よろしくお願いします
ご契約の暁には
しっかり担当させていただきますので
This episode focuses on formal business Japanese used in sales pitches, contract negotiations, and professional commitments. You’ll learn polite request language, formal conditional expressions, and humble language for expressing dedication to a client – essential vocabulary for business Japanese.
✅ Learn essential business request phrases
✅ Master formal conditional expressions
✅ Practice humble language for professional commitments
Introduction
In this lesson, we explore formal business Japanese commonly used when salespeople or representatives are trying to secure a contract or business relationship. These expressions demonstrate the polite, humble language essential in Japanese business culture, showing respect to potential clients while expressing commitment and dedication to their needs.
よろしくお願いします
Meaning & Usage
This essential phrase requests someone’s favorable cooperation, care, or consideration. In business contexts, it’s used when asking for a contract, partnership, or continued relationship.
よろしく – well, favorably, kindly
お願いします (おねがいします) – please, I request
Literally “please treat this favorably,” but functions as a versatile request for goodwill and cooperation.
Translation
In business contexts:
- Please consider this favorably
- We look forward to working with you
- Thank you for your consideration
- We humbly request your cooperation
Examples
この度はよろしくお願いします。
→ Thank you for your consideration this time.
今後ともよろしくお願いします。
→ We look forward to continuing to work with you.
ぜひよろしくお願いします。
→ We sincerely ask for your favorable consideration.
Business Context Usage
Opening a sales pitch:
- 本日はよろしくお願いします – Thank you for your time today
Closing a proposal:
- ご検討のほど、よろしくお願いします – Please kindly consider this
After signing agreements:
- 今後ともよろしくお願いします – We look forward to our continued relationship
Requesting action:
- ご確認よろしくお願いします – Please kindly confirm
Formality Variations
Standard business:
- よろしくお願いします (our phrase)
More formal:
- よろしくお願いいたします – (humble form)
- どうぞよろしくお願いいたします – (extra polite)
Very formal/written:
- 何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます (なにとぞ) – I humbly request
ご契約の暁には
Meaning & Usage
This formal phrase means “when/if the contract is concluded” or “upon signing the contract.” It’s used to describe what will happen after a successful agreement, often in sales presentations.
ご – honorific prefix
契約 (けいやく) – contract
の暁には (のあかつきには) – when the time comes, upon the occasion of
This is elevated, formal business language rarely used in casual speech.
Translation
- Upon signing the contract
- When the contract is concluded
- Once we have a contract
- If/when we reach an agreement
Examples
ご契約の暁には、専任担当者がつきます。
→ Upon signing the contract, you will have a dedicated representative.
ご契約の暁には、特別割引を提供いたします。
→ Once we have a contract, we will offer a special discount.
ご契約の暁には、迅速に対応させていただきます。
→ Upon signing, we will respond promptly.
Understanding 暁には (あかつきには)
暁 (あかつき) – dawn, daybreak (literary/formal)
の暁には – upon the occasion of, when the time comes for
Literal meaning:
- 暁 originally means “dawn”
- Metaphorically represents “the moment when something is achieved”
- の暁には = “at the dawn of” = “upon achieving/completing”
Formality level:
- Very formal, business/written Japanese
- Rarely used in everyday conversation
- Common in proposals, contracts, formal presentations
Similar Conditional Expressions
Casual to formal progression:
Casual:
- 契約したら – If we sign the contract
- 契約すれば – If we sign the contract
Standard polite:
- ご契約いただければ – If you would sign the contract
- ご契約の場合には – In the case of signing
Very formal (our phrase):
- ご契約の暁には – Upon the occasion of contract signing
Related Formal Time Expressions
〜の際には (のさいには) – On the occasion of
〜の折には (のおりには) – At the time of (formal)
〜した暁には – Upon achieving/completing
成功の暁には (せいこうのあかつきには) – Upon success
完成の暁には (かんせいのあかつきには) – Upon completion
しっかり担当させていただきますので
Meaning & Usage
This phrase humbly expresses commitment to responsibly handle or be in charge of something, using humble causative-passive form. It shows dedication while maintaining appropriate business humility.
しっかり – firmly, reliably, properly
担当 (たんとう) – being in charge, responsible for
させていただきます – humbly do (causative-passive humble form)
ので – because, so (connecting reason)
Translation
- Since I will responsibly handle this
- Because I will be firmly in charge
- As I will reliably take responsibility
- Since I will properly manage this
Understanding させていただきます
This is one of the most important humble expressions in Japanese business language.
Formation breakdown:
Base verb:
- 担当する (たんとうする) – to be in charge of
Causative form:
- 担当させる – to make/let (someone) be in charge
Causative + いただく (humble receive):
- 担当させていただく – humbly be allowed to be in charge
Polite form:
- 担当させていただきます – I humbly do (with permission implied)
Nuance: This structure shows extreme humility, implying “I am grateful for the opportunity to be allowed to do this,” even though you’re the one offering the service.
Why This Humble Form?
Cultural logic:
- Positions the client as granting permission
- Shows respect and gratitude
- Avoids sounding presumptuous
- Standard in Japanese business culture
Literal breakdown:
- させる (causative) – to make/allow to do
- いただく (humble) – to receive (humbly)
- Together: “I humbly receive the allowance to do this”
Common させていただきます Patterns
In business:
- 担当させていただきます – I will be in charge (humbly)
- 説明させていただきます – I will explain (humbly)
- 対応させていただきます – I will respond/handle (humbly)
- ご連絡させていただきます – I will contact you (humbly)
Formal requests:
- 確認させていただきます – I will confirm (humbly)
- 検討させていただきます – I will consider (humbly)
Understanding しっかり
しっかり – firmly, properly, reliably, solidly
Usage contexts:
- しっかり勉強する – Study properly/hard
- しっかりつかむ – Grip firmly
- しっかりした人 – Reliable person
- しっかり担当する – Handle responsibly
In business context: Shows commitment to doing thorough, reliable work
The ので Connector
ので – because, since (softer than から)
Comparing ので and から:
- から – more direct, can sound assertive
- ので – softer, more polite, shows objective reasoning
In business Japanese: ので is preferred for its gentler, more objective tone
Related Business Commitment Phrases
責任を持って (せきにんをもって) – With responsibility
誠意を持って (せいいをもって) – With sincerity
全力を尽くします (ぜんりょくをつくします) – I will give my all
尽力いたします (じんりょくいたします) – I will make every effort
精一杯対応します (せいいっぱいたいおうします) – I will respond to the best of my ability
Putting It All Together
Complete Business Context
These three phrases often appear together in sales presentations or contract discussions, forming a complete polite request:
Structure:
- よろしくお願いします – General request for consideration
- ご契約の暁には – Describing post-contract benefits
- しっかり担当させていただきますので – Committing to dedicated service
Natural flow example:
本日はよろしくお願いします。ご契約の暁には、私がしっかり担当させていただきますので、どうぞご安心ください。
Thank you for your time today. Upon signing the contract, I will responsibly handle everything, so please rest assured.
Common Mistakes
❌ Using casual language in business proposals
Wrong: 契約したら、担当するよ
Correct: ご契約の暁には、担当させていただきます
Business contexts require formal, humble language
❌ Confusing させていただきます with simple します
Less humble: 担当します – I will be in charge
More humble: 担当させていただきます – I humbly will be in charge
The humble form shows more respect and gratitude
❌ Overusing暁には in casual contexts
Too formal for casual: 明日暁には会いましょう
Natural casual: 明日会いましょう
暁には is reserved for very formal business/written contexts
❌ Missing ので for reason
Incomplete: しっかり担当させていただきます。ご安心ください。
Better connected: しっかり担当させていただきますので、ご安心ください。
ので connects the reason smoothly
Practice Dialogue
Scenario: Sales presentation for a contract
営業: 本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。よろしくお願いします。
お客様: こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。
営業: ご契約の暁には、専任スタッフがつき、24時間サポートいたします。
お客様: それは心強いですね。
営業: はい、私がしっかり担当させていただきますので、どうぞご安心ください。
お客様: わかりました。では、検討させていただきます。
営業: ありがとうございます。よろしくお願いします。
Sales rep: Thank you for your time today. We look forward to working with you.
Customer: Likewise, thank you.
Sales rep: Upon signing the contract, you will have a dedicated staff member providing 24-hour support.
Customer: That’s reassuring.
Sales rep: Yes, I will personally and responsibly handle everything, so please rest assured.
Customer: I understand. Well, I will consider it.
Sales rep: Thank you very much. We appreciate your consideration.
Cultural Notes
Japanese Business Language Culture
This episode’s phrases exemplify key aspects of Japanese business communication:
Humble Self-Presentation: The extensive use of humble forms (させていただきます) reflects the cultural value of appearing modest even when confident in one’s abilities, positioning the service as a privilege rather than an obligation.
Client-Centered Language: Phrases like ご契約の暁には and よろしくお願いします consistently center the client’s decision and goodwill, avoiding pushy or presumptuous language.
Formality Signals Respect: The use of formal, sometimes archaic-sounding expressions (暁には) in business contexts signals seriousness and respect for the business relationship, even though such language would sound unusual in casual conversation.
Long-term Relationship Focus: よろしくお願いします often implies not just the immediate transaction but hope for continued positive relationship (今後とも – from now on too), reflecting Japan’s relationship-oriented business culture.
Commitment Language: しっかり担当させていただきます shows the Japanese business value of demonstrating personal accountability and dedication, reassuring clients through explicit commitment statements.
When to Use This Register
This formal business language is appropriate for:
- Sales presentations
- Contract negotiations
- Client meetings
- Formal business correspondence
- Professional service commitments
Too formal for:
- Casual workplace conversation
- Communication with close colleagues
- Informal team discussions
Wrap-up
This episode covered essential formal business Japanese used in sales and contract contexts. よろしくお願いします politely requests favorable consideration, ご契約の暁には formally describes what happens upon contract signing, and しっかり担当させていただきますので humbly commits to dedicated, responsible service.
Together, these phrases demonstrate the sophisticated politeness levels required in Japanese business culture – balancing confidence in one’s services with appropriate humility, while building trust through formal commitment language. Mastering these expressions is essential for anyone working in or communicating with Japanese business contexts.