Formal to Client
Workplace · Phone
You
突然のお電話で失礼いたします。ご担当者様はいらっしゃいますでしょうか。
とつぜんのおでんわでしつれいいたします。ごたんとうしゃさまはいらっしゃいますでしょうか。
I'm sorry for calling out of the blue. May I speak with the person in charge?
Romaji: Totsuzen no o-denwa de shitsurei itashimasu. Go-tantōsha-sama wa irasshaimasu deshō ka. / Reply Romaji: Dōiu go-yōken deshō ka.
Reply
どういったご用件でしょうか？
どういったごようけんでしょうか？
What is the nature of your call?
Gesture & etiquette
Speak clearly and at a measured pace. After asking for the person in charge, be ready with a concise 15-second purpose statement. If asked to call back, note the exact time and contact name, and call precisely at that time — promptness signals reliability.
Opening an unsolicited call with an apology ('突然...失礼いたします') immediately signals self-awareness and respect for the person's time. Without this prefix, cold calls can feel rude in Japanese business culture. Be ready to clearly state your name, company, and purpose within the next two sentences.