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How to address Japanese professionals in Russian correspondence visualisation

How to address Japanese professionals in Russian correspondence

Excel in Russian Email Writing with Our Professional Templates: How to address Japanese professionals in Russian correspondence
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To address Japanese professionals in Russian correspondence, the best approach combines Russian formal business etiquette and respect for Japanese naming and honorific traditions.

Address Format

  • In Russian formal letters, it is customary to use “Уважаемый” (Dear/respected) plus the full name, including first name and patronymic, to show respect. For example, “Уважаемый Такэда Сан” (Dear Takeda-san) or “Уважаемый господин Такэда” (Dear Mr. Takeda).
  • For Japanese names, always keep the surname first and add the Japanese honorific “san” directly after the surname. The honorific “san” is widely accepted in business and shows respect equivalent to “Mr.” or “Ms.” in English.
  • If the Japanese professional has a specific title, such as “shachou” (company president) or “sensei” (teacher/professor), you can use the Russian equivalent title followed by the surname or include the Japanese title with the surname.

Typical Greeting Line

  • Start your letter or email with “Уважаемый господин Такэда” (Dear Mr. Takeda) or “Уважаемая госпожа Такэда” (Dear Ms. Takeda) if gender is known.
  • If you wish to keep the Japanese formality, use “Уважаемый Такэда-сан” combining Russian formal salute with the Japanese honorific.
  • Avoid using only the first name in formal correspondence.

Cultural Notes

  • Russian business correspondence values formality, clear titles, and full names to show respect.
  • Japanese business etiquette emphasizes the use of last names with honorifics like “san”; failure to use these may be viewed as disrespectful.
  • Direct eye contact and firm handshakes are common in Russian business but may be more restrained in Japanese culture; in writing, this translates to clearly showing respect through formal address.

Closing

  • Use formal closings in Russian such as “С уважением,” (With respect,) followed by your full name and position.

By combining these etiquette practices—using Russian formal address conventions with Japanese name order plus the honorific “-san”—one ensures respectful and culturally appropriate correspondence with Japanese professionals in Russian. This approach shows both cultural sensitivity and adherence to formal Russian business letter standards.

References

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