Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Communication
奥の席が上座ですので、田中部長、どうぞ。 — The seat farthest from the door is the seat of honor — Manager Tanaka, please. (Cultural · Communication, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N3)
You
奥の席が上座ですので、田中部長、どうぞ。
おくのせきがかみざですので、たなかぶちょう、どうぞ。
The seat farthest from the door is the seat of honor — Manager Tanaka, please.
Romaji: Oku no seki ga kamiza desu node, Tanaka-buchou, douzo. / Reply Romaji: Arigatou. Jaa, okotoba ni amaete.
Reply
ありがとう。じゃあ、お言葉に甘えて。
ありがとう。じゃあ、おことばにあまえて。
Thank you. I'll take you up on that, then.
Gesture & etiquette
Hang back at the door as junior. Guide the senior with an open palm (never finger-point) toward the kamiza. Sit only after seniors are seated. In taxis: kamiza is behind the driver, shimoza is front passenger.
上座下座 (kamiza/shimoza) is hierarchical seating ingrained in Japanese business and family etiquette. Kamiza: farthest from the entrance, often facing the room. Shimoza: nearest the door (junior handles interruptions). Meeting rooms, restaurant tatami, taxis, elevators all have implicit hierarchy. Foreigners are often offered kamiza as guests — accept with 'お言葉に甘えて' rather than refusing.