Japanese Job Interview Phrases: What to Say from Entry to Exit

A Japanese job interview is unlike any interview you have done in English. The language is keigo (formal honorific Japanese), the structure follows strict cultural expectations, and even how you walk into the room matters. This guide gives you the exact phrases, structure, and cultural cues to impress Japanese interviewers.

Before You Enter: The Cultural Protocol

Japanese job interviews begin before you open the interview room door. Punctuality (arriving 5-10 minutes early), dress code (conservative business attire), and body language (upright posture, minimal fidgeting) are all being observed.

When you knock and enter:

失礼いたします。
(Excuse me for disturbing. — said while entering)

〇〇と申します。本日はよろしくお願いいたします。
(My name is ○○. I look forward to our meeting today.)

お辞儀 (ojigi — bowing): bow at roughly 30 degrees when greeting. Deeper is more formal.

Yuka

I was nervous in my first Japanese interview and forgot to bow properly when entering. My interviewer was very polite, but I could tell the cultural expectation was there. Practicing the entry ritual — knock, open, 失礼いたします, close door, bow — is as important as practicing answers.
(The physical ritual of entering matters as much as your words in a Japanese interview.)

Rei

One detail that matters: never sit before you are invited to. Wait for どうぞおかけください (please sit). Sitting immediately looks presumptuous. The wait shows deference — a positive signal in Japanese workplace culture.
(Waiting to be invited to sit is a basic but important formality.)

Self-Introduction (自己紹介) — The Most Important Part

Almost every Japanese interview starts with 自己紹介をお願いします (Please introduce yourself). This is your scripted 60-90 second pitch. Structure it exactly:

1. Name and greeting:
〇〇と申します。本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。
(My name is ○○. Thank you for your time today.)

2. Background:
私は〇〇大学で〇〇を専攻しておりました。
(I majored in ○○ at ○○ University.)

3. Experience/strengths:
これまで〇〇の分野で〇年の経験を積んでまいりました。特に〇〇に強みがございます。
(I have accumulated ○ years of experience in the ○○ field. I have particular strength in ○○.)

4. Why this company:
御社の〇〇に魅力を感じ、ぜひ貢献したいと思い応募いたしました。
(I was drawn to your company’s ○○ and applied because I strongly wish to contribute.)

5. Closing:
本日はどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
(I look forward to our conversation today.)

Key Interview Questions and Model Answers

志望動機は何ですか？ — Why do you want to work here?

御社が〇〇の分野で業界をリードしていることに感銘を受けており、自分のスキルを活かして貢献できると考えました。
(I am impressed by your company’s leadership in ○○, and I believe I can contribute by applying my skills.)

長所と短所を教えてください — Strengths and weaknesses?

私の強みは〇〇です。一方、短所として〇〇という点がありますが、〇〇することで改善するよう心がけております。
(My strength is ○○. My weakness is ○○, but I work to improve it by ○○.)

5年後のビジョンを教えてください — 5-year vision?

5年後には〇〇の分野で専門性を高め、チームに貢献できる人材になりたいと考えております。
(In 5 years, I hope to deepen my expertise in ○○ and become someone who contributes meaningfully to the team.)

Yuka

Short所 (weakness) questions terrified me. My coach said: always end with how you are improving. 〇〇という弱みがありますが、〜して克服中です (I have the weakness of ○○, but I am overcoming it by…). The effort to improve matters more than the weakness itself.
(Ending weakness answers with a growth effort is essential in Japanese interview culture.)

Rei

御社 (onsha) vs 貴社 (kisha): both mean ‘your esteemed company.’ 御社 is used in speech; 貴社 is used in writing (emails, documents). Using 御社 correctly in the interview room and 貴社 in your thank-you email shows linguistic precision that impresses.
(御社 = spoken; 貴社 = written. Mixing them is a known mistake — getting it right shows care.)

Asking Questions at the End

Always prepare 2-3 questions to ask. Asking nothing suggests low interest. Good patterns:

御社での研修制度について伺えますか？
(Could I ask about your company’s training program?)

入社後、どのような業務からスタートするのでしょうか？
(What kind of tasks would I begin with after joining?)

チームの雰囲気について教えていただけますか？
(Could you tell me about the team atmosphere?)

Quick Quiz

1. What do you say when entering the interview room?

→ 失礼いたします (shitsurei itashimasu)

2. 御社 vs 貴社: which do you use in speech?

→ 御社 (onsha) — 貴社 (kisha) is for written communication

3. When is it appropriate to sit down in a Japanese interview?

→ Only after being invited: どうぞおかけください

4. What should you always do at the end of a weakness answer?

→ Explain how you are actively working to improve it

5. How long should a self-introduction (自己紹介) be?

→ 60-90 seconds — scripted and practiced in advance

Have you had a Japanese job interview? What surprised you most about the process? Share in the comments!

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