In anime, one greeting can open a friendship, a club invite, or a second chance after a rough morning. Lesson 1 of Omura Sensei’s Musashi Japanese series teaches the greetings Koji, Taku, and their classmates actually use—polite ones for teachers, casual ones for friends, and the bows that make first meetings feel real.
Watch the full chalkboard lesson below, then keep the phrase notes, mini classroom dialogue, and quick quiz handy for practice.
初めまして — Hajimemashite
Meaning: Nice to meet you (literally “for the first time”).
When to use: Any first meeting—transfer students, new club members, or rivals who somehow become friends. Pair it with a small bow and a clear voice.
Polite vs casual: This line is already polite and friendly. It works with teachers and classmates on day one.
Example: 初めまして。 / Hajimemashite. — Nice to meet you.
よろしくお願いします — Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Meaning: Please treat me kindly / Looking forward to working with you.
When to use: Right after hajimemashite. Anime characters use it to seal a first meeting—“please look after me,” “let’s get along,” or “I’m counting on you.”
Polite vs casual: Keep the full polite form with teachers and club advisors. Friends may shorten it to just よろしく (yoroshiku).
Examples: よろしくお願いします！ / Yoroshiku onegaishimasu! — Please treat me kindly!
よろしく！ / Yoroshiku! — Let’s get along! (casual)
こんにちは — Konnichiwa
Meaning: Hello / Good afternoon.
When to use: Daytime hello from late morning into the afternoon—at the school gate, in the hallway, or when you bump into someone after class.
Spelling tip: It’s written こんにちは with the character は, but that part is pronounced “wa.” (A common misspelling is こんにちわ—skip that one.)
Example: こんにちは、先生！ / Konnichiwa, sensei! — Hello, Sensei!
おはよう / おはようございます — Ohayō / Ohayō gozaimasu
Meaning: Morning! (casual) / Good morning (polite).
When to use: In the morning. Match the greeting to the relationship—just like Musashi school scenes.
Polite vs casual: おはよう (ohayō) is bright and casual for friends. おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu) adds respect for teachers and adults. If you remember only one rule from this lesson, remember this contrast.
Examples: おはよう！ / Ohayō! — Morning!
おはようございます。 / Ohayō gozaimasu. — Good morning (polite).
こんばんは — Konbanwa
Meaning: Good evening.
When to use: After dusk—late club meetings, a walk home, or an evening study session. Softer and calmer than a daytime hello.
Spelling tip: Same は = “wa” trick as konnichiwa. Written こんばんは.
Example: こんばんは、先生。 / Konbanwa, sensei. — Good evening, Sensei.
よっ / おっす — Yo! / Ossu
Meaning: Hey! / ’Sup! (very casual).
When to use: Close friends or teammates only—think sports clubs and fist-bump energy. Fun on the field or in the clubroom.
Polite vs casual: Do not use these with teachers. When in doubt, choose konnichiwa—you’ll never regret being a little more polite.
Examples: よっ！ / Yo! — Yo! / Hey!
おっす！ / Ossu! — ’Sup! / Hey! (casual)
会釈 / 敬礼 — Eshaku / Keirei (bows)
Meaning: Light nod / Respectful bow. Greetings aren’t only words—they’re body language.
When to use:
- 会釈 (eshaku) ≈ 15° — a light nod for casual hallway hellos.
- 敬礼 (keirei) ≈ 30° — a respectful bow for teachers and first meetings.
You don’t need deep temple bows for everyday school scenes. Smile, breathe, bow once, then speak. A good bow says “I see you” before the first syllable leaves your mouth.
Mini classroom scene
Listen for polite versus casual, and watch the bows. Morning starts respectful. Friends stay warm and easy. A new student seals the intro with the classic two-line combo.
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taku → Omura | おはようございます。 | Ohayō gozaimasu. | Good morning. |
| Koji → Taku | おはよう！ | Ohayō! | Morning! |
| Transfer student | 初めまして。よろしくお願いします。 | Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. | Nice to meet you. Please treat me kindly. |
| Omura | ようこそ。座ってください。 | Yōkoso. Suwatte kudasai. | Welcome. Please take a seat. |
| Class | こんにちは！ | Konnichiwa! | Hello! |
Quick quiz
Pause if you need a second. Answers are at the bottom of this section.
1. What do you say when you meet someone for the first time?
A) Konbanwa B) Hajimemashite C) Ossu
2. What’s the polite good morning for your teacher?
A) Ohayō B) Yo! C) Ohayō gozaimasu
3. Which greeting is friends-or-teammates only?
A) Yoroshiku onegaishimasu B) Ossu C) Konnichiwa
Answers: 1-B 初めまして (Hajimemashite) · 2-C おはようございます (Ohayō gozaimasu) · 3-B おっす (Ossu)
Keep exploring Musashi
- Musashi — the anime project behind these lessons
- Meet the Characters — Koji, Taku, Omura Sensei, and more
- YouTube @AsilStudios — full lessons and short cuts
- asilstudios.com — home
What’s next
Pick one greeting and say it out loud—just once, with a small bow. Muscle memory loves repetition. Lesson 2 will cover honorifics: senpai, sensei, -kun, and -chan—the little name tags that show who’s who in anime school life.
If this helped, subscribe on YouTube so you catch the next lesson when it lands. Mata ne!