Easy Japanese for Work

This episode is about expressing thanks. Tuan-san, who is from Vietnam, moved to Japan 4 years ago and works at an IT company. Although his Japanese is improving, he still isn't used to the Japanese that is spoken in business meetings. He …

This episode is about asking someone to repeat something. Putri-san, from Indonesia, learned Japanese in university. She has been working in the real estate field for 4 years in Japan. Putri-san works entirely in Japanese, but finds some k…

This episode is about expressing an opinion concisely. Tomanik, from Poland, got serious about studying Japanese and then he fell in love with Japanese pop culture. Although he can explain himself in meetings in Japanese just fine, he tend…

This episode is about using materials to express oneself in a way that's easy to understand. Nu Nu Aung, from Myanmar, moved to Japan 9 months ago and works at a property management company. Every day, she receives training in Japanese and…

This time: relaying messages. Dong Quoc Dung works for a sports equipment manufacturer. He was transferred to the Japanese headquarters of his Vietnamese company in 2018. He designs fishing reels. From meetings to design checks, he uses on…

This time: obtaining permission. Tran Van Vuong from Vietnam designs fishing rods at a sports equipment manufacturer. Since transferring to the Japanese headquarters of his company in 2018, Vuong-san has become a popular member of staff. H…

This episode is about making apologies. Loraine Paz Amoro Oledan-san moved to Japan at the end of 2018 to work at a housekeeping company. Starting next week, she will be responsible for cleaning actual homes. She knows how to carry out her…

This episode is about making suggestions. Marianne Paragua Culaniban-san has worked at a housekeeping company for 2 years. She's the longest-serving foreign member of staff and is looked up to by the 130 other Filipino workers. Her Japanes…

This episode is about asking questions using polite Japanese, "keego." Irving Armenta-san, from Mexico, has trouble with "keego." As a college student, he became a fan of a Japanese singer. To understand her songs, he attended a Japanese l…

This episode is about offering support. To Quang Ngoc-san, from Vietnam, works at an IT company. A new coworker sits next to him, and Ngoc-san wants to help him with any trouble he might have. Ngoc-san originally worked in Hanoi before swi…

This episode is about asking how to pronounce names. Whang Sunmyung works at a general trading company in Japan. Born in the Republic of Korea, he studied in China from the age of 13. Out of a desire to work on a global scale, he came to J…

This episode is about asking for clarification. Binod Gautam, from Nepal, studied in Aichi Prefecture before joining a car sales company, where he works as a mechanic. It's been 2 months since he started, and his coworkers are helping him …

This episode is about answering phone calls for others. Nguyen Truong Giang, from Vietnam, is an IT engineer who works at a marketing firm. Giang-san studied Japanese and programming in university. He moved to Japan in 2015 and now serves …

This episode is about responding when you've been asked to do too many things. Chu Van Hung, from Vietnam, was hired 3 months ago to work at a manufacturing company. He works as a design assistant, using specialized software to make machin…

This episode is about offering logical explanations. Frederic Miane, from France, is an engineer who works in AI robot development. He was with the French branch of a Japanese company before moving to Japan in January 2019. Now, he works a…

This episode is about handling difficult negotiations over the phone. Liu Yang, from China, works in sales administration at a Japanese adhesive company. She has been in Japan for 4 years but joined her company not long ago, in April 2019.…

Today: supporting a subordinate. Valerii Praid, from Russia, is an IT engineer working at a start-up in Japan, where metal processing is mostly handled by smaller firms. Praid-san's company has an advanced system for generating quotes effi…

Today: politely explaining rules. Dinh Thanh Huyen, from Vietnam, moved to Japan 4 years ago. She works as a care worker at a care facility in Ibaraki Prefecture. Dinh-san must often communicate directly with residents' family members. She…

Wu Fei, from China, works as a co-manager of a Yakiniku restaurant in Tokyo. After graduating university, she moved to Japan in 2010 and began studying Japanese. She began working at this Yakiniku restaurant last year. Besides waitressing,…

Andre Marcal Kanashiro, from Brazil, works as a driver at a taxi company in Tokyo. He's a third-generation Japanese Brazilian who moved to Tokyo in 2017. As Japan's society ages, there's a shortage of taxi drivers, leading companies to hir…

Kim Yeon-gyeong, from the Republic of Korea, works at a company that's helping a ramen chain spread throughout Japan. Her bright and bubbly personality is an asset as she promotes customer service training for staff at ramen shops. She's g…

Today: identifying your chance to speak at a meeting. Timothy James Mahrt, from the United States, works at an IT firm in Tokyo. He helps develop software used for website translation. Though he has no trouble chatting in Japanese with col…

Today: explaining when there's been a misunderstanding. Bima Aji Nugroho, from Indonesia, works at a metalworking company in Saitama Prefecture. He makes parts that are used in cars and construction equipment. He first came to Japan in 201…

Today: adjusting a schedule with a client. Lan Cheng, from China, works in Gunma Prefecture at a company that makes pizza ovens. His bright and positive personality is an asset as he learns all about pizza oven maintenance. He's also worki…

Today: making small talk with a client. Raphael Marso, from Germany, works at a company that makes manufacturing equipment. He moved to Japan after completing graduate school in Germany. Though still in his first year, he's been tasked wit…

Today: cheering up a junior employee who is feeling down. Nyamjav Baljinnyam, or Baabii-san, from Mongolia, works in Chiba Prefecture. His company sells used luxury cars, and also performs maintenance. Baabii-san has admired Japanese cars …

Today: asking others for favors. Warni Letty Yuhara, from Indonesia, works at a farm in Ibaraki Prefecture that mainly grows herbs. She's in charge of part-time workers on the farm, which welcomes interns from Indonesia. Warni-san herself …

Today: checking that others have understood instructions. Shang Yan, from China, works as a train cleaner in Tokyo. Her company, which is responsible for cleaning trains and station buildings, employs 220 foreign workers. Shang Yan-san lea…

Today: reporting to a superior that a coworker is ill. Tran Dinh Thang, from Vietnam, is a technical intern who works at a construction firm in Kanagawa Prefecture. He builds scaffolding, and often works high off the ground. It's a physica…

Today: turning down a request for support politely. Wang Chihsun, from Taiwan, works as a pastry chef at an upscale American restaurant in Tokyo. He moved to Japan in 2015. Fascinated with Japanese sweets, he began studying to be a pastry …

Today: part 1 of a 2-part series. Students featured in past editions of Easy Japanese for Work return to take part in a special quiz-style business Japanese lesson. This time, the students are Tran Thanh Tuan (from Vietnam) and Warni Letty…

Today: part 2 of a 2-part series. Students featured in past editions of Easy Japanese for Work return to take part in a special quiz-style business Japanese lesson. This time, the students are Nu Nu Aung (from Myanmar) and Raphael Marso (f…

Today: dealing with a complaint from a neighbor. Luu Van Chien, from Vietnam, works as a carpenter at a home construction company. He joined this company around 8 years ago, starting as a technical intern. Although he struggled at first, h…

Today: asking for instant guidance. Makni Mohamed, from Tunisia, works as a guard at construction sites. He fell in love with Japan after a 2009 trip, and began learning the language. He's passionate about keeping people safe, and chose to…

Today: asking for further information. Khine Mie Mie Soe, from Myanmar, works at a company that makes floral decorations for TV sets, weddings and events. She studied architecture and interior design in university, but knew nothing about f…

Today: saying how much you can do. Naing Myo Oo, from Myanmar, works at a company that makes signs for businesses. He moved to Japan in 2016 and took this job to improve manufacturing skills he acquired in Malaysia. Each morning, he checks…

Today: explaining that you can't make a decision on the spot. Astriana Faradillah, from Indonesia, works in sales at a company that makes devices used in incineration. She moved to Japan 5 years ago and studied at a university in Tokyo bef…

Today: taking over someone's work without hurting their feelings. Aung Zin Phyo, from Myanmar, works for a firm that makes architectural 3DCG images. These images are used in various types of presentations. He joined this company last year…

Today: explaining a need for staffing adjustment. Kaung Htet Paing, from Myanmar, works behind the scenes at Narita Airport. He is a technical intern who is learning all about tasks such as guiding aircraft as well as loading and unloading…

Today: pointing out a senior coworker's mistake. Kyaw Swar Aung, from Myanmar, works behind the scenes at Narita Airport. He carries out tasks such as guiding aircraft as well as loading and unloading baggage. He's learned that both cautio…

Today: words of support for a coworker. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, from Vietnam, works at a company that makes paper products. She began studying Japanese out of a love for Japanese manga, and she came to Japan 2 years ago as a technical inter…

Today: fielding an urgent request on the phone. Dong Van Huu, from Vietnam, designs blueprints at an architecture company. He first became interested in Japanese architecture as a college student in Vietnam. In 2015, he came to Japan as a …

Today: determining what is worrying a client. Lin Zhipeng, from China, works at a real estate firm. He began studying Japanese after becoming interested in anime, and came to Japan 5 years ago. At his job, he's involved with property inspe…

Today: making a polite request to a superior. Jorge Andres Arevalos Ibarra, from Paraguay, works at a metalworking company. His nickname is Andy. The company employs many staff members from abroad. Andy joined it a year ago. These days he'…

Today: asking someone to repeat and clarify. Do Cong Uan, from Vietnam, works at a metalworking company. He came to Japan 8 years ago with his wife. At his job, he helps to shape metal parts and he also mentors junior coworkers. Though he …

Today: recommending additional repairs. Wewalage Suneth Priyanka Fernando, from Sri Lanka, works as an auto mechanic in Chiba Prefecture. A car and motorcycle fan, he came to Japan 6 years ago. He studied at both a Japanese language school…

The first in a special two-part EJW series. On Easy Japanese for Work, we've looked at many Japanese phrases that people use at work. Today, we'll review past phrases and learn Keego through some fun games. First, reviewing past key phrase…

The second in a special two-part EJW series. On Easy Japanese for Work, we've looked at many Japanese phrases that people use at work. Today, we'll review past phrases and learn Keego through some fun games. First, reviewing past key phras…