone.