JIKOSHOUKAI

じこしょうかい
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じこしょうかい
SELF-INTRODUCTION

 Jikoshoukai ( じこしょうかい ) is the Japanese word for "self-

introduction." In theory, this is similar to how you would
introduce yourself in your own culture. Say hello, say your
name, tell a little about yourself. But in practice, there are
cultural differences and set procedures you should stick to. You
only get one first impression, so it's important to learn how to do
it right.
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HOW TO JIKOSHOUKAI

Going to Japan, but don't know Japanese? Don't worry. You can jikoshoukai.
The Japanese self-intro has a standard order and set phrases, so even
beginners can meet and greet in Japanese.
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JIKOSHOUKAI VOCABULARY

 はじめまして

Hajimemashite

HOW DO YOU DO?

 hajimemashite implies beginning or doing something for the first

time. Most people think of it as saying "How do you do?" or
"Nice to meet you."
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 わたし は [name] ともう します。

watashi wa [name] tomou shimasu.

I am [name].

 わたし は [name] です。

watashi wa [name] desu.

I am [name].

 わたし の なまえ は [name] です。

watashi no namae wa [name] desu.

My name is [name].
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The breakdown of this sentence is
easier than it looks. It has three parts:
 わたし (watashi) - The first word means "I" or "me." It's followed
by the particle は (wa) which indicates the topic of the sentence.
In this case, わたし (watashi) is the topic.

 [name] - Your name.

 と もうします ( tomoushimasu) - meaning of the verb is "to be

called." This is a polite phrase, so it's safe to use in almost any
situation.

* When you put them all together, you get something along the
lines of "I am called [name]" or "My name is [name]."
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 よろしく おねがいします

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu

Please be kind to me.

* The final piece of the puzzle is よろしく おねがいします

(yoroshiku onegaishimasu). It doesn't translate well to English,
which is why we wrote a whole article about it. In a self-intro
situation, it means something like "Please be kind to me." It's often
translated as "Nice to meet you." This isn't technically correct,
though it carries a similar feeling.
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Time to write your Jikoshoukai

 See? Not so hard. When you're getting ready to meet Japanese

people for the first time, write this out and practice until it flows.
If you're a beginner at Japanese, you don't need any more than
this.
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JIKOSHOUKAI ETIQUETTE

It's great to know the words to say when introducing yourself in Japanese,
but how you say those words will make or break your jikoshoukai.
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 FIRST NAME AND FAMILY NAME

In English, people usually introduce themselves by their first

names or full names. When you give your full name, the first name
comes first and the family name afterward.

In Japanese, people usually introduce themselves by their

family names or full names. When they introduce their full name,
the family name comes first and the first name comes second.
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 BOWING VS. HANDSHAKE

In the West, if you're meeting someone one-on-one, you shake

hands.

In Japan, don't move in for the handshake, especially if your

status is the same or lower than the person you're meeting. In
Japan, handshakes are for equals, so if you try to shake hands with
the Emperor, it would be considered rude. Bow instead, and do so
at the beginning and end of your jikoshoukai.
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 HOLDING YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK

In Japan, holding your hands behind your back signals

importance, so it may make you look full of yourself. Put your
hands in front of you (the left hand on top of the right), or put your
hands beside you.

 DON'T BOW WHILE TALKING

This is a no-no from our Japanese bowing guide. Do your

bowing after giving your self-introduction. Make sure to finish
saying "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" and then bow.
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CUSTOM JIKOSHOUKAI MODIFICATION

From here we get into the fun stuff. After expanding on the initial three pieces
of the Japanese self-introduction, you can start adding information about
yourself, short sentences that explain where you're from, what you like to do,
and so on.
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WHERE YOU ARE FROM

 Telling where you're from is always a good addition to a

self-intro. Even if you don't use it during the initial
jikoshoukai, your new Japanese friend will probably ask
you anyway, so memorizing a few of these phrases is extra
useful.
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Two quick vocabulary usage notes:

 First, the word shusshin しゅっしん mean‘s “person’s origin,” and refers more to
the place you were born or grew up than where you currently live. It‘s often used for
specific places like a city, state, or prefecture, rather than a country. For example,
Mami was born in Osaka, and now lives in Canada. But she spent most of her life in
Nara, so she says “ ならけんの しゅっしんです (Nara Ken no susshin desu) 。”
or “ しゅっしん は なら けんです (shusshin wa Nara ken desu) 。 "

 Second, the verb mairu まいる is a more humble form of kuru くる　 or iku い
く　 . So when まいる　 is used to talk about where you came from in “ アメリカ
から まいりました (Amerika kara mairimashita) / アメリカ から きました (Amerika
kara kimashita) 　 ," it's much more humble, so use it in appropriate situations. 　
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UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE
だいがく

 Ⓐ だいがく の がくせいです。

Ⓐ Daigaku no gakusei desu.

I'm a student of Ⓐ University.
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HOBBIES AND PROFICIENCIES

 しゅみ (SHUMI)

HOBBY, PASTIME

* Hobbies are super important part of life in Japan. Japanese junior

high and high school students take school club activities seriously
(sometimes more than academics) and this passion often
continues into adult life. If you have a hobby, that is your "thing."
Even if you don't think of your interests as "hobbies," describe them
as such anyway. It will help people understand you better.
Alternatively, you can say what you like and don't like.
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 しゅみ は [____] です。

Shumi wa [_____] desu.

My hobby is [____].

 しゅみは [____] することです。

Shumi wa [____] suru koto desu.

My hobby is to do [____]

 [____] が しゅみです。

[____] ga shumi desu.

My hobby is [____].
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• [____] することが しゅみです。

[____] surukoto ga shumi desu.
My hobby is to do [____]

• わたしは [____] が す き　です。

Watashi wa [___] ga suki desu.
I like [____].

• [____] も すき　です。
[___] mo suki desu.
I also like [____].

• [____] は すき　ではありません。
[____] wa suki dewa arimasen.
I don't like [____].
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 Now you know what it takes to put together a stellar jikoshoukai

in Japanese. Put the pieces together, mind the cultural
differences, and practice till its second nature.

 ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU