When preparing to make a business phone call, you should check the company name, department name, business title and the full name of the person you’re calling. In business Japanese generally address others by their surname, but sometimes you cannot get hold of the correct person as surnames like SATOU, SUZUKI and TAKAHASHI are common. On these occasions, it is rude to refer to their age or looks by saying something like, “young thin man.” In business, the phrase “moshi moshi” is not used. “Moshi moshi” derives from the word “mousu, mousu” (convey), and gives the impression of talking down to someone. When a call is connected, the recipient usually calls out first their company name. At this point, you state your company name and your name. Then he/she will say, “Osewani natte orimasu.” When someone says these words to you, you simply reply in the same way, “Osewani natte orimasu.” You should not say “Hai” (yes), or “Sore hodo demo” (Not so much). “Osewani natte orimasu” is a convenient greeting used for business. It means “We appreciate all you’ve done for us.” After that, you ask the recipient to put you through to the person you want to talk to. You should add “sama” after the surname of the person you want to talk to. Instead, you can also use business titles like xx kachou (section chief) or xx buchou (department manager). When you refer to a company’s name, you should also add “sama” i.e. “xx kaisha sama.” If the person who picks up doesn’t give their name, you should confirm whether they are the person you wanted to speak to by saying “Is this xx sama?”