#japanese business
Kaizen is a Japanese term meaning “change for the better” or “continuous improvement.” It is the Japanese business philosophy of continuously improving operations. Kaizen sees improvement in productivity as a gradual and methodical process.
The kaizen concept asserts that there is no perfect end. Everything can be improved upon, and all employees must strive to evolve and innovate constantly.
Check out the accompanying YouTube video here!
On Episode 2 of the Writing Business Japanese Series, we’re going to check inventory, or stock levels. This email can be used and adjusted when you’re looking to place an order for a large quantity of products from a company who you have been in touch with in the past, but want to make sure they have it in stock.
Subject: 〇〇の在庫についての問い合わせ
田中 様
いつもお世話になっております。
（株）BENKYOGOの山田です。
早速ですが、〇〇の在庫についてお問い合わせしたく
ご連絡させていただきました。
つきましては１００個注文したいのですが、
在庫はございますでしょうか。
急なお願いで大変恐縮ですが、折り返しご回答よろしくお願いいたします。
山田
Let’s take a look at the mail in more detail.
Subject: 〇〇の在庫についての問い合わせ
The subject line should be short and sweet. We use 問い合わせ here to mean ‘enquiry’. In an email’s subject, you can use the phrase [insert topic]についての問い合わせ to give a clear idea about what your enquiry is.
いつもお世話にっております。
This literally means something like “You’re taking care of me”, but in business terms it’s a standard greeting. “ーておます” is used here, which indicates this is a business relationship that is already established. If you are making a new connection, it is sometimes better to say ‘お世話になります’.
（株）BENKYOGOの山田です。
（株）here is the shortened version of 株式会社 – incorporated company. When talking about your own company, you can use the shortened version, but be sure to use the full version when referring to another company.
早速ですが、〇〇の在庫についてお問い合わせしたく
ご連絡させていただきました。
Once again we are using 問い合わせ, however, here we are using it as a verb. We are actually saying, “I want to enquire about…[insert topic], so I’ve contacted you”. However, in order to link the new sentences, we use the stem form of したい which becomes したく.
ご連絡させていただきました literally means “you have given me permission to contact you”, but in reality it is a polite way of saying “so, I’m contacting you.”
つきましては１００個注文したいのですが、
在庫はございますでしょうか。
State how many items you need. Then, ask if they have it in stock. ございます is both the humble and respectful form of ある – to have. Therefore you can say:
蔵庫がございます – “we have the stock”, when talking to a customer,
or 蔵庫はございますか – “do you have the stock?”, when talking to a vendor.
急なお願いで大変恐縮ですが、折り返しご回答よろしくお願いいたします。
Finally we apologise for the sudden request (急なお願い) and request their response (折り返しご回答).
折り返し means return, and is used most commonly in the phrase – 折り返しお電話いただけますか。- “could you call me back?”
Here it means, could you return your answer to my enquiry? i.e. can you reply to me?
在庫 stock, inventory
問い合わせ enquiry
お世話になる: I’m indebted to you
株式会社 incorporated company
（株）short for 株式会社
早速 sudden
ご連絡 contact (formal)
注文 order
ございます keigo form of the verb ある
急なお願い sudden request
大変 extremely
恐縮 sorry
折り返し return
ご回答 (your) reponse (polite)
