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Six Ways To Say "Happy Birthday" In Japanese

So you want to wish your Japanese-speaking friends "happy birthday" in Japanese.

Whether you're sending a birthday card, or just writing a message, here are six different ways to share the love.

First of all, let's say “Happy Birthday”:

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Fran Wrigley Step Up Japanese Blog Happy Birthday in Japanese Otanjoubi Omedetou 1.jpeg

So you want to wish your Japanese-speaking friends "happy birthday" in Japanese.

Whether you're sending a birthday card, or just writing a message, here are six different ways to share the love.

First of all, let's say “Happy Birthday”:

1) お誕生日おめでとう！　o-tanjoubi omedetou

Simple and classic, this one means "happy birthday", or literally "congratulations on your birthday".


2) お誕生日おめでとうございます。　o-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu

Stick a "gozaimasu" on the end to make it more polite.

Good for people older than you, people you know less well, and definitely good for your boss.


3) ハッピーバースデー！happii baasudee!

This one is actually one of my favourites - a Japan-ified version of the English phrase “happy birthday”.

If you're writing a message, it's good to follow up after the birthday greeting by also wishing the person well:


1)  楽しんでください　tanoshinde kudasai

"Have fun!"

e.g. お誕生日おめでとう！楽しんでください ^ ^

"Happy birthday! Have fun :)"


2) 素敵な一日を　sutekina ichinichi o

"Have a great day."

e.g. お誕生日おめでとう！素敵な一日を〜

"Happy birthday! Have a great day."


3) 素晴らしい１年になりますように　subarashii ichinen ni narimasu you ni

"I hope it's a wonderful year for you."

e.g. お誕生日おめでとうございます。素晴らしい１年になりますように。

"Happy birthday. I hope you have a wonderful year."


As you may have noticed, birthday messages wishing someone well for the year are kind of similar to a New Years' Greeting in Japanese.

それじゃ、素敵な一日を！ sutekina ichinichi o!

And with that, I hope you have a wonderful day!


Learn beginner Japanese:

Sakura - Beginner Japanese - Tuesdays at 12pm (UK time) | Online Group Course Starting 14th April 2026 Sakura - Beginner Japanese - Tuesdays at 12pm (UK time) | Online Group Course Starting 14th April 2026
Sakura - Beginner Japanese - Tuesdays at 12pm (UK time) | Online Group Course Starting 14th April 2026
£195.00

A 12-week course for absolute beginners.

Ideal for anyone starting from scratch or looking to refresh their basic Japanese skills in a friendly, supportive environment.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Introduce yourself and exchange simple greetings

  • Ask and answer basic questions when meeting someone for the first time

  • Talk in simple terms about where you live, and who your family and friends are

  • Pronounce all the sounds in Japanese

  • Read some hiragana (one of the basic Japanese scripts)

  • Start to recognise some simple kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese)

We focus on practical, everyday language to help you communicate clearly and confidently.

Course details:

  • Duration: 12 weeks (14th April-30th June 2026)

  • Day/Time: Tuesdays, 12pm (UK time), 55 minute sessions

  • Textbook: Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan - Starter (starting from Lesson 1)
    Free to download online

After completing this course, continue your learning journey with the next Sakura term in Autumn 2026.

Is this course right for you?
✓ You’re a complete beginner (or a rusty one!)
✓ You want to learn basic Japanese in a relaxed and engaging setting

Still unsure?
Feel free to book a free 30-minute zoom consultation or email me for help choosing the right level.

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Updated 10th August 2021

 
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Step Up Students, 日本語のブログ Fran Wrigley Step Up Students, 日本語のブログ Fran Wrigley

ブライトンの日本語教室で手伝ってくれる素晴らしいボランティアの皆さん

ブライトン近郊に住んでいる日本人から「ステップアップジャパニーズでボランティアできますか？」というメールを時々いただきます。

こういうメールをいただいて、私は毎回とても嬉しく思います。近くに住んでいる日本人が私の日本語教室を見つけて、しかも手伝いに行きたいと思ってくださることは、とてもありがたいと思います。

今年度、日本人のボランティアは授業に手伝いに来てくださっただけではなく、イベントやワークショップも一緒に開くことができました。

イギリスのボランティア・ウィーク(Volunteers’ Week)をご存知ですか。

（英語版はこちら Click here to read this article in English）

ブライトン近郊に住んでいる日本人から「ステップアップジャパニーズでボランティアできますか？」というメールを時々いただきます。

こういうメールをいただいて、私は毎回とても嬉しく思います。近くに住んでいる日本人が私の日本語教室を見つけて、しかも手伝いに行きたいと思ってくださることは、とてもありがたいと思います。

今年度、日本人のボランティアは授業に手伝いに来てくださっただけではなく、イベントやワークショップも一緒に開くことができました。

イギリスのボランティア・ウィーク(Volunteers’ Week)をご存知ですか。毎年６月１日〜７日に行われる感謝のキャンペーンです。手伝ってくださるボランティアの皆さんに感謝を込めて「ありがとう」とお伝えする一週間です。

それでは、２０１９〜２０年のボランティアの皆さんへ大きな「ありがとう！」をお伝えしたいと思います。

サマープログラムに手伝いに来てくださったありあさんへ。

生徒たちと一緒にゲームをしながら、「ホットドッグ」の正しい発音を教えてくださってありがとうございます。

Aria-san, who came to help out with Summer Programmes in 2018. Thank you for playing games with my students and teaching them how to say ホットドッグ (hotto doggu; hot dog)

STEP 1（初級）とSTEP 2（初級２） の生徒さんと優しく話して、自信を持たせてくださった真里さんへ。

Mari-san Fran Wrigley Step Up Japanese Brighton Japanese Lessons 2019-04-30 crop.jpg

そして先月、素晴らしい折り紙のワークショップを一緒に開いてくださったさやさんへ。

皆さん、ありがとうございました！

Origami+Workshop+Step+Up+Japanese+Class+Brighton+Fran+Wrigley+June+2019+20190606_191033+crop+%281%29.jpg
Origami Workshop Step Up Japanese Class Brighton Fran Wrigley June 2019 20190606_211223 crop edit copy.jpg
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Step Up Students Fran Wrigley Step Up Students Fran Wrigley

Our Fantastic Volunteers

Sometimes, Japanese people write and ask if they can volunteer at Step Up Japanese.

I’m always very happy that Japanese people in Brighton and Hove have found my school and want to visit and help out.

This year, a number of Japanese volunteers have helped out in class and with events and workshops.

This Volunteers Week, I’d like to say a big thank you to my 2018-19 volunteers!

（Click here to read this article in Japanese 日本語版はこちら）

Sometimes, Japanese people contact me and ask if they can volunteer at Step Up Japanese.

I’m always very happy that Japanese people in Brighton and Hove have found my school and want to visit and help out.

This year, a number of Japanese volunteers have helped out in class and with events and workshops.

This Volunteers Week, I’d like to say a big thank you to my 2018-19 volunteers!

Aria-san, who came to help out with Summer Programmes in 2018. Thank you for playing games with my students and teaching them how to say ホットドッグ (hotto doggu; hot dog):

Aria-san, who came to help out with Summer Programmes in 2018. Thank you for playing games with my students and teaching them how to say ホットドッグ (hotto doggu; hot dog)

Mari-san, for chatting with STEP 1 and STEP 2 students and encouraging them to speak with confidence:

Mari-san Fran Wrigley Step Up Japanese Brighton Japanese Lessons 2019-04-30 crop.jpg

And Saya-san, for teaching us incredible origami!

Origami+Workshop+Step+Up+Japanese+Class+Brighton+Fran+Wrigley+June+2019+20190606_191033+crop+%281%29.jpg
Origami Workshop Step Up Japanese Class Brighton Fran Wrigley June 2019 20190606_211223 crop edit copy.jpg
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I didn't get the job.

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I've met lots of people like this (and there's nothing wrong with that, unless learning Japanese is the reason you moved to Japan).

The long and more honest answer to "how come you speak Japanese?":

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