Part II: Introducing Yourself
It's always a good thing to introduce yourself properly to people when you first meet them and Japan is no different in this regard. However, there are some subtle nuances to putting your best foot forward in the Land of the Rising Sun.
When you are introduced to or are introducing yourself to someone, say the following:
はじめまして。私のなまえはXです。どうぞよろしく。
(Hajimemashite. Watashi wa X desu. Douzo yoroshiku.)
It's nice to meet you. My name is X. Please regard me favorably. (Obviously, X = Your Name.)
There are some differences depending on the level of formality (more on that in a much later lesson) that's going on, but that's the basic gist of it.
However, it is important to note that if someone says よろしく or どうぞよろしく before you, it is a traditional thing to say こちらこそよろしく！ (Kochirakoso yoroshiku!), which very roughly translates to "I'm that one that should be saying 'regard me favorably'!"
Also, one thing to note is that in Japan, people tend to introduce themselves surname first.
Ex. 初めまして。私は森川智之です。どうぞよろしく。
(Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Morikawa Toshiyuki desu. Douzo yoroshiku.)
Nice to meet you. I'm Toshiyuki Morikawa. Please regard me favorably.
Morikawa Toshiyuki = Toshiyuki Morikawa (the voice of Sephiroth, among several other roles).
However, this is a native speaker's way of introducing themselves. If you are a foreigner, you introduce yourself given name first, as you normally would.
Next, identifying people and things.
