Course Overview

Japanese for the Professional World

Business Japanese goes beyond language — it teaches you to navigate the intricate social codes, hierarchical communication, and cultural expectations that define professional interaction in Japan. Whether you're working for a Japanese company, managing a team, or closing deals across borders, this program equips you completely.

Duration

6 months comprehensive

Classes

2× per week + 1 seminar

Class Size

Max 6 students

Format

In-person & Live Online

Prerequisites

N3 level or equivalent business Japanese exposure

¥78,000

per month · all materials & seminars included

Enroll Now

What You'll Master

Business-Specific Skills

Every element of this program is designed for the realities of professional Japanese communication in a modern corporate context.

敬

Keigo — Honorific Language

Full mastery of sonkeigo, kenjōgo, and teineigo across all professional contexts — from junior to C-suite

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Business Meetings

Opening, facilitating, and closing meetings; proposing agenda items; reaching consensus (nemawashi)

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Presentations in Japanese

Structure, deliver, and handle Q&A for formal business presentations before Japanese audiences

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Email & Correspondence

Write impeccably formatted business emails, formal letters, reports, and memos in proper keigo

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Business Card Etiquette

Meishi exchange ritual, proper handling, seating arrangements, and first-meeting protocol

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Negotiation Phrases

Persuasion, counter-offers, indirect refusals, and consensus-building vocabulary and strategies

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Industry Vocabulary

Specialized terminology for your sector: tech, finance, healthcare, tourism, or legal

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Japanese Company Culture

Ringi system, nemawashi, kaizen mindset, hanami and nomikai — the cultural fabric of corporate Japan

Corporate Solutions

Tailored Training for Your Organization

We partner with multinational companies to deliver customized Business Japanese programs that align with your industry, objectives, and schedule. From intensive off-sites to ongoing weekly sessions, we design the program around your team.

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Needs assessment and bespoke curriculum design

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Group rates for 3+ employees starting at ¥65,000/person/month

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On-site delivery at your office or at our Shibuya center

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Quarterly progress reports and KPI tracking for HR departments

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Hybrid in-person/online delivery for distributed teams

Request Corporate Proposal

Corporate Packages

Essentials

For teams needing core business Japanese communication skills quickly

3 months 2× /week Up to 5 staff

Professional

Comprehensive program with keigo mastery, meetings, and correspondence

6 months 3× /week Up to 8 staff

Executive

Intensive executive-level program with personal coaching and C-suite Japanese

12 months 1-on-1 option Certificate

Success Stories

Business Professionals Who Transformed Their Careers

Real results from professionals who invested in Business Japanese and opened doors they never expected.

Softbank · Technology

"

Twelve months ago I could barely string a polite sentence together in a meeting. Today I'm established weekly strategy sessions with our Tokyo HQ in Japanese. Prof. Yamada's understanding of corporate culture went far beyond language.

DH

Daniel Hoffmann

Regional Director · Germany

Morgan Stanley · Finance

"

The negotiation module alone was worth the entire program fee. I closed a ¥2.4 billion joint venture in Japanese, and the client later told me my use of appropriate keigo was a decisive factor in their trust.

LT

Lisa Tanaka

Investment Banker · USA

Shiseido · Beauty & Cosmetics

"

Coming from a marketing background I needed specific vocabulary for my industry. The customized curriculum option was a game-changer. My Japanese colleagues now include me in informal conversations — which is where the real business happens.

CL

Chloé Laurent

Brand Manager · France

Industry Specializations

Your Industry, Your Vocabulary

Choose an industry focus track to build the specialized vocabulary that matters most in your field.

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Technology

IT, software, AI, semiconductor, and startup vocabulary

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Finance

Banking, investment, insurance, and financial markets terminology

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Healthcare

Medical, pharmaceutical, clinical, and health administration language

✈️

Tourism

Hospitality, travel, hotel, and customer service Japanese

⚖️

Legal

Contracts, compliance, intellectual property, and legal procedure terminology

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Nihongo Business Japanese Certificate

Upon successful completion of the 6-month program and passing the final assessment, graduates receive the Nihongo Business Japanese Certificate — a recognized credential for your resume, LinkedIn profile, and visa applications.

Official Certificate Digital Badge LinkedIn Integration Grade Transcript Industry References

Curriculum

Six-Month Professional Program

A carefully sequenced journey from business communication foundations to executive-level Japanese proficiency.

1

Month 1: Keigo Foundations

Sonkeigo · Kenjōgo · Teineigo · Introductions

▼

Month 1 builds the honorific language architecture that underlies all business communication. You'll learn the three-tier keigo system thoroughly and apply it from day one.

Sonkeigo (respectful language) complete forms
Kenjōgo (humble language) complete forms
Teineigo (polite language) refinement
Business self-introduction (jiko shōkai)
Company and department vocabulary
Titles, ranks, and proper forms of address
Telephone answering protocols
Greeting clients and visitors
Business card exchange ritual
Office etiquette and spatial hierarchy

2

Month 2: Meetings & Decision-Making

Ringi · Nemawashi · Facilitation · Consensus

▼

Master the distinctly Japanese approach to organizational decision-making, meeting facilitation, and the art of achieving consensus without direct confrontation.

Opening and closing meeting language
Agenda management vocabulary
Nemawashi: pre-meeting consensus building
Ringi: document approval workflows
Expressing disagreement politely (婉曲表現)
Postponing and redirecting discussions
Taking and presenting meeting minutes
Video conference etiquette (Zoom/Teams)
Follow-up email after meetings
Action item tracking vocabulary

3

Month 3: Written Communication

Email · Reports · Formal letters · Business documents

▼

Japanese written business communication follows precise conventions. Month 3 makes you completely confident in all forms of professional writing.

Business email structure and openings (時候の挨拶)
Email closings and signing conventions
Formal letters (社外文書)
Internal memos (社内文書)
Proposal writing (企画書)
Progress reports (報告書)
Complaint handling correspondence
Order and contract confirmations
Apology letters (謝罪文)
SNS and LINE business communication norms

4

Month 4: Presentations & Public Speaking

Structure · Delivery · Q&A · Visual materials

▼

Deliver confident, well-structured presentations to Japanese audiences — and handle the formal Q&A that follows them with grace and precision.

Presentation opening formulas
Transition phrases and signposting
Data and chart explanation vocabulary
Handling difficult questions politely
Closing and call-to-action language
Slide deck text conventions in Japanese
Conference speech patterns
Trade show and exhibition language
Pitch vocabulary for startups
Live presentation assessment with feedback

5

Month 5: Negotiation & Sales

Persuasion · Price negotiation · Closing deals

▼

Develop the sophisticated language skills for negotiation, deal-closing, and maintaining relationships in the long-term Japanese business context.

Negotiation opening positions
Counter-offer phrases
Indirect refusal language
Concession and compromise vocabulary
Price and contract term negotiation
Relationship maintenance (接待) language
Entertainment and dining etiquette
Closing a deal and expressing satisfaction
Industry-track vocabulary deep dive
Role-play negotiation simulations

6

Month 6: Integration & Certification

Capstone project · Final assessment · Certificate

▼

The final month brings everything together through a real-world capstone project, comprehensive assessments, and preparation for your Nihongo Business Japanese Certificate.

Capstone: full business presentation in Japanese
Simulated board meeting participation
Written assessment: emails and report
Oral examination with senior faculty panel
Professional Japanese media analysis
Cross-cultural business case studies
Career and visa language guidance
Alumni networking event introduction
Certificate ceremony and LinkedIn badge
Continuing education path recommendations

Your Instructor

The Business Japanese Expert

Learn from a former corporate executive who has lived the very experiences this program teaches.

Prof. Hiroshi Yamada

Business Japanese Specialist · Senior Faculty

Professor Yamada brings 20 years of front-line corporate experience to the classroom. A former senior executive at Mitsubishi Corporation's international division and MBA graduate of Tokyo University, he has personally conducted negotiations in 14 countries and built cross-cultural business teams across four continents.

MBA, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Business

Former Senior Executive, Mitsubishi Corporation International Division

Certified Business Japanese Instructor (CBJI)

Author of "Keigo in Practice" (2022, published Tokyo University Press)

Business Keigo Negotiation Corporate Culture 20 yrs exp MBA Tokyo

Begin Your Professional Journey

Enroll in Business Japanese

Complete the form below to apply. We'll review your profile and discuss the best entry point and track for your goals.

First Name *

Last Name *

Business Email *

Phone Number

Company Name

Your Role / Position

Current Japanese Level *

Industry Focus

Preferred Start Date *

Enrollment Type

Professional Goals & Background

Related Programs

Business Japanese