ScheduledBusiness Japanese Communication Starting with Small Talk

Business interactions don’t always start straight with the main agenda. Casual chat with colleagues or a polite word with a client often serves as a crucial catalyst for building trust. This course focuses on "Small Talk" (Zatsudan) in business communication, explaining its role and effects. We will introduce specific vocabulary, expressions, and strategies to help Japanese learners become good at small talk and keep conversations flowing naturally.

Lecturer
Takafumi SHIMIZU/ Professor (Sophia University)

Graduated from Waseda University Faculty of Law. Completed a Master's degree in East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Illinois Graduate School, followed by a Master's degree in Education at Harvard University Graduate School. Earned a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from the University of London Graduate School. Held positions including Lecturer at Stanford University before assuming current role.
Author of numerous books including The True Nature of Small Talk: Why It's Not “Small” at All, but Crucial Communication; Sharpen Your Communication Skills: Brush-Up Japanese Conversation for Intermediate-Advanced Learners; and the Japanese Small Talk Master series.
Long-term research focuses on the acquisition and development of communication skills among Japanese language learners from the perspectives of pragmatics and discourse analysis. Has made numerous proposals, both practical and theoretical, regarding the role of casual conversation in fostering mutual understanding and relationship building.

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* Various payment methods are available. About payment method
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* Preliminary materials, lecture materials, and lecture videos may not be available.
* The viewing deadline for lecture materials and videos is 7 days including the date on which they became available for viewing. (*It will be available within 7 days from the course date.)
* In order to attend the course, you need to answer the pre-questionnaire. To view the materials on the day, you need to complete both the pre-questionnaire and the post-attendance questionnaire. The deadline for answering the post-attendance questionnaire is 7 days, including the day of the lecture.

Course introduction
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Course outline

Lecture nameBusiness Japanese Communication Starting with Small Talk
Date and timeFebruary 28, 2026 (Saturday) , 01:00 PM (JST) 〜 February 28, 2026 (Saturday) , 02:30 PM (JST)
Course name2026 Spring Business Japanese Special Courses
Lecturer Takafumi SHIMIZU
Professor (Sophia University)
TargetInternational students or employees with Japanese proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2 or above.
* Non-Toyo University students can also take this course.
* Participation from abroad is highly welcomed.
Capacity1,000 participants per lecture (first-come-first-served basis)
Streaming service Zoom
How to attend online
FeeFree
Application periodJanuary 07, 2026 (Wednesday) , 12:00 AM (JST) ~ February 27, 2026 (Friday) , 11:59 PM (JST)
Precautions
  • Courses will be conducted entirely in Japanese.
  • You can freely choose to participate in only one course or multiple courses.
  • Those who responded to the questionnaire after the course will be able to view the materials and videos used in the course only if the instructor has given permission to distribute them. (This time all courses will provide the materials and videos.)
Course introduction
FAQ
Apply