business-japanese-specialist skill

Overview

This skill is an expert guide for Japanese business communication, covering keigo (honorifics), email etiquette, meeting protocols, and corporate culture nuances. It helps non-native professionals craft appropriate language, interpret subtle signals, and navigate formal interactions with confidence. The emphasis is on practical phrasing, role-appropriate registers, and avoiding common cultural missteps.

How this skill works

The skill analyzes communication goals, interlocutor status, and situational context to recommend language level (sonkeigo, kenjougo, teineigo) and concrete phrasing. It inspects draft emails, meeting agendas, and spoken scripts to highlight register mismatches, propose respectful alternatives, and flag potential cultural pitfalls. It also summarizes protocols for punctuality, hierarchy, gift-giving, and post-meeting follow-ups.

When to use it

• Writing or reviewing business emails to Japanese colleagues, clients, or vendors
• Preparing for meetings, presentations, or negotiations with Japanese teams
• Translating or localizing marketing and HR communications into polite Japanese
• Coaching employees on workplace etiquette, seating order, and introductions
• Drafting follow-ups, apologies, or escalation messages that require precise tone

Best practices

• Always identify the recipient's relative status and choose keigo level accordingly
• Prefer concise, clearly structured messages with polite closings and next steps
• Use set phrases for apologies and gratitude to avoid unintended bluntness
• Confirm meeting logistics in advance and send short minutes promptly afterward
• When in doubt, lean toward slightly more polite language and verify with a native reviewer

Example use cases

• Convert a casual English email to a polite Japanese version tailored to a senior executive
• Create a meeting script with appropriate honorifics and introduction order for cross-border teams
• Review a customer apology and adjust phrasing to restore trust while following corporate norms
• Prepare onboarding materials explaining subtle workplace behaviors like indirect refusals
• Localize a recruitment notice to reflect hierarchical expectations and application etiquette

FAQ