The jikoshoukai (自己紹介) is the first thing you’ll need in Japan. Whether meeting new friends, starting a class, or joining a company, Japanese culture expects a structured self-introduction. Here are ready-to-use templates.
Casual Self-Introduction
はじめまして。[Name]です。
[Country]から来ました。
趣味は[hobby]です。
よろしくお願いします。
Translation:
Nice to meet you. I’m [Name].
I’m from [Country].
My hobby is [hobby].
Please treat me well.
Business Self-Introduction
はじめまして。[Company]の[Name]と申します。
[Department]で[role]を担当しております。
本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。
どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Translation:
Nice to meet you. I’m [Name] from [Company].
I’m in charge of [role] in [Department].
Thank you for your time today.
I look forward to working with you.
Key Vocabulary for Self-Introductions
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 名前 | namae | Name |
| 出身 | shusshin | Hometown/origin |
| 趣味 | shumi | Hobby |
| 仕事 | shigoto | Job/work |
| 学生 | gakusei | Student |
| 会社員 | kaishain | Office worker |
| よろしく | yoroshiku | Please treat me well |
| 申します | moushimasu | My name is (humble) |
Cultural Tips
- Always end with よろしくお願いします — it’s the essential closing phrase
- Bow slightly when introducing yourself, even casually
- Business cards (名刺) are exchanged with both hands in formal settings
- Keep it brief — Japanese appreciate concise introductions
- Mention your connection — “[person]の友達です” shows social context
Hobby Vocabulary for Your Introduction
読書 (dokusho, reading) · 映画 (eiga, movies) · 旅行 (ryokou, travel) · 料理 (ryouri, cooking) · 音楽 (ongaku, music) · 運動 (undou, exercise) · ゲーム (geemu, games) · 写真 (shashin, photography)
Practice Until It’s Natural
Your self-introduction should flow without thinking. That means drilling the vocabulary and phrases until they’re automatic:
- Kanjijo’s SRS flashcards drill introduction vocabulary at the perfect intervals
- Writing practice for key kanji like 名前, 仕事, 趣味
- Lock screen widgets show self-introduction vocab passively throughout the day
Master the kanji and phrases for a perfect jikoshoukai. Free on iOS.