Chapter 15 E-mail and Letters

15.01 Internal E-mail Messages

15.02 External e-mail

Communication

15.03 More e-mail Language

15.04 A Notice by E-mail

15.05 Christmas Cards

15.06 Family Newsletter

15.07 New Year Cards

15.08 Formal Postcards

15.09 Addressing Postcards

15.10 Formal Letters

15.11 Thank you Letters

15.12 A letter to a Friend

15.13 Addressing Envelopes

15.14 Words and Expressions

Chapter15

E-mail and Letters

The computer and e-mail are a godsend for non-native speakers of Japanese, first by liberating us from writing kanji which, since most of us did not spend our formative years learning to write them, can be painstaking and slow and, secondly, by sparing us the embarrassment of poor handwriting that belies our otherwise good knowledge of the language. In addition to straightforward word-processing features, which give us access to a wide vocabulary and let us write complex characters in an instant, we can now print out postcards and letters of a standard we could only have dreamed of in the days when they had to be handwritten.

Although communication is much easier and messaging has become increasingly brief and instant, e-mails have an important role to play in business communication and also provide a lasting record. It is obviously important whenever you write an e-mail that you choose your words carefully and re-read your message before hitting the send button. Here I hope to show you how Japanese e-mails are constructed and give you words and phrases you can adapt for your own use.

Japanese business e-mails, especially those to customers and people outside the company, seem to follow a certain form that is rather like the go-aisatsu we saw in the chapter on speeches, So, e-mails often start with a jiko shōkai (self introduction) followed by set phrases to mark the beginning of the message, then, after the main body of the message, set phrases to close. Although the structure is slightly different from that of a letter, many of the phrases used come from traditional letter writing. Especially in business communication the language can be very formal indeed but I have tried to give examples that are polite without sounding stuffy.

The main time of the year when people put pen to paper is in December, during the buildup to the holiday season. I have given examples of phrases you could add to your holiday cards or e-messages and, for those of you residing in Japan, some ideas for New Year cards. These are postcards and they are delivered all together on New Year’s Day (just make sure they are marked 年賀 (nenga New Year’s greeting) on the address side.

Until recently, people would make their own woodblock prints, or write each card by hand in calligraphy, or order printed cards. Now there is a wide variety available, most featuring the Chinese zodiac animal for the coming year. Cards bought at the post office have numbers printed on them; you might win a prize in the lottery. Or you can download or purchase software and have fun creating your own cards incorporating photos or mixing and matching different images and text. When it comes to sending the cards most people write in a sentence or two to make the card more personal.

Having said all this, a letter or postcard handwritten in the traditional way is very personal and would impress your Japanese acquaintances greatly. If you want to give it a try, here are some suggestions to improve your writing. Buy paper or cards with lines on, broader lines rather than narrow. Then, draw a faint line in pencil down the center of each column (erase it after you’ve finished writing). Try to center each kanji on this line. The vertical strokes should be straight down, top to bottom, but when writing the horizontal strokes try making the lines slant slightly upwards towards the right. Good luck!

15.01 Internal E-mail Messages mēru メール

E-mails to colleagues can be short and to the point. They are often prefaced with the greeting お疲れ様です (o-tsukare-sama desu Thank you for your help). Here, Michael sends some data to his colleague for a report they are writing.

送イ言者	： <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
宛元	: <y.sato@ecosystems.co.jp>
送信日時	: <2011年8月26曰 09.21>
添付	： 市場テ一夕.xis
件名	： 市場調査の件

お疲れ様です。

データを添付します。

質問などありましたら、今日中にご返信をお願いします。

よろしくお願いします。

テーラー

Sōshinsha	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Atesaki	: <y.sato@ ecosystems.co.jp>
Sōshin nichiji	: <nisen jūichi nen hachigatsu nijūroku nichi 09.21>
Tenpu	: Shijō dēta.xis
Kenmei	: Shijō chōsa no ken

O-tsukare-sama desu.

Dēta o tenpu shimasu.

Shitsumon nado arimashitara, kyō-jū ni go-henshin o o-negai shimasu.

Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.

Tērā

Sender	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Recipient	: <y.sato@ecosystems.co.jp>
Date sent	: <26 August 2011 09.21>
Attachment	: Market Data.xis
Subject	: Re: Market Survey

Thank you for your help.

I’m attaching the data.

If you have any questions, please reply to me today.

I appreciate your cooperation.

Taylor

A couple of days later Yumi finishes the report and sends it to Michael, asking for his confirmation and approval.

送信者	: <y.sato@ecosystems.co.jp>
宛先	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
送信日時	: 2011年8月28曰 17.11
添付	: 市場調査.doc
件名	: ご連絡

お疲れ様です。

市場調査ができましたので、送付します。

市場調査ができましたので、送付します。 内容を確認の上、ご承認願います。

佐藤

Sōshinsha	: <y.sato@ecosystems.co.jp>
Atesaki	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Sōshin nichiji	: <nisen jūichi nen hachigatsu nijūhachi nichi 17.11>
Tenpu	: Shijō chōsa.doc
Kenmei	: Go-renraku

O-tsukaresama desu.

Shijō chōsa ga dekimashita no de, sōfu shimasu.

Naiyō o kakunin no ue, go-shōnin negaimasu.

Satō

Sender	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Recipient	: <y.sato@ ecosystems.co.jp>
Date sent	: <28 August 2011 17.11>
Attachment	: Market Survey.doc
Subject	: For your information

Thank you for your help.

I have finished the market survey and am sending it.

Please check the contents and give your approval.

Sato

15.02 External E-mail Communication

Michael sends an e-mail to Mr Takahashi thanking him for his time and following up on the results of the meeting. Note the jiko shōkai (self introduction) and words of thanks at the beginning, and the conventional phrases used to close.

送イ言者	： <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
宛先	: <k.takahashi@ dmc.co.jp>
送信日時	: <2012年2月10曰 17.15>
件名	： 御礼

高橋幸一様

エコシステムのテーラーです。

本日はお忙しい中、わざわざお時間をいただき、誠にありがどうございました。

今回、ご指摘いただきました点は、早速、開発部ど相談し、 ご要望に添うこどができますよう検討中でございます。 今月中には、新たな提案をしたいど思います。

また、何かございましたら、いつでもご連絡ください。

今後ども、よろしくお願いいたします。

Sōshinsha	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Atesaki	: <k.takahashi@ dmc.co.jp>
Sōshin nichiji	: <nisen jūni nen nigatsu tōka 17.15>
Kenmei	: On-rei

Takahashi Kōichi-sama

Ekoshisutemu no Tērā desu.

Honjitsu wa o-isogashii naka, wazawaza o-jikan o itadaki makoto ni arigatō gozaimashita.

Konkai, go-shiteki itadakimashita ten wa, sassoku kaihatsubu to sōdan shi, go-yōbō ni sōu koto ga dekimasu yō kentōchū de gozai masu. Kongetsu-chū ni wa, arata na teian o shitai to omoimasu.

Mata, nanika gozaimashitara, itsudemo go-renraku kudasai.

Kongotomo, yoroshiku o-negai itashimasu.

Sender	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Recipient	: <k.takahashi@ dmc.co.jp>
Date sent	: <10 February 2012 17.15>
Subject	: Thank you

Mr Koichi Takahashi

This is Taylor of EcoSystems.

Thank you very much for making time to see us today when you are so busy.

Regarding the points that you raised, I have already consulted our development department and we are looking into the matter with a view to meeting your requirements. I hope to have a new proposal for you this month.

If there is anything else, please contact me at any time.

We look forward to a continued association.

In this e-mail, Michael tries to get a reply to an e-mail he sent some time ago.

送イ言者	： <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
宛先	: <m.kobayashi@yoikankyo.co.jp>
送信日時	: <2012年3月5曰 09.10>
件名	： 新規事業について

よい環境株式会社営業部

小林治様

エコシステムのテーラーです。

お世話になっております。

先月のメールの件について、ご連絡いたします。是非10月より スタートできればど進めておりますが、

予算、スケジュールについて、なるべく早く、

打ち合わせをしたいど思います。

お忙しいかど思います力\ご検討、よろしくお願いいたします。

お返事お待ちしております。

Sōshinsha	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Atesaki	: <m.kobayashi@yoikankyo.co.jp>
Sōshin nichiji	: <nisen jūni nen sangatsu itsuka 09.10>
Kenmei	: Shinki jigyō ni tsuite

Yoi kankyō kabushikigaisha Eigyōbu

Kobayashi Osamu-sama

Ecoshisutemu no Tērā desu.

O-sewa ni natte orimasu.

Sengetsu no mēru no ken ni tsuite, go-renraku itashimasu. Zehi jūgatsu yori sutāto dekireba to susumete orimasu ga, yosan, sukejūru ni tsuite narubeku hayaku, uchiawase shitai to omoimasu.

O-isogashii ka to omoimasu ga, go-kentō, yoroshiku o-negai itashimasu.

O-henji o-machi shite orimasu.

Sender	: <m.taylor@ecosystems.co.jp>
Recipient	: <m.kobayashi@yoikankyo.co.jp>
Date sent	: <5 March 2012 09.10>
Subject	: Re: New Project

Good Environment Co. Ltd., Sales Department

Mr Osamu Kobayashi

This is Taylor of EcoSystems.

We are much obliged to you.

I am contacting you regarding the matter mentioned in my message last month. We really would like to make a start in October if possible and we would like a meeting as soon as possible [to discuss] the budget and the schedule.

I realize you are very busy, but I would appreciate your looking into this.

I look forward to hearing from you.

15.03 More E-mail Language

Now that you have seen some typical e-mails in Japanese and understood how they are constructed, here are some variations you can use on different occasions.

Opening phrases

As we’ve seen in the examples above, it is usual to state the name of the person you are sending the message to, with or without the name of the company and his or her position. If you’re sending the message to several people start with one of these:

• 皆様/会員の皆様/委員会の皆様
Minasama / Kai-in no minasama / linkai no minasama
To everyone / To all members / To all committee members

Then introduce yourself:

• 金英姫です。ソールからメールを送っています。
Kimu Yun Hee desu. Sōru kara mēru o okutte imasu.
It’s Kim Young Hee. I’m sending this message from Seoul.

Then add one of these follow-up phrases, or any of the general phrases given in the opening chapter of this book:

• いつもお世話になっております。
Itsumo o-sewa ni natte orimasu
We are much obliged to you.

• メールありがどうございました。
Mēru arigatō gozaimashita
Thank you for your message.

• 初めてメールさせていただきます。
Hajimete mēru sasete itadakimasu
This is the first time I am contacting you.

Then state the reason for your message, and any other points you want to make.

• 日本滞在の日程について、ご連絡します。
Nihon taizai no nittei ni tsuite, go-renraku shimasu.
I’m contacting you about the schedule for my stay in Japan.

• 先日の会議について、ご報告します。
Senjitsu no kaigi ni tsuite, go-hōkoku shimasu.
This is to report on the meeting the other day.

• 進渉状況について、お知らせします。
Shinchoku jōkyō ni tsuite, o-shirase shimasu.
This is to let you know how things are progressing.

• ご覧になりましたら、ご一報ください。
Go-ran ni narimashitara, go-ippō kudasai.
When you’ve had a look at this, please get in touch.

• お手数です力\折り返しご返信をお願いします。
O-tesū desu ga, orikaeshi go-henshin o o-negai shimasu.
Sorry to trouble you, but please reply by return.

• 返信不要です。
Henshin fuyō desu.
No need to reply

Closing phrases

The message is finished off with the same phrases as those used in traditional letter writing, thanking the recipient, reiterating the nature of the relationship and perhaps briefly stating once more the reason for the message.

• よろしくお願、いします。
Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.
Please give this your kind consideration.

• ご検討/ご協力/よろしくお願いします。
Go-kentō / go-kyōryoku yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.
I ask for your consideration / cooperation.

• まずはメールにてお礼まで/お願いまで/お知らせまで
Mazu wa mēru nite o-rei made / o-negai made / o-shirase made.
This message is to express thanks/to ask a favor/for your information.

15.04 A Notice by E-mail tsūchi 通知

This e-mail, in layout very much like a traditional postcard, shows how to construct an invitation or announcement in Japanese. After the jiko shōkai and the reason for the communication, the details of the event are given in list format under the heading 記 (ki, to write, record).

盆栽協会の皆様

事務局の金英姫です。

お世話になっております。

慣例の忘年会を下記の通り開催いたします。

多数参加されますようご案内申し上げます。

記

日時	12月20曰（土）午後6時より
場所	国際ホテル5階中華レストラン
会費	5000円（タ食、飲み放題）

お手数ですが、出欠席は12月18日までにご連絡ください。

以上、メールにてご案内いたします。

Bonsai kyōkai no minasama

Jimukyoku no Kimu Yun Hee desu.

O-sewa ni natte orimasu.

Kanrei no bōnenkai o kaki no tōri kaisai itashimasu.

Tasū sanka saremasu yō go-annai mōshiagemasu.

Ki

Nichiji	: jūnigatsu hatsuka (do), gogo rokuji yori
ABasho	: Kokusai Hoteru, gokai, Chūka resutoran
AKaihi	: gosen-en (yūshoku, nomi-hōdai)

O-tesū desu ga, shukkesseki wa jūnigatsu jūhachi-nichi made ni go-renraku kudasai.

Ijō, mēru nite go-annai itashimasu.

Members of the Bonsai Society

This is Kim Young Hee, the organizer.

I thank you for your cooperation.

The customary year-end party will be held as shown below.

We hope many people will attend.

Notice

Date and time	: December 20th (Sat.), from 6:00 p.m.
Place	: International Hotel, 5th Floor, Chinese restaurant
Cost	: ¥5,000 (dinner and unlimited drinks)

Please reply by December 18th.

This e-mail is to give you the details above.

15.05 Christmas Cards

Here are some phrases you could include in a card or e-message to friends in Japan. If you want to wish your friends a happy new year, use the phrase (良いお年を) Yoi o-toshi o. The phrase (明けましてお めでどうございます) Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu is used only if the card reaches the recipient on or after January 1.

• ハツピーホリデ一！
ご無沙汰しております。当方、家族そろって元気です。機会 力《あれば、いらしてください。J FK空港から1時間です。良 いお年を。
Happi horidē!
Go-busata shite orimasu. Tōhō kazoku sorotte genki desu. Kikai ga areba, irashite kudasai. JFK kūkō kara ichijikan desu. Yoi o-toshi o.
Happy Holidays!
Sorry not to have been in touch. The family here are all well. Come and see us if you have the chance. We’re an hour from JFK airport. Happy New Year.

• 楽しいクリスマスどすばらしい新年を迎えられますように。
Tanoshii Kurisumasu to subarashii shinnen o mukaeraremasu yō ni.
With all good wishes for a merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.

15.06 Family Newsletter

Here’s an example of family news you could include with your holiday greetings:

家族の近況

マイケル	: 今年こそ体力づくり
エミリ	: 早いもので日本の生活も4年目を迎えます。NPO法人の活勳をしています。
エレナ(9歳）	: すっかり東京弁になりました
ジョン(7歳）	: 野球に夢中です。
カタリン（1歳6ヶ月）	: 水泳が得意です。

Kazoku no kinkyō:

Maikeru	: Kotoshi koso tairyoku-zukuri.
Emiri	: Hayai mono de Nihon no seikatsu mo yo nenme o mukaemasu. NPO hōjin no kat sudō o shite imasu.
Erena (kyūsai)	: Sukkari Tokyo-ben ni narimashita
Jon (nana-sai)	: Yakyū ni muchū desu.
Katarin (issai rokkagetsu)	: Suiei ga tokui desu.

The family news

Michael	: Going to get in shape this year.
Catherine	: Time goes so quickly. This will be our fourth year in Japan. I am working with a non-profit organisation.
Eleanor (9)	: She’s got a Tokyo accent..
John (7)	: He’s mad about baseball.
Catherine (1 year 6 months)	: She’s a good swimmer.

15.07 New Year Cards nengajo 年賀状

New Year cards, when they first appeared in 1873, were written on New Year’s Day, and it is still the custom to date the cards 元旦 gantan, the first of January. This can be slightly confusing since when you write the cards in early December you have to refer to the current year as the old year 昨年 sakunen, and the new year as this year 今年 kotoshi.

Families who have had a death during the year send out cards by the end of November explaining that they will not be sending New Year cards. It is standard practice to forgo sending cards to these families.

Here are two examples of the basic wording on a typical New Year card but the possibilities are infinite.

New Year card 1

1. Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu

2. Honnen mo yoroshiku o-negai mōshiagemasu.

3. Heisei nen gantan

4. Tokyo-to Shibuya-ku Ebisu 6-chome 5 – 4, 204

5. Rin Bun Ho

1. Happy New Year.

2. Looking forward to continuing our acquaintance this year.

3. New Year’s Day, the th year of Heisei

4. 204, 6 – 5 – 4 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

5. Lin Wenbao

New Year Card 2

1. Kinga Shinnen

2. Honnen mo shiawase ōki toshi de arimasu yō

3. kokoro kara o-inori mōshiagemasu.

4. Heisei nen gantan

5. Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Ichiban-chō, rokuchōme 2 – 2 Pāku Manshon 302-gō

1. Happy New Year

2–3. With sincere wishes for a very happy new year

4. New Year’s Day, the th year of Heisei

5. 302 Park Mansion, 6 – 2 – 2 Ichiban-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai

Here’s a selection of phrases you could handwrite on the cards if you want to—just to make them a bit more personal:

• お元気ですか。お幸せな年でありますように。
O-genki desu ka? O-shiawase na toshi de arimasu yō ni.
How are you? Hope it will be a happy year for you.

• 今年はぜひお会いしたいですね。
Kotoshi wa zehi o-ai shitai desu ne.
>I really hope we can get together this year.

• 遊びにいらしてください。
Asobi ni irashite kudasai.
Please come and see us

• ご健勝をお祈りいたします。
Go-kenshō o o-inori itashimasu.
Wishing you the best of health.

• 昨年はお世話になりました。今年もよろしくお願いいたし ます。
Sakunen wa o-sewa ni narimashita. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
We were much indebted to you last year. We look forward to continuing our relationship this year.

• 今年もますますのご活躍を祈っております。
Kotoshi mo masu-masu no go-katsuyaku o inotte orimasu.
Wishing you an even better (business) year this year.

What should you do if you receive a card from someone you didn’t send one to? Simply send the person a card, including at the end of your usual holiday message this note:

• 早々どお年賀をいただき、ありがどうございました。
Haya-baya to o-nenga o itadaki, arigatō gozaimashita.
Thank you for your [early] New Year card.

15.08 Formal Postcards hagaki 葉書

Notes of thanks are traditionally written on postcards and if you have Japanese software you can choose an attractive font and produce perfectly acceptable cards. The standard card measures 148 mm by 100 mm and you should aim for seven or eight lines with between sixteen to nineteen characters per line. In this example which is traditional and quite formal, a woman writes to express thanks for a gift. The closing word, kashiko, which roughly translates as “sincerely”, is used only by women; men should use 早々 sōsō or 敬具 keigu.

Formal postcard

Atsusa kibishii ori, o-kawari naku o-sukoyaka ni o-sugoshi no koto to zonjimasu. Senjitsu wa mezurashii mono o itadaki, kazoku de ōyorokobi itashimashita. Itsumo o-kokoro ni kakete itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu. Mina-sama mo o-karada o taisetsu ni o-sugoshi kudasai.

Mazu wa o-rei made.

Kashiko

I am glad to hear that you are well and in good health despite the extreme heat.

The whole family was overjoyed to receive your wonderful gift the other day. We are happy to know that you are always thinking of us. Please take care of yourselves.

With our thanks.

Sincerely,

15.09 Addressing Postcards

With postcards, the addresses of both the recipient and the sender usually go on the same side of the card. Fortunately, these too are a cinch with the right software.

Address side of formal postcard

Tokyo-to Minato-ku Shirogane nana-chōme go no san Suzuki Yoshiko-sama

Tokyo-to Nakano-ku Nakano san- chōme jūroku no yon Tērā Emiri

Mrs Yoshiko Suzuki

7 – 5 – 3 Shirogane, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Emily Taylor

3 – 16 – 4 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

15.10 Formal Letters tegami 手紙

Japanese letters differ from English letters in many ways. The name of the recipient and the date come at the end of a letter instead of at the beginning, and letters usually open with cryptic seasonal greetings that poetically allude to the burgeoning green of spring or the fresh snowfall on distant mountaintops. Personal letters which were often works of art both in the feelings expressed and in the calligraphy and overall layout on the paper are now, sadly, a rarity. The language of the traditional letter lives on in formal business correspondence although these are arid by comparison: the writing is horizontal left to right, the seasonal greetings selected by the computer according to the date, and the letters printed out on A4 paper. Non-native speakers will probably not have to write such letters, so I restrict my comments to an explanation of the form and give examples of letters you might write to friends and acquaintances.

Salutations

Salutations are not essential in Japanese letters. But in more formal letters especially, different salutations, all of which correspond to the English “Dear – ” are used depending on the type of letter. These are the two most common:

Haikei 拝啓 Respectfully

Used on formal letters and postcards. Women use this only when they write business letters. The corresponding closing word is 敬具 Keigu Respectfully yours

Zenryaku 前略 Preliminaries omitted

Used on short letters and postcards. You don’t need to follow it with a seasonal greeting. The corresponding closing word is 早々 (sōsō In haste), although women sometimes use かしこ (kashiko with respect) or さようなら (Sayōnara goodbye).

Opening Phrases

These phrases may be used after or instead of the salutation:

• はじめてお手紙を差し上げます。
Hajimete o-tegami o sashi-agemasu.
This is the first time that I am writing to you.

• たいへんご無沙汰しております力\お変わりありませんか。
Taihen go-busata shite orimasu ga, o-kawari arimasen ka?
I’m sorry not to have written. I hope all is well.

Next comes a seasonal greeting, often followed by an inquiry into the other person’s health, for example:

• だんだん春めいてきました力\お変わりなくお過ごしでし ょう力、。
Dan-dan haru-meite kimashita ga, o-kawari naku o-sugoshi desho ka?
It’s getting more like spring; I hope you are well.

• ワシントンは桜が満開です。
Washinton wa sakura ga mankai desu.
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Washington.

• 初夏のような暖かさが続いております。
Shoka no yō na atatakasa ga tsuzuite orimasu.
The weather has been warm, as if it were early summer.

• 書中お見舞い申し上げます。
Shochū o-mimai mōshi-agemasu.
Midsummer greetings. (July and August)

• 残暑お見舞い申し上げます。
Zansho o-mimai mōshi-agemasu.
Late summer greetings. (late August through early September)

• 東京は蒸し暑い曰が続いています力《、いかがお過ごしでしょ うか。
Tōkyō wa mushi-atsui hi ga tsuzuite imasu ga, ikaga o-sugoshi desho ka?
It has been so hot and humid in Tokyo recently, how are you?

• ニューイングランドも見事な紅葉になりました。
Nyū Ingurando mo migoto na kōyō ni narimashita.
The colors of the leaves in New England have become very beautiful.

• すでに師走どなりました。
Sude ni shiwasu to narimashita.
It’s already the end of the year.

This greeting could be used at any time of the year:

• 不順なお天気/良い天気が続いています。
Fujun na o-tenki / yoi tenki ga tsuzuite imasu.
The weather has been very unpredictable / The weather has been good.

Main text

Then use one of these phrases to signal the start of the main text of the letter:

• さて、
Sate,
Well,

• 早速ですが、
Sassoku desu ga,
To get to the point,

• 実はお願いがあります力\
Jitsu wa o-negai ga arimasu ga.
Actually I have a request to make,

Closing Phrases

Phrases such as these are used to bring the card or letter to a close:

• くれぐれもお体をお大切に。
Kuregure-mo o-karada o o-taisetsu ni.
Please take good care of yourself.

• まずはお礼まで/お願いまで/お知らせまで。
Mazu wa o-rei made/o-negai made/o-shirase made.
Just to express thanks/to ask a favor/to let you know.

• お元汛で。
O-genki de.
Take care.

• 皆様/お父様/患子さんによろしく。
Mina-sama/Otōsama/Keiko-san ni yoroshiku.
Please give my regards to everyone/your father/Keiko.

• 乱筆乱文お許しください。
Ranpitsu ranbun o-yurushi kudasai.
Forgive my terrible handwriting and poor grammar.

15.11 Thank you Letters

Sometimes only a letter will do. James writes to thank his professor for helping him with his research.

This letter illustrates some of the finer points of letter-writing. Note that the word I私は “I” is written at the bottom of a line, while the word 先生 “teacher” is written at the top of a line. It is also the custom to use at least two sheets of paper so the postscript and date have been taken on to a second page.

Zenryaku

Minasama o-kawari-naku o-sugoshi no koto to zonjimasu. Watashi wa sakujitsu, buji ni Chūgoku ni kaette mairimashita. Ninen-buri ni kuni ni kaette chotto tomadoi o kanjite imasu.

Sate, Nihon taizai-chū wa, o-isogashii ni mo kakawarazu o-sewa itadaki arigatō gozaimashita. Atsuku on-rei mōshi-agemasu. Toku ni, Sensei no go-shinsetsu na go-shidō wa wasureraremasen. Wazuka na jikan de jūjitsu shita kenkyū ga dekimashita. Iro-iro to arigatō gozaimashita.

Shanhai e irassharu koto ga arimashitara, zehi go-renraku kudasai.

Dōka, mina-sama o-genki de o-sugoshi kudasai.

Sōsō

Heisei nen shigatsu tōka

Rin Bun Ho

Yamada Akira sensei

Tsuishin: Renrakusaki wa shibaraku jikka to narimasu.

Preliminaries omitted,

I hope you are all well. The other day, I returned safely to China. It feels a little strange to be back in my native place after being away for two years.

Thank you very much, especially considering that you were so busy, for all your help during my stay in Japan. I will never forget your kind guidance. Indeed, I was able to do some very thorough research in only a short time. Thank you for everything.

If you come to Shanghai, please be sure to let me know. I hope all of you stay in good health.

In haste.

10th April th year of Heisei

Lin Wenbao

Yamada Akira sensei

P.S. My contact address for the time being will be my parents’ home.

15.12 Letter to a Friend

Emily, back in the States, writes to an older woman who used to be her neighbor.

Tōkyō wa samui hi ga tsuzuite iru koto deshō. Ikaga o-sugoshi desu ka?

O-henji o kakō to omoinagara, tsui kaki-sobirete shimaimashita. O-yurushi kudasai.

Watashitachi wa mina genki desu. Maikeru wa shigoto o kae, ima, jieigyō no konsaru desu. Shutchō ga ōku nari hito to au kikai ga fueta koto mo tanoshii yō desu.

Kugatsu ni Jon ga haien de, ikkagetsu chikaku nyūin shimashita. Ima wa mō sukkari yoku nari, gakkō seikatsu o tanoshinde imasu. Haha wa hachijussai no tanjōbi o mukaemasita ga, genki desu. Yoroshiku to no koto desu. Watashi wa saikin shashin ni kyōmi o mochihajimete imasu.

Dōzo, o-karada ni o-ki o tsukete, o-sukoyaka ni o-sugoshi kudasai. O-jikan ga arimashitara, o-tayori kudasai.

Sayōnara

Heisei nen jūnigatsu mikka

Tērā Emiri

Hayashi Chizuko

It must be cold in Tokyo now. How are you?

I’ve been meaning to write back to you, but I just never got around to it. I’m very sorry.

We are all well. Michael has changed his job and is now a self employed consultant. He’s often away on business and gets the chance to meet many people which he seems to enjoy.

In September, John got pneumonia and was in the hospital for nearly a month. He’s completely recovered and is now enjoying school life.

My mother has had her 80th birthday but she is well. She sends her regards. As for myself, I’ve recently become interested in photography.

Please take care of yourself and keep well. If you have time, do write.

Goodbye

Emily Taylor

Hayashi Chizuko

15.13 Addressing Envelopes

The standard size for envelopes in Japan is 20.5 cm by 9 cm. The sender’s name and address are written on the back of the envelope.

Front of envelope

Kyōto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Kiyomizu 2-129
Ōba Ichirō-sama

Back of envelope

Shigatsu tōka
Tōkyō-to, Minato-ku, Azabu-dai 1-10-1-303
Mitcheru Robāto

Front of envelope

Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Kiyomizu 2 – 129
Ōba Ichirō-sama

Back of envelope

Shigatsu tōka
Tōkyō-to, Minato-ku, Azabu-dai 1-10-1-303
Mitcheru Robāto

15.14 Words and Expressions

E-MAIL
sōshin	送信	send, send button
tenpu (suru)	添付（する）	attachment, to attach
sōfu suru	送付する	to send
haritsuke	貼り付け	paste
LETTERS
tegami	手紙	letter
tayori	便り	news, letter
hagaki	はがき	postcard
kansei hagaki	官製はがき	prestamped postcard
fūtō	封筒	envelope
nengajō	年賀状	New Year cards
tōkan suru/posuto ni ireru	投函する・ポストに 入れる	to mail a letter
henji	返事	reply
shūji	習字	handwriting
shodō	書道	calligraphy