Even if it’s been ages since you last met up, if you use casual expressions this will make your friend feel as if the bond between you hasn’t changed. Standard polite conversation / Casual expressions (between men) A : Oh! It’s been ages (since we last met). B : It’s really been too long. Have you been keeping well? A : Yes, thank you. Last year I moved (house). B : Really? I didn’t know that. A : Sato san, what have you been up to? B : Well, the same as usual. When bumping into a friend, before saying anything, men will often exclaim “Iyaa!” “Yaa!” “Ou! or “Oh!” and women, “Uwah!” or “Ara!” Young women sometimes cry out “Kyaa!” which cutely demonstrates surprise at the encounter. Sometimes, they might suddenly ask “Genki datta?” (Have you been well?) or “Doushiteta?” (What have you been up to?). These expressions also implicitly mean “Hisashiburi dane” (Long time no see). “Genki datta?” not only refers to concern about his/her health, but has a wider meaning that covers the state of their life in general. Therefore, few people reply “Genki datta yo,” which only refers to their health. Such replies can make a somewhat frosty impression. These days the younger generation also says “Dou yo?” or “Doshiteta?”, which is shorthand for “Doushiteta?” (What have you been up to). Though men and women generally use a name or nickname to address close friends, women sometimes use the expression “anata” (you). If nothing has changed (since you last met) most people make the vague reply “Genki,” “Genki dayo,” or “Nantoka ne.”