Did you know that the Japanese language makes far more use of passive language and passive verbs than English? Read about how to use Japanese passive voice in this article! If you are new to studying Japanese – or maybe you are at a more intermediate level – this blog post will be of use to you. In this article we will provide an overview of the passive voice in Japanese and also give you some examples. Further, we will show you how to conjugate verb groups into passive form. You can also check out our complete Conjugation Kit for Mastering Passive Verbs. Contents:
The passive voice in Japanese is used for various reasons. One reason is that both the Japanese language and Japanese culture are very indirect – as a result, the passive voice is more frequently used in Japan than in some other countries. When speaking Keigo, it is often more polite to use the passive – or even potential – form in many circumstances. In Japanese, the passive voice also is used when the speaker wants to inject the sentence with emotion. For example, Japanese speakers often use the passive voice in situations where they want to convey a sense that they are a “victim”. In other words, they use the passive voice to describe when something bad has happened to them. There are many instances where a tranliteration of active voice in English to active voice in Japanese can come out sounding unnatural. Another use for the passive voice in Japanese is when talking about inanimate objects. For example, sentences such as “that bridge was built in 1990″/あの橋は1990年に造られた. In these sentences, the speaker is describing something about an inanimate object. For this we use passive voice both in English and in Japanese. However in this article, we will focus on using the passive voice in the “victim” context. In other words, when an action is done to you by someone or something.
How to Use the Passive Voice
How do we use these passive form verbs? Let’s look at a few examples before we look at conjugations! 僕の昼ご飯は兄に食べられちゃった！ Boku no hiru-gohan wa ani ni taberarechatta! I had my lunch eaten by my older brother! Now the first thing you may notice is that this sentence translation looks strange in English. However, in Japanese this is perfectly natural. In fact, to say: 兄は僕の昼ご飯を食べた Ani wa boku no hiru-gohan o tabeta My brother ate my lunch. …Sounds somewhat unnatural and emotionless in Japanese. The passive form on the other hand adds more emotion, and often identifies the speaker as the “victim” in the sentence. In other words, the speaker clarifies by using the passive voice that something happened to him or her. Going back to the example above, here is a grammatical breakdown of how the sentence is structured. 僕の昼ご飯は兄に食べられちゃった！ So notice the structure: Subject/speaker + は(wa)／が(ga) + action doer + に(ni) + passive form verb. In other words, think about it this way. An action is done to the speaker or subject by the action doer, indicated by the particle に(ni). Again, this passive language in Japanese is charged with more feeling, and expresses that the speaker is conveying their emotions with this form.
Now let’s move on to conjugating the different verb groups! We will begin with verb groups 2 and 3 before looking at group 1. This is because 2 and 3 are easier to conjugate, while group 1 has more verbs. For more information, check out our Mastering Passive Verb conjugation kit!
Conjugating the Japanese Passive Voice: Group 2
We will start with group 2 because it is the easiest to conjugate! Let’s learn how to turn group 2 verbs into passive form and use them in a sentence. These are verbs like 食べる (to eat) and 見る (to see). Let’s look at the conjugations – and then we can look at some example sentences! For group 2 verbs, the conjugation is very easy! Just remove the る off the end and replace it with られる Here are some group 2 verbs in this chart below.
Plain verb
Passive form
English meaning
食べる (taberu)
食べられる (taberareru)
“to eat”, passive form
見る (miru)
見られる (mirareru)
“to see”, passive form
出る (deru)
出られる (derareru)
“to go out”, passive form
Verb Conjugation: Group 3
Irregular Verbs
In case you didn’t know, Japanese verb group 3 has only 2 verbs: する meaning “to do”, and 来る meaning “to do”. There is no particular rule for conjugating these two, so you simply have to memorize the conjugations. Thankfully, 2 is not that many! Let’s look at how to conjugate these below.
Plain verb
Passive form
English meaning
する (suru)
される (sareru)
“to do”, passive form
来る (kuru)
来られる (korareru)
“to come”, passive form
Verb Conjugation: Group 1
This group has the most variations of the Japanese verb groups. These are verbs that end in the う sound that aren’t る (with a few exceptions). We won’t be able to cover all of the verbs, but let’s look at a few to get the feel for conjugating group 1 Japanese verbs.
Plain verb
Passive form
English meaning
買う (kau)
買われる (kawareru)
“to buy”, passive form
飲む (nomu)
飲まれる (nomareru)
“to drink”, passive form
行く (iku)
行かれる (ikareru)
“to go”, passive form
泳ぐ (oyogu)
泳がれる (oyogareru)
“to swim”, passive form
押す (osu)
押される (osareru)
“to push”, passive form
帰る (kaeru)
帰られる (kaerareru)
“to go home”, passive form
帰る – “to go home” is one of the exceptions. Clearly this verb ends in る, but it is not a group 2 verb. This is something to bear in mind when conjugating as group 1 “ru” verbs can follow rules different from the group 2 verbs. For more on verb groups, check out this blog, and watch the video below! Or get full access to mastering verb conjugation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqio2xqKMg4
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How do you share your opinion in Japanese? What are the do’s and don’ts?
In this blog we will teach you a simple way to share your opinion in Japanese.
But before we teach you what you can say – we want to share some advice for how to use this vocabulary.
Don’ts:
In a business setting – Sharing negative opinions to your superiors or your coworkers openly
Sharing negative feedback / opinions about people to casual friends / acquaintances / in social settings where you do not know the person very well.
In Japan – the harmony of the group is very important. Negative feedback that is directly shared – or opinions about people that cast others in a negative light are seen as disrupting harmony and frowned upon.
Especially in a professional setting, you want to avoid being rude as much as possible.
Dos:
Share positive feedback about people.
Share positive opinions with friends.
Use this vocabulary to talk about things that are your personal opinion or things you are unsure of – but you assume to be true.
Saying “I think” in Japanese Using と思う／思います
The way to express “I think” in Japanese is by inserting と思う／思います (to omou / omoimasu) after stating your opinion.
The rules for using と思う／思います in sentences sharing your opinion are:
Verb (dictionary from)/い Adjective + と思う／思います
Noun/な Adjective + だ + と思う／思います
Keep in mind that な Adjectives drop the な in this sentence form. Let’s look at some examples of how to use them to express your opinions in Japanese!
Example 1: い Adjective + と思う
この曲、めっちゃかっこいいと思うよ。 Kono kyoku、meccha kakkoii to omou yo I think this song is really cool!
The above example is a straightforward example of someone using a plain form verb to express their opinions about a song. Based on the statement above, we can assume that this is a conversation between friends as informal speech is being used.
Example 2: Verb +と思います
Let’s look at a more formal situation:
高木さんはあと少し来ると思いますよ。 Takagi san wa ato sukoshi kuru to omoimasu I think Takagi-san will arrive here shortly.
In the sentence above the speaker is voicing that he/she thinks Takagi-san is arriving soon, but isn’t 100% sure. This is both generous to Takagi-san, who may very well be running late, and protects the speaker from falsely asserting the situation.
You can try this with any Japanese verbs you want! Maybe start with some easy Japanese ru-verbs.
Example 2: なAdj/Noun + だと思う
大切だと思うよ。 Taisetsu da to omou yo I think it’s important.
Pretty straightforward, but this time notice that when used with a な adjective, you need to insert だ + と思う／と思います。
This rule also applies to nouns in the same way:
彼はいい人だと思います。 Kare wa ii hito da to omoimasu I think he is a great guy!
Easy right? Now you can try it out next time you want to give your opinion in Japanese!
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Japan has a reputation for being an extremely polite and formal country. On the surface the culture seems very hospitable – but what about when it isn’t? Like any other language, there are Japanese insults and ways to be rude in Japanese.
This article is primarily concerned with helping Japanese learners avoid being rude or insulting. So this article will cover primarily what you DON’T want to say.
How to Avioid Insulting Someone in Japanese
In Japanese, merely not being respectful is enough to insult someone in many instances. An improper suffix or a statement that is just a little too direct could be intepreted as an insult. Especially in navigating Japanese professional work culture, these are the types of slip ups you want to avoid.
Essentially, you want to be conscious of 3 things to not be insulting:
If you aren’t familiar with Japanese Keigo, you can check out a more extensive article here. In a nutshell, you want to make sure you are speaking at an appropriate level based on the situation and who you are speaking to.
Speaking too informally to a superior, a boss, or a customer is insulting in Japan. So make sure you are speaking politely, and you will be able to avoid insulting anyone!
Example of Insulting Speech: Informal Speaking
部長：田中さん！今日も残業してもらおうか？ 田中さん：何だよ、残業するわけねーじゃん 部長：首だ！
Buchou: Tanaka-san! Kyou mo zangyou shite moraouka? Tanaka-san: Nandayo, zangyou suruwake ne jan Buchou: Kubi da!
Manager: Tanaka-san! Can you work overtime again today? Tanaka-san: What? No way am I doing overtime today Manager: FIRED!
Okay this might be a bit of an extreme example, but it gets the point across. Tanaka-san’s language is totally informal and impolite, but it probably wouldn’t get him fired. Maybe.
Needless to say, this way of speaking is very insulting and would most definitely result in some negative way for Mr. Tanaka.
Avoid this with an appropriate response that utilizes sufficient Keigo.
Being too Direct
Being too direct in the way you say something can also be insulting or rude. And we don’t want that…unless…but no, nevermind.
This is something cultural that some non-native Japanese speakers may struggle with at some points, especially for those coming from a western background.
In the West especially, it is not only welcomed but encouraged to express yourself and speak your mind directly. In Japan it is often the opposite.
In Japanese, being indirect shows respect, and it also makes things intentionally vague so as not to insinuate any fault of the listener. This is part of why passive and intransitive verbs are used so much more often in Japanese as opposed to English.
Buchou: Tanaka-san, kono uriage jisseki no repo-to ashita made owarasetemoraeru? Tanaka-san: Ashita made desu ka? Motto hayaka ittekudasai! Buchou: Kubi da!
Manager: Tanaka-san, can you finish this sales report by tomorrow? Tanaka-san: Tomorrow?!? You need to tell me sooner! Manager: FIRED!
In the above example, Tanaka-san may have used appropriate keigo. However, his manner of speaking is much too direct for a subordinate speaking to his boss. Maybe some people in the west can get away with it at work, but probably not in Japan.
You want to avoid sounding this direct, especially with people above you or strangers. However, being direct is not necessarily impolite amongst friends.
Insulting Vocabulary in Japanese
We have compiled a list of some insulting vocabulary and crass words that you definitely don’t want to use. You may hear these in anime, movies, or TV shows – but generally you should avoid using them.
List of Japanese Insults
どけ！ → ”Move!” (Imperative)
だまれ！ → ”Shut up!” (lit. “be silent”)
あほ → ”Idiot”
ばか → Also “Idiot”
ぼけ → ”Idiot”, again (airhead would also work)
ぶす → ”Ugly”
でぶ → ”Fat”
がき → ”Brat”
てめえ → This is a really rude way to say “You”
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Want to know a list of popular Japanese anime phrases that you can use in real life? Yes, you canlearn Japanese from anime — but only if you do it right. The thing is, a lot of students mindlessly copy phrases they found on their favorite anime TV shows and films, but if you sound too much like an anime character, you’re in for a cringefest. At best, you’re stuck with saying “~senpai” and “eto“.
Here’s the problem: most anime — especially the seinen or shounen genre — use too-casual slang phrases. Apply them in real life, and you may sound like a yankee (Japanese juvenile deliquent), which isn’t the first impression you’d want to give to your Japanese friends.
In this blog post, we figured we’d share some natural Japanese anime phrases. They’re easy and, most of all, common. They’re perfect for beginners to mimic without being at risk of sounding stiff. You’ll hear them in popular series, like Naruto, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer.
Here are the top 20 Japanese anime phrases that you can use to converse with your Japanese friends.
Note: Before we go further into the article, note that this article will mostly use hiragana, so prior knowledge of them is a must. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry — take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.
1. あきらめないで: Never give up!
The spirit of fighting and never giving up is the core of every action-packed or hero-themed anime. Think Naruto, Attack on Titan and Haikyuu. When you’re on the verge of giving up, think, “I can’t give up (あきらめないで)!” When your Japanese friend is struggling to learn English, encourage them by saying the popular anime phrase “あきらめないで.“
あきらめなくてよかった! Akiramenaide yokatta! I’m glad I didn’t give up!
Another basic Japanese anime phrase you’ll find across all genres: ちょっとまって. It’s a casual, shortened form of ~てください, which means to “please do something”. ちょっとまってください is more polite, but it can still sound like you’re ordering someone.
We recommend saying ちょっとまって to your friends — or at least someone your age. For example, when your friend is walking too fast, you can say ちょっとまって!
Another indirect translation of this word is the English equivalent of “give me one second”. Technically, it holds the same meaning as “wait a moment”, but in Japanese, “one second” is “いちびょう”. It’s not culturally (nor contextually) understood. One way to avoid a few imaginary question marks is by making sure the direct translation (English-Japanese) is accurate.
急いで！電車に間に合わないよ！ Isoide! Densha ni maniawanai yo! Hurry up! We won’t make it on time for the train!
There’s a lot of translation to the Japanese adjective よかった. It’s the past tense of the word 良い, which can be both read as よい and いい.
Keep in mind that you can interpret よかった with a few things. The closest expression to in English is “Thank goodness” or “I”m glad.” In anime shows or films, you can see parents exclaim よかった when they found their lost child.
Another instance would be when someone finds their lost phone or wallet. They would sigh and exclaim “よかった!”
Alternatively, you can say よかったね～ which can mean, “Good for you,” or, “That’s great!”
財布をなくしてしまったと思ったけど、テブルの上にあった！ Saifu o nakushite shimatta to omotta kedo, teburu no ue ni atta! I thought I lost my wallet, but it was above the table!
The meaning of this Japanese anime phrase is quite straightforward. The kanjiしかた means “method” or “way”. ない is the casual form of ありません, which is a negative form of the verb あります. A more grammar-accurate form of しかたない is しかたがない, which directly translates to “There is no way.”
The phrase means, “It can’t be helped”, and is used to indicate something is a foregone conclusion in a negative sentence.
For example, when you have to cancel a trip due to bad weather, there’s nothing you can do, so you’ll say しかたない or しょうがない.
Keep in mind that this common anime phrase is a casual expression, used between coworkers and friends. Don’t turn it into a formal form (しかたがありません) and expect to sound professional at work.
5. りょうかい: Roger!
りょうかい or りょうかいです can be used informally with your friends or family! It is an affirmation that means “Yes, I’ve got it!”
It is used to indicate that you understand something and you will execute on the person’s request. For example, when your mom asks you to buy eggs from the supermarket, you can use りょうかい or りょうかいです。
宿題を終わってから、必ず提出をください。 Shukudai o owattekara, kanarazu teishutsu o kudasai. After you finished the homework, please submit it.
りょうかい！ Ryoukai! Understood!
6. ちがう: Not right, the wrong way
The word 違う means “wrong”, and you’d usually use it to deny or refute something. Like よかった, Japanese people tend to use this in a lot of situations. It can simply mean “No,” “That’s not it,” or “It’s different.”
Your Japanese friend would say ちがう if you said something wrong or if they disagree on something. The more polite form of this verb is ちがいます. Japanese society practices being agreeable, so you might want to avoid (explicitly) contradicting someone in a formal setting. The last thing you’d want is to prove a point to your Japanese boss.
自分のシャツ、これでしょう？ Jibun no shatsu, kore deshou? This is my shirt, right?
違う！ それは私の! Chigau! Sore wa watashi no! No! That’s mine.
7. がんばって: I (You) will do the best!
You will come across one of these Japanese anime phrases very often. The word ganbatte stems from the verb ganbaru, or 頑張る (がんばる), which means “To do one’s best” or “Hang in there!”
The phrase がんばって (formally がんばってください) is used to encourage people to try hard. It can also be interpreted as “Good luck”. You can often hear people shouting がんばって in sports matches and marathons in Japan.
A more casual way to say がんばって is がんばれ
もう諦めたいよ。 Mou akirametai yo. I want to give up already.
あと少し！頑張ってください！ Ato sukoshi! Ganbatte kudasai! A little bit more! Hang in there!
Other variations include 頑張りましょう (“Let’s work hard together”) and 頑張ってくれ (“Do your best for me”).
8. いやだ: No way!
The phrase いやだ means “No way” or “Not a chance.” It simply means refusal to do something or you do not want to do it. It shows the speaker’s negative feelings, and it’s generally used to express something that is detestable or unpleasant. For example, if you are forced to go to a haunted house, you can say “いやだ”!
In spoken conversations where people speak fast (and cut things short), いやだ can turn into its colloquial form やだ.
ボクちゃん、野菜食べてくれる？ Boku-chan, yasai tabete kureru? Little boy, can you eat your vegetables?
Although the Japanese language isn’t gendered, there is a certain speaking preference used by boys, like specific Japanese first-person pronouns that are perceived as “masculine”. すげえ is mainly used by boys, and it is super casual. The word stems from すごい, but instead of an ending that sounds like “oi”, they’d drag the vowel into a long “ee”.
Instances such as if you are a boy, when your Japanese friend scored highly on an exam, you can say すげえ! You can use すごい when you feel happy about your friend’s accomplishment, “ええ？すごいじゃん!”
Have you ever taken a leap of faith — and actually succeeded? You can express your state of shock by saying 信じられない alone or add a よ particle at the ending to magnify your disbelief.
Let’s say that your friend is cooking for you, and you’ve heard that they are not a good cook. However, when you try their dish and find that it’s actually delicious, you might exclaim “I can’t believe it!”
信じられないほど美味しい！ Shinjirarenai hodo oishii! I can’t believe it’s delicious!
Part Two
In this second part of Japanese phrases from anime that have real-world use cases, we introduce you to ten more phrases from anime.
11. 相変わらず: As usual
This is a Japanese phrase (or part of a phrase) that is commonly used to describe specific people or their behavior. The kanji for aikawarazu (相変わらず) first uses 相, which means: “mutual” or “together”. The second kanji in the word is 変わる which means “to change”. Put them together and you get “as usual” or “Without changing~”.
The phrase 相変わらず can be used for both making positive or negative judgments towards something or someone. In anime, you’ll find people can use it when they’re impressed or when they’re disappointed at a character’s unchanging attitude.
相変わらず彼女が美しい。 Aikawarazu kanojo ga utsukushii. She is pretty as ever.
相変わら彼が酷い。 Aikawarazu kare ga hidoi. He is as cruel as always.
12. ドキドキ: My heart is racing!
This is a Japanese onomatopoeia that describes the sound of your heart thumping. In particular, it’s used when you are nervous or flustered during an interaction with a crush.
You may have heard this multiple times if you watch romantic-comedy anime. Japanese people love onomatopoeia, and they often use repetitive words (such as doki doki).
Maybe doki doki doesn’t sound exactly like a heartbeat, but it’s pretty close. If you find yourself feeling nervous and notice your heart thumping, instead of using kinchou (緊張), you can use ドキドキ to describe your emotions.
先美人と話したんで、めっちゃドキドキだったよ！ Saki bijin to hanashitan de, meccha dokidoki datta yo! I was talking to a pretty girl just now, and my heart was racing!
13. 任せて下さい: Leave it to me!
You have most likely heard this phrase in several different anime. You can use this in any situation where you are stepping in to help. The casual form you may have heard is 任せとけ (makasetoke) or 任せて(makasete). Both mean “leave it to me” or “I’ll handle this!”
Although you may have heard this used in anime fight scenes, you can of course use it in everyday situations. To use it at work, say the polite version 任せてください (makasete kudasai).
14. 気を付けて: Take care
Simply put, ki o tsukete means “take care”, or “be safe.” Since this uses the te-form, it is also a command or request. But in Japanese, these “commands” are not so strict. It’s like a friendly comment. To make it polite, add ください on the end (as with many Japanese phrases).
Bikkuru suru means to be shocked or surprised. This word is used across all anime genres and shows of many kinds! Suru is sometimes omitted, but either way, the sentiment is the same.
16. 面倒さい: What a pain!
Alright, we know you know this one. Mendokusai is used to express frustration. Pretty straightforward, めんどくさい just means “what a pain”, and used for situations that are inconvenient or something you would rather not deal with.
It’s not heavy enough to be used for very serious matters – mostly just frustrating or potentially stressful scenarios.
17. ぎりぎり: Just in time
This is another Japanese onomatopoeia that literally means something along the lines of “just barely”. It is often used with time measurements, such as to be ぎりぎりセーフ (girigiri seefu), which means to “just barely be safe” – or “just barely made it”.
終電にギリギリのところで間に合った。 Shuuden ni girigiri no tokoro de maniatta. I was just in time for the last train.
ギリギリのところで間に合う。 Girigiri no tokoro de maniau. I just made it under the wire.
18. 申し訳ございません: I am deeply sorry
Possibly one of the most practical phrases on this list for polite scenarios, 申し訳ございません (moushi wake gozaimasen) is a very formal and sincere apology often used in business or customer service situations.
This phrase utilizes the humble form keigo. It literally translates to “I have no excuse” and should be used for very serious apologies. It is important in Japanese culture to also express your apology with your body language. This means bowing deeply and showing your face.
19. とりあえず: For now
This is usually used at the beginning of a Japanese sentence to mean, “meanwhile, I will …” or “for now”. Although it often appears in anime, you can use this in a variety of different situations.
It can be used in either casual or formal settings. It is often used in business settings to complement explanations.
20: 久しぶり: Long time no see!
久しぶり (hisashiburi) is one of the commonly used Japanese anime phrases that means “long time no see” in English. There isn’t a set time span for using this phrase, as it’s highly subjective.
Use this with friends or family. Or, if you want to be polite, you can say お久しぶりです. Adding the お at the beginning and the です at the end makes it more formal!
お久しぶりです。お元気ですか？ Ohisashiburi desu. Ogenki desu ka? Long time no see. How are you?
Is it possible to learn Japanese through anime?
Yes, it’s possible to learn Japanese through anime as long as you use it as a supplement to your regular Japanese learning materials and resources.
How effective is learning Japanese through anime?
Learning Japanese through anime can be effective, especially for improving your listening comprehension and picking up new vocabulary, but it’s important to also study Japanese grammar and practice speaking and writing in Japanese.
What are some good anime to watch for learning Japanese?
Some good anime to watch for learning Japanese include “Your Name,” “Spirited Away,” “Attack on Titan,” “One Piece,” “Naruto,” and “Death Note.”
Should I watch anime with English subtitles or Japanese subtitles?
It’s recommended to watch anime with Japanese subtitles as this can help you improve your reading comprehension and pronunciation.
How can I improve my Japanese listening skills with anime?
To improve your Japanese listening skills with anime, try listening to the dialogue multiple times, pausing and rewinding when necessary, and practicing shadowing to improve your pronunciation and intonation.
What are some common Japanese phrases used in anime?
Some common Japanese phrases used in anime include “arigatou” (thank you), “sumimasen” (excuse me), “ohayou” (good morning), “daijoubu” (it’s okay), and “gomennasai” (I’m sorry).
Are there any online resources for learning Japanese with anime?
Yes, there are many online resources for learning Japanese with anime, including websites like Animelon and FluentU, and YouTube channels such as Japanese Ammo with Misa and Nihongo con Teppei.
Can I learn japanese by only watching anime?
It’s not recommended to learn Japanese by only watching anime, as it’s important to have a well-rounded approach to language learning that includes studying Japanese grammar, practicing speaking and writing, and using various learning materials and resources. While anime can be a fun and engaging supplement to your Japanese learning, it’s not a comprehensive or structured way to learn the language on its own. Additionally, some anime use slang or colloquial language that may not be appropriate in formal settings or everyday conversation
Start taking Japanese lessons and master anime phrases!
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Are you interested in starting a business in Japan? Is your dream to move to Tokyo and open a restaurant, shop, or an internet start-up?
After several of our students have asked us about finding information about this – we thought it was time to write our own article.
We hope that this guide is helpful to you and that it motivates you to continue learning Japanese and further your life in Japan.
Starting a business in Tokyo
In Japan starting a business can be confusing. Thinking about the idea – many questions come up.
Can you apply for a visa as a business owner? What are the requirements for incorporation? Do I need to hire a lawyer?
These are great questions.
The first and last step in starting a business in Tokyo
Many people do not know this – but actually – the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has a one-stop resource center for foreigners looking to open their businesses in Japan.
Located inside the ARK Hills building in Tameikesanno – and adjacent to the JETRO office. (There are also Shinjuku and Shibuya satellite offices!)
The TOSBEC or – “Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center” is a free-consultation desk that will help in-bound investors with the logistics of opening a business.
At this one location – they will guide you through all of the legal paperwork required to open your business – and they will even help you to apply for a business/investor visa.
Additionally, they also offer free seminars that you can attend and ask questions
The best part?
All of these services are provided FREE!
They cover the following:
Help with creating the certificate of Articles of Incorporation (Providing access to notary assistance)
Consultation related to company registrations (how to go about the process)
Notification of National and Metropolitan Taxes (How to register and become compliant – they will guide you through the process.)
Immigration Issues (They are capable of helping you to obtain a special “Start-up” visa!)
Employment, Pension, and Health Insurances (They will help you to enroll in the employment insurance scheme and make sure that you are compliant.)
The best part is – all of these services are not just consultative – they actually help you to submit your documents!
You can see which booths they provide and a diagram of the center below:
The different services provided by the TOSBEC
You can call to schedule a consultation appointment with them. Phone is actually more responsive than email during business hours. 🙂 ARK Mori Building
Consultation appointment:03-3582-4934
Other inquiries: 03-3582-8352
FAX: 03-5561-4123
Shibuya Satellite Center
Consultation appointment: 03-5489-4630
Marunouchi Satellite Center
For consultation appointment: 03-6259-1882
Location ARK Mori Building
Shibuya Satellite Center
Marunouchi Satellite Center
Operating Hours
Morning: 9:30 am ~12:00 am
Afternoon: 13:00 pm ~ 17:30 pm
Operates Monday to Friday
If you are interested in learning business Japanese. Coto Japanese Academy offers a 4 week intensive business course designed to help you achieve cultural fluency.
This intensive course covers the basics of Japanese business communication.
You can learn more about it by clicking the link below:
Often times, it’s not just enough to have a high-level of Japanese communication skill to start and scale your business in Japan. You’ll need to get a deep understanding of Japanese culture and work etiquette.
This is where Coto Business Communication School — or CBCS — comes in. As our premier business Japanese communication class, we aim not to just teach you keigo (business Japanese), but help you navigate complex business scenarios in Japan.
If you are interested in growing your business with the right Japanese communication skill, learn more about CBCS and contact us today!
What is Wakamono Kotoba? (Japanese Slang used by Young People)
Is there such a thing as Japanese slang? In Japanese, the phrase for words and expressions that young people use is known as 若者言葉(Wakamono kotoba). It literally means “words of the young people”. The concept is like a form of Japanese slang but differs in terms of the user. As such words are not frequently heard, you won’t see this type of Japanese slang in any Japanese textbooks. We have introduced some Japanese slang in our previous articles. Today, you will be learning some wakamono kotoba that are short forms of Japanese words and phrases.
っす(っす)
You may have heard this from a conversation among a group of high-school students in Japan. っす(ssu) is the short form of the Copula”です” in oral Japanese. It is usually used by young men. Do be misled by its origin “です”. “っす” strictly speaking is not considered as a form of polite speech. Although “っす “itself does not have any negative meanings and shows a certain level of respectfulness to the listener. To some people, “っす” sounds rude. So, why would young people still use it? Neither too casual or polite When talking to people of similar ages who you are not too close with, it may be too formal to speak in Keigo. It may also be inappropriate to use タメ口 (Tameguchi, casual Japanese). Therefore, っす, a word in-between Keigo and tameguchi can be used to avoid these problems. Moreover, you may also use it when talking to a superior whom you are really close with and is easy-going. Some examples of how to use “っす” Your senpai: “このあとゲーセンに行こう。” Konoato ge-senni ikou。 Let’s go to the game center later You: おお、いいっすね！ Ooh, iissune! Sounds great!
アザッス / オザマス / オナシャス
There are other wakamono kotoba that are short forms of some word phrases. Such as: アザッス(Azassu) is the short form for ありがとうございます(arigatougozaimasu). オナシャス(Onashasu) is the short form for お願いします(onegaishimasu). オザマス(Ozamasu) is the short form forおはようございます(ohayougozaimasu). These phrases appeared a few years ago on the internet and were used only on SMS. Today, not many but some young people have started using them in daily conversations with friends. Because they are literally “words of the young people”. It is generally inappropriate to use them when talking or messaging to your superiors. However, you can use these words to your close friends and they will make you sound more like a native! If you have the dream of living in Japan for a period of your life, start now by learning Japanese in Tokyo!
If you are interested in studying Japanese, find out more about our school by filling out the form below.
Working in Japan is a unique experience, and because its so different from “western” business environments understanding and adapting to Japanese business culture is crucial.
In this article, we will be explaining the most fundamental business practices – 報連相( ほうれんそう hourensou). Hourensou is a method of how you report to your superiors and colleagues in a Japanese business setting.
報連相, having the same pronunciation as spinach in Japanese, is an acronym for 報告(ほうこく houkoku) 連絡(れんらく renraku) and 相談(そうだん soudan). 報告means reporting,連絡means informing and 相談 refers to consulting.
These are the fundamental business practices for ensuring smooth business operations and effective business communications in a Japanese corporate environment. In a Japanese business environment, it is expected for every office workers to practice 報連相 in everyday work life.
報告(Reporting)
In Japan – risk aversion is held in high esteem. According to Hofstedes intercultural dimensions – Japan scores very highly on the risk aversion index.
Constantly reporting on the status of ongoing tasks or assignments helps a supervisor to monitor the process of the tasks. This is crucial for project management as a delay in critical tasks will affect the completion of the whole project.
Repointing also helps the supervisor to timely spot significant mistakes made by the subordinate in the middle of the work so as to ensure the quality of the results upon completion of the tasks.
In the process of reporting and sharing information, a stronger relationship between the subordinate and the supervisor is fostered, trust within the organization is built hence creating a comfortable and efficient working environment.
So to apply this – if you are working on a mostly Japanese team in a Japanese organization – make sure your superior knows the status of what’s going on in detail as much as you can.
連絡(Informing)
The second fundamental business practice is about sharing and updating information to everyone involved in a business activity.
In a Japanese organization, most of the time, a project cannot be done by 1 person alone – It requires teamwork.
As Japan is a collectivist society – in-groups and groups that you can identify and align yourself with are very important. This also extends to the workplace where groups are given recognition for their efforts on projects instead of individuals.
This is not just important within the direct project group – but also across the organization. In many Japanese organizations – you will see cooperation across different departments occurring in order to complete a project.
Under such conditions, keeping everyone in the loop becomes significant to the success of the projects. Progress status is not only to be reported to the supervisor, but also shared among colleagues involved in the project in order to work as a team.
Changes are also to be shared – to anticipate unexpected outcomes. Some examples of this business practice can be sending emails to colleagues involved in a project to inform them of the problem faced which may cause a delay and asking for everyone’s opinion on the new idea for a project through an internal business platform.
相談(Consulting)
Consulting actively with supervisors or colleagues is a problem-solving method frequently used in Japanese corporates. It allows the organization to get an idea of the problem in the first moment, generate the most suitable solution to the problem from past experiences and also taking actions to prevent similar problems from happening in the future.
Consulting or “Soudansuru” contextually refers to a closed door meeting, normally 1-1 where a problem can be discussed privately and openly before the idea for the solution can be brought to the group.
The Japanese are slow to suggest solutions as the proposed solution may net disagreement with colleagues – in order to prevent a rift in the group they will consult individually to get feedback and agreement on the idea before presenting it.
This sort of advanced consultative bargaining can referred to as “nemawashi” 根回し – its literal meaning being to “dig around the roots”.
Sharing a problem privately is also a way to save face and allow the superiors to have advanced knowledge so that they can effectively monitor and solve the situation.
報連相 has already integrated into the Japanese business Culture and it has also become a second nature of almost every Japanese office workers.
If you are working in Japan, start using 報連相 today as the first step to fit into the Japanese business culture.
If you wish to improve your business Japanese, we offer Business Japanese Course with flexible scheduling to suit your needs! Send us an inquiry if you wish to sign up.
If you are interested in studying Japanese, find out more about our school by filling out the form below.
Are you thinking of working in a Japanese environment in Japan?
Are you currently working in Japan?
If you are, these are the necessary skill sets you need in order to do business in Japan. 1.Using Formal Japanese Expression – Keigo Keigo (敬語) is necessary for Japanese communication is a business environment. Using proper keigo is able to implement a professional and respectful image of the speaker. No matter how complicated and advanced keigo expression might be, as long as you get the basics correct, you will be able to build good business relationships with your coworkers and clients
Articles that may help you understand keigo better: Introduction to Japanese Keigo Japanese Honorific Prefixes お and ご 29 Useful Japanese Keigo Phrases 2. Mastering Expression Sets
Various fixed Japanese expressions are used in business contexts, especially expressions for greetings that vary depending on the situation. These expressions are cemented into business practices so it is important that you master them. 3. Conveying your opinion into words
Being able to express your thoughts and ideas clearly with appropriate business expressions is essential. It would be shameful when you cannot express your useful thoughts specifically and clearly because of the lack of business expressons and vocabularies. 4. Understanding Japanese business etiquettes
This point is not focusing on the language aspect but the culture and customs of doing business in Japan. By practicing the business etiquettes . You will be able to adapt to the Japanese working environment without much struggle. You will also be able to build stronger relationships in your workplace.
At Coto Japanese Academy, our Business Japanese Course focuses on improving these four essentials of Japanese Business of our students. Use your advanced Japanese skills and abilities to expand your business prospects!
If you are interested in taking up this course, send us an inquiry!
What is the best Japanese School in Tokyo or Yokohama?
Do you have a busy schedule? Then you need a school that can offer flexibility.
There are many different types of Japanese Language Schools in Tokyo and Yokohama – and they offer varied services based on need.
Do you need to learn a specific type of vocabulary? Then you need a school that can offer customization.
Scheduling
As an ex-pat – you will need a Japanese language school that can help you make changes to your class schedule.
At many Japanese schools – they will only offer set course times that have terms ranging from 3 months to 1 year. You will study with 20-40 other students in a large class – doing exercises out of a textbook. Then you will take an exam.
This is not what you need.
At Coto – we understand that you are likely juggling a life in Japan alongside your classes.
With us you can pause your lessons if you fall too far behind. You can also restart when the timing is right.
It is our mission to work with you to achieve your learning goals.
Content
What you should be learning depends on who you are and what your long term goals for living in Japan are.
Do you want to live in Japan long term? Do you want to travel in Japan?
Your goals will decide what you should be learning. What you should be learning will decide the school you attend.
For Beginners:
As an ex-pat in Tokyo – learning Japanese grammar is not your first priority.
You want to learn enough Japanese to be able to handle yourself in day-to-day tasks in Tokyo.
This means things like:
Shopping at the Supermarket
Taking a taxi in Tokyo
Visiting a store and shopping for clothing
Taking the Tokyo Metro / Japan Rail Trains
Talking about emergencies and visiting the hospital if necessary
Using the telephone to make a reservation in Japanese
So depending on the textbook that you use – it can make a big difference about your experience at the school.
At Coto – we provide our own textbook for complete beginners called Nihongo Fun and Easy I and II. This textbook is simple to use and does not rely on kanji or teaching grammar. It provides you with “real world” examples so that you can use what you learn right away.
