You have an interview invitation in Japanese, but is the date confirmed or are you being asked to choose one? Look first for 候補日 (proposed dates) versus 確定 (confirmed), then check the reply deadline, venue or online link, and what to bring. Reply in the same email thread or hiring platform unless the message says otherwise.
Japanese words in an interview invitation
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning and action |
|---|---|---|
| 面接日程のご案内 | mensetsu nittei no go-annai | Interview schedule information; read on to see whether it is a proposal or confirmation. |
| 候補日・ご都合のよい日時 | kōho-bi / go-tsugō no yoi nichiji | Proposed dates / times that work for you; select or suggest availability. |
| 下記よりお選びください | kaki yori o-erabi kudasai | Please choose from the options below. |
| 日時が確定しました | nichiji ga kakutei shimashita | The date and time are confirmed. |
| ご返信期限 | go-henshin kigen | Deadline to reply. |
| 集合場所・受付 | shūgō basho / uketsuke | Meeting point / reception desk; may differ from the building address. |
| オンライン面接・接続先 | onrain mensetsu / setsuzoku-saki | Online interview / meeting link or connection details. |
| 持ち物・提出書類 | mochimono / teishutsu shorui | Items to bring / documents to submit. |
| 所要時間 | shoyō jikan | Expected duration, not necessarily the start time. |
| 一次面接・二次面接 | ichiji mensetsu / niji mensetsu | First / second interview round. |
Check the details before you reply
- Find the requested action. 「ご希望の日時をお知らせください」 asks for your availability. 「以下の日程で確定いたしました」 announces a confirmed appointment. An automated message may say 「返信不要」 (no reply needed).
- Check date and time. Read the year, month, day, weekday and time together. For example, 「10月8日（木）14:00開始」 means an October 8, Thursday, 2 p.m. start in the example year; check the year and weekday in the actual message. If you are outside Japan, confirm the time zone instead of assuming.
- Check the place or connection details. For an in-person meeting, save the building, floor, reception instructions and contact number. For an online meeting, look for the link, meeting ID, password and any instructions to test your connection. A link may arrive in a later message, so ask if it is missing close to the appointment.
- Check preparation and deadline. Look for documents, a portfolio, identification, a test or a demo lesson. Do not send sensitive documents to an unfamiliar address without verifying the sender through the employer’s official contact route.
For a job found through Hello Work, communication may happen in the applicant’s account message function. Hello Work’s applicant guide says that applicants can send messages to coordinate interview dates and ask questions. Follow the channel given for your own application.
Three short replies you can adapt
Accept one proposed slot:
採用ご担当者様
お世話になっております。面接のご案内をいただき、ありがとうございます。
10月8日（木）14時からの面接を希望いたします。
どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
［氏名］
This says: Thank you for the invitation. I would like the October 8, 2 p.m. slot. Replace the date with the one in your actual email. If the sender gave several options, identify the selected one unambiguously.
None of the proposed times works:
ご案内ありがとうございます。恐れ入りますが、ご提示いただいた日程は都合がつきません。
以下の日時でしたら調整可能です。
・10月9日（金）10時〜12時
・10月13日（火）14時以降
ご検討いただけますと幸いです。
［氏名］
Offer two or three specific windows. These are examples, not a required business format.
Ask for missing online details:
10月8日（木）14時からのオンライン面接について承知いたしました。
接続先のURLは別途ご案内いただけますでしょうか。
よろしくお願いいたします。
［氏名］
If plans change
Contact the recruiter as soon as you know you cannot attend. State the appointment you are changing and offer new times. If the interview is imminent, use the contact method in the invitation; a phone number may be more useful than an unread email. Do not assume a suggested alternative is booked until the employer confirms it.
An interview invitation is a step in selection, not a job offer. After the interview, a message headed 内定 has a different meaning: see our guide to a Japanese job offer email. Before applying, our job listing guide helps you check the role, and the rirekisho guide helps with the application form. Teaching roles can also involve a demo lesson; follow the employer’s instructions for that round.
