Polite to Colleague
Workplace · Meeting
You
それでは始めましょうか。本日のアジェンダを確認させてください。
それでははじめましょうか。ほんじつのアジェンダをかくにんさせてください。
Shall we get started then. Let me go through today's agenda.
Romaji: Soredewa hajimemashou ka. Honjitsu no ajenda wo kakunin sasete kudasai. / Reply Romaji: Hai, douzo.
Reply
はい、どうぞ。
はい、どうぞ。
Yes, please go ahead.
Gesture & etiquette
Stand or sit with upright posture when opening a meeting. Make eye contact around the room before speaking — this collects everyone's attention. Speak at a measured pace and pause briefly after each agenda item to check for questions.
「それでは」(well then / in that case) is a soft transition phrase that signals the meeting is formally beginning. Reviewing the agenda out loud at the start aligns everyone on purpose and timeline — critical in Japanese meetings where staying on topic and on schedule is valued. Always end the agenda review with: 「以上でよろしいでしょうか？」(Does this look alright?)