Japanese Job Interview Phrases: Useful Phrases and QA Guide for 2026

So you've landed a job interview in Japan. Congrats! Now comes the nerve-wracking part: actually doing the interview in Japanese. Even if you've been studying the language for a while, job interviews require a whole different level of formality and specific vocabulary that you probably haven't practiced much. Let's break down exactly what you need to know to sound professional and prepared.👔

Understanding the formality level for a job interview

Here's the thing about Japanese job interviews: they operate on a completely different level of politeness than everyday conversation.

You'll need to use (keigo), which is the honorific language system in Japanese. There are actually three types of keigo, but for interviews, you'll mainly use (polite language) and (humble language).

Every sentence you say will end with (desu) or (masu) forms. You'll hear people say "just use desu and masu forms" like it's simple, but the tricky part is also using humble verbs when talking about yourself and honorific verbs when talking about the company or interviewer. Getting this wrong won't necessarily kill your chances, but getting it right shows you understand Japanese business culture.

The etiquette extends beyond just language too. You'll bow when entering, sit only when told to, and maintain a respectful posture throughout. But we're focusing on the phrases here, so let's get into the actual words you'll need.

Essential greetings and opening phrases

When you first enter the interview room, you'll need to make a strong first impression.

Start with a proper greeting and self-introduction.

This phrase uses (itadaki), which is the humble form of "to receive." You're showing respect by humbling yourself right from the start.

Say this when entering the room and again when sitting down. It's basically acknowledging that you're entering someone else's space.

How to introduce yourself in a Japanese job interview

The self-introduction, or (jiko shoukai), is probably the most important part of any job interview in Japan. You'll almost always be asked to introduce yourself first thing. Here's a solid template:

Notice you're using (moushimasu) instead of (iimasu). That's the humble form of "to say" or "to be called." Always use this when introducing yourself in formal situations.

The verb (orimasu) is the humble form of (imasu). You'll use this a lot when describing your own actions or state of being.

This is more formal than the everyday (yoroshiku onegai shimasu). The (itashimasu) form is extra humble.

Common interview questions and how to answer them

Japanese job interviews tend to follow pretty standard patterns. Here are the questions you're almost guaranteed to get and how to respond.

Why do you want to work at this company?

By the way, what's the difference between (kisha) and (onsha)? Both mean "your company," but is used in written documents like cover letters, while is used in spoken conversation. You'll hear the interviewer say (heisha), which is the humble form companies use to refer to themselves.

Your answer should be specific:

What are your strengths?

Answer with concrete examples:

Using (gozaimasu) instead of (arimasu) adds that extra layer of politeness.

What are your weaknesses?

The trick here is to mention a real weakness but show how you're working on it:

Tell us about your experience working in teams

This question comes up constantly because Japanese companies really emphasize teamwork and group harmony. Your answer should show you understand this:

Essential business Japanese vocabulary for interviews

You'll need to know some key terms that come up in pretty much every Japanese job interview. Here's the vocab that matters:

When talking about your previous work, you'll use:

Example sentence:

Phrases for asking questions at the end

The interviewer will almost always ask if you have any questions. Having none is a bad look. Here's how to ask thoughtful questions:

Closing the interview properly

How you end the interview matters just as much as how you started. Here are the phrases you need:

Say this as you stand up and bow before leaving the room.

Tips for practicing interview etiquette and words

Honestly, the best way to get comfortable with these phrases is to practice them out loud.

The key is sounding prepared but not robotic. You want the interviewer to feel like you've put in the effort to learn proper business Japanese, but you also want to come across as a real person they'd want to work with.

Anyway, if you're serious about working in Japan and want to level up your Japanese beyond just interview phrases, Migaku's browser extension and app make it way easier to learn from real content. You can watch Japanese business videos, read company websites, and look up words instantly without breaking your flow. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to see how it works.

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It's absolutely normal to feel nervous about a Japanese interview

Working in Japan as a foreigner means you'll be held to high standards for language ability, especially in formal situations. Self-doubt, nervousness, tense, it's all normal. The key point is to prepare thoroughly and trust the process. Use multiple resources to help with preparation: tutors, job interview videos, career-related dramas and shows...

Great things are worth preparing.