“Osakini”—The Secret Phrase of Tea Ceremony

Did you know that if you can naturally say “Osakini” (お先に), you might already be a Japanese language master?

In a traditional tea ceremony, while the host prepares matcha, guests usually remain quiet. This is because the main guest (正客, sho-kyaku) and the host take center stage. The following guests are considered companions of the main guest—just like in the samurai era, when lords would visit a tea master accompanied by their retainers.

Yet, there is one short and elegant exchange between guests:
When drinking tea before the next person, you say “Osakini”—which means “Please excuse me for going before you.”
The reply would be a silent bow, which means “Please, go ahead.”

This phrase is still alive in modern daily life in Japan. For example, when leaving the office while colleagues are still working, people say “Osakini shitsurei shimasu” (お先に失礼します)—“Excuse me for leaving before you.”

I remember as a teenager, someone kindly let me go first at a doorway or elevator. I said “Thank you, osakini”, and an adult nearby praised me: “How wonderful that you can say ‘osakini’ so naturally!”

So, if you can use “osakini” smoothly, Japanese people will notice and admire your manners. Try it at your next tea ceremony experience—you’ll be one step closer to mastering Japanese culture!