Formal to Client
Workplace · Email
謹んで新春のお慶びを申し上げます。本年も変わらぬご厚誼を賜りますようお願い申し上げます。 — We respectfully extend our New Year greetings. We humbly ask for your continued kindness this year as well. (Workplace · Email, Formal to Client, JLPT N2)
You
謹んで新春のお慶びを申し上げます。本年も変わらぬご厚誼を賜りますようお願い申し上げます。
つつしんでしんしゅんのおよろこびをもうしあげます。ほんねんもかわらぬごこうぎをたまわりますようおねがいもうしあげます。
We respectfully extend our New Year greetings. We humbly ask for your continued kindness this year as well.
Romaji: Tsutsushinde shinshun no oyorokobi wo moushiagemasu. Honnen mo kawaranu gokougi wo tamawarimasu you onegai moushiagemasu. / Reply Romaji: Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. Honnen mo douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Reply
明けましておめでとうございます。本年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
あけましておめでとうございます。ほんねんもどうぞよろしくおねがいいたします。
Happy New Year. We humbly ask for your continued favor this year as well.
Gesture & etiquette
Written communication. If meeting clients in early January, accompany the email with an in-person 賀詞交換 (gashi-koukan, New Year greeting exchange) using deep 45-degree bow. Hold business card with both hands if first meeting of the year.
Japanese business New Year greetings (sent the first working day of January) use elevated keigo. 「謹んで」 means 'respectfully/reverently'. Avoid 「明けましておめでとうございます」 in formal B2B email—it's too casual. Avoid the word 「去る」 (depart, leaves) when referring to the previous year as it evokes parting; use 「昨年」 instead of 「去年」.