"Tosha" (当社) is one of the most common ways to refer to your own company in Japanese business writing. You see it everywhere — in office memos, contracts, press releases, and corporate emails. But many professionals quietly wonder: how exactly does it differ from "heisha" (弊社) or "jisha" (自社)? When should you use each?
Choosing the wrong term can subtly signal poor business etiquette to readers, while choosing the right one shows polish and professionalism. The trouble is that Japanese has several words for "our company," each carrying a different level of humility, formality, and audience.
This article walks through the correct meaning and use of "tosha," how it differs from "jisha" (自社) and "heisha" (弊社), practical email and document examples, and what job seekers should keep in mind when discussing their current and previous employers. By the end, you'll have a clear framework for choosing the right word in any business situation.
Basic meaning and reading of 「当社」
The reading is "tōsha"
"当社" is read as "tōsha." It combines the on-yomi reading of 当 ("tō," meaning "this" or "the present one") and 社 ("sha," meaning "company"). It is never read with a kun-yomi (native Japanese) reading.
Although it appears constantly in business documents, you rarely read it aloud, so some people occasionally misread it as "atarisha" or "tōja." Internal announcements and presentations sometimes require you to say it out loud, so it's worth knowing the correct reading.
It means "the company I belong to"
"Tosha" refers to the company that the speaker or writer belongs to — in other words, "our company." The character 当 means "this" or "the present one in question," and it appears in similar self-referential terms like 当人 (this person), 当地 (this region), and 当機関 (this institution).
So "tosha" carries the nuance of "this company we're currently talking about — namely, my own company."
Its position as polite language
"Tosha" is a polite expression for referring to your own company, but it does not carry the strong humble nuance that "heisha" does. It conveys a basic level of politeness when used with external parties, while being neither too humble nor too casual for internal use. In other words, it functions as a neutral, formal way of referring to your own company.
This versatility is why "tosha" is the standard choice in a wide range of business contexts, from internal memos and external documents to press releases and customer-facing communications.
When to use 「当社」 in business
Internal documents and announcements
"Tosha" is frequently used in internal documents, company-wide announcements, employee handbooks, work rules, and compliance notices. Inside a company, employees are colleagues on equal footing, so the humble "heisha" feels excessive — the neutral "tosha" is a more natural fit.
「貴社」(kisha) is the written-language Japanese honorific for another company. Learn the correct reading, common misreading...
Example: "Tosha's work rules will be revised as follows" / "Tosha will fully introduce a hybrid work program starting next fiscal year."
Press releases and official statements
"Tosha" is also standard in press releases issued to the media, official statements, and the "About Us" sections of corporate websites. Because these communications are addressed to a broad, unspecified audience rather than to a specific business partner, there is no need for the humility of "heisha."
Example: "Tosha announced today the launch of the new service ◯◯" / "For tosha's financial results, please refer to the URL below."
Contracts, terms of service, and formal business documents
Contracts, terms of service, and service agreements typically use "tosha" as the standard self-reference. Because these documents have legal force and need to clearly identify the parties, the objective, neutral tone of "tosha" is preferred.
Example: "Tosha may change the content of this service without prior notice" / "The customer agrees to the terms of service set by tosha."
It also works in external emails and responses
You can use "tosha" in external emails, responses, briefings for the press, and formal apology statements. When communicating sales targets, corporate philosophy, or company stances to outside audiences, "tosha" does not feel out of place.
That said, in one-on-one communication with a specific client or customer, "heisha" usually conveys more politeness and may be the better choice. We'll cover that distinction in the next section.
「当社」 vs 「自社」: a detailed comparison
"Jisha" is neutral, not honorific
"Jisha" (自社, "ji-sha") literally means "one's own company." Unlike "tosha" or "heisha," it carries no honorific nuance at all. It is a flat, objective term simply stating the fact that something is your own company.
Because it is not polite language, "jisha" is not used when you need to show respect or formality toward the reader. It mainly appears in internal meetings, operational explanations, competitive comparisons, and casual conversations within the industry.
"Jisha" pairs with nouns like "jisha seihin" (own product)
Another distinctive feature of "jisha" is that it is more commonly used in compound expressions with other nouns than on its own.
Jisha seihin (自社製品): products made in-house
Jisha service (自社サービス): services provided in-house
Jisha kaihatsu (自社開発): developed in-house
Jisha kabu (自社株): shares issued by the company itself
Jisha saiyō (自社採用): direct hiring by the company
These expressions are hard to rephrase as "heisha seihin" or "heisha kaihatsu" — the "jisha ◯◯" form is established as industry jargon and idiom. "Tosha," on the other hand, can also form expressions like "tosha seihin," so it overlaps with "jisha" to some extent.
"Jisha" shines in competitive comparisons and internal review
"Jisha" really comes into its own when contrasted with "tasha" (他社, "other companies"). In marketing materials, executive meetings, and competitive analyses, you contrast "jisha" with "tasha" to organize the discussion.
Example: "Comparing jisha's strengths with tasha's strengths…" / "Jisha's market share rose 10% year-over-year, exceeding the average of tasha."
Using "tosha" in this context introduces a sense of external-facing politeness that feels overly stiff for internal review materials.
How to decide between 「当社」 and 「自社」
Here is a way to organize the distinction:
Tosha: any situation, internal or external, where politeness is expected (official documents, external communications, internal notices, etc.)
Jisha: internal meetings, operational explanations, competitive analyses — situations where factual description matters more than politeness
When in doubt, ask yourself whether the document needs the polish to be read by someone outside the company. If outsiders might see it, use 'tosha.' If it is purely an internal operational context, 'jisha' fits better.
「当社」 vs 「弊社」: how to distinguish and use them
"Heisha" is humble, "tosha" is polite
"Heisha" (弊社, "hei-sha") is a humble (kenjōgo) expression for referring to your own company. The character 弊 carries meanings of "bad" or "shabby," so by placing your own side lower, it relatively elevates the other company.
"Tosha," in contrast, is closer to standard polite language (teineigo) and carries no humble nuance. It simply refers to your own company in a neutral, polite way.
In short, the degree of deference goes "heisha > tosha > jisha," with politeness decreasing in that order.
Use "heisha" externally, "tosha" internally — that's the rule
The basic rule is simple:
External business partners and customers → heisha (humble, elevates the counterpart)
Internal documents and notices → tosha (employees are equals, so no humility is needed)
Press releases and official statements → tosha (broad, neutral audience)
New-hire company orientations → tosha (external setting but you're presenting your company's stance)
The key question is: "Do I need to show humility toward a specific counterpart?" If yes, use "heisha." If not, "tosha" is the better choice for neutral communication.
Practical email examples
To get a feel for the distinction, here are typical email examples:
Proposal email to a client (external, polite): "Allow us to introduce heisha's new service. We are confident that it can contribute to improving your company's operational efficiency."
Press release (broad audience, neutral): "Tosha launched the new service '◯◯' today, ◯ month ◯ day."
Internal notice (employees, equal footing): "Regarding tosha's performance evaluation system, we will revise it as follows starting next fiscal year."
Customer complaint response / official statement (external but more public than personal): "We deeply apologize for the considerable inconvenience caused regarding tosha's product."
Related expressions: 「我が社」, 「小社」, 「私ども」
"Waga-sha" (我が社): formal expression used in speeches and by executives
"Waga-sha" expresses a strong sense of belonging to one's own company. It is used in statements by executives, formal speeches inside and outside the company, and in vision-sharing settings.
Compared with "tosha" or "heisha," it sounds slightly more ceremonial, so it is rarely used in everyday business emails or practical documents. It shines in CEO messages, management policy announcements, and other situations that emphasize corporate philosophy or branding.
Example: "Waga-sha has continued our business in the spirit of ◯◯ since our founding."
"Shōsha" (小社): an old-fashioned humble expression
"Shōsha" literally means "small company" and is an old-fashioned, humble way to refer to your own company. It carries a humility similar to "heisha" but is rarely used in modern business.
You may occasionally see it in publishing-industry correspondence, greetings from long-established companies, or formal letters, but for general business documents, "heisha" is the safer choice.
"Watakushi-domo" (私ども) carries similar meaning
In spoken conversation or in emails with a softer tone, the expression "watakushi-domo" (私ども) or "watakushi-domo no kaisha" (our company, lit. "the company of us") is also common. It carries a humble nuance similar to "heisha" and is particularly useful in face-to-face conversation, phone calls, and polite customer-facing interactions.
Example: "At watakushi-domo no kaisha, we place the highest priority on customer support." / "As for watakushi-domo, we will take your proposal back and consider it."
Using "heisha" in writing and "watakushi-domo" in spoken conversation produces the most natural business communication style.
Cautions and common misuse of 「当社」
Don't overuse "tosha" in one-on-one client communication
In one-on-one emails or meetings with a specific client or customer, "heisha" generally conveys more politeness than "tosha." Repeating "Tosha wa ◯◯ desu" can come across as a little curt or businesslike.
When the relationship calls for respect, build your text around "heisha" and mix in "tosha" only where it improves the rhythm of the sentence. This balance produces a more polished tone.
"Tosha-sama" is wrong — no honorifics on your own side
Writing "tosha-sama" or "tosha onchū" about your own company is incorrect. "-sama" and "onchū" are honorifics for showing respect to the other party and should never be applied to your own side.
Similarly, doubling up self-references — like "tosha no heisha" or "tōheisha" — is also a misuse. Stick with either "tosha" or "heisha" consistently throughout a document.
Don't mix "tosha" and "heisha" within the same document
If you mix "tosha" and "heisha" randomly inside a single email or document, the tone becomes inconsistent. Readers subconsciously feel a discord ("Is this polite, or neutral?"), so decide which one you'll use at the start of the document and stick with it to the end.
Of course, intentional distinctions — for example, using "tosha" inside a quoted passage and "heisha" in the surrounding narrative — are fine. The point is to avoid mixing the same level of self-reference inconsistently.
Use "tōkō," "tōin," "tōten" depending on the industry
Self-references using the 当 character vary by industry:
Bank → tōkō (当行)
Hospital → tōin (当院)
Retail store → tōten (当店)
School → tōkō (当校) or tōgaku (当学)
Office (law firm, etc.) → tō-jimusho (当事務所)
Hotel → tō-hotel (当ホテル)
Choosing the convention that matches your industry conveys a more professional impression. If you move from a general business company to a bank or hospital, familiarize yourself with these variations.
Handling 「当社」「弊社」「自社」 during a job change
Use "genshoku" (current job) and "zenshoku" (previous job) on application documents
On resumes and CVs (rirekisho and shokumu-keirekisho), avoid referring to your current employer as "tosha." Instead, use "genshoku" (現職, "current job") or "genzai no tsutomesaki" (my current employer). For a company you have already left, use "zenshoku" (前職, "previous job") or "mae no tsutomesaki."
If you use "tosha" on application documents, the hiring company reading them may briefly wonder which company you're referring to. Writing "kisha = the applying-to company / genshoku = the applicant's current company / zenshoku = the applicant's previous company" makes the document clear and unambiguous for the reader.
Referring to your current employer in interviews and casual meetings
When you bring up your current employer in an interview or casual meeting (kajuaru mendan), the natural choices are "genshoku," "ima no kaisha" (my current company), or "heisha." Calling the prospective employer "onsha" and your own company "heisha" creates a symmetric, polite contrast that elevates the listener.
Example: "At genshoku, I oversee a team of five as a sales manager." / "At heisha, we are currently driving a DX initiative."
Using "jisha" sounds too casual for an interview, and "tosha" can blur which company — yours or the interviewer's — you mean. In interviews, consciously choose "genshoku" or "heisha."
Balancing references to your company and the hiring company
Job-search references to "my company" and "the other company" are easier to remember as a set:
Internalize this symmetry, and your honorific usage will flow naturally, giving interviewers and document reviewers the impression that "this person has solid business etiquette."
Even perfect honorifics won't prevent a mismatch
Using "tosha," "heisha," and "jisha" correctly is a fundamental business skill. It is the minimum baseline that signals to interviewers and reviewers that you have basic business common sense.
That said, even flawless honorifics won't guarantee that you end up at the right company. You may write "I deeply resonate with kisha's ◯◯ business" in your application and say "I find onsha's culture appealing" in the interview — but the gap between how a company presents itself externally and what working inside it actually looks like is always real.
"At heisha, we aim to build a transparent organization" — the interviewer's words may not match what you find on the ground after joining. The strategy described in the materials may already be in a wind-down phase internally. These mismatches are the single biggest cause of early turnover and post-hire regret.
One increasingly popular way to head off these mismatches is the "trial job change" (お試し転職, otameshi tenshoku) approach. Before the final selection or your decision to join, you spend a short period (a few days to a few weeks) actually working at the prospective company. That direct experience reveals the team's atmosphere, your manager's style, and decision-making speed in ways no resume or interview can.
Honorifics are the front door — important as a matter of professional polish. Equally important is having a way to verify the reality of a workplace before you join. That combination is how you avoid post-hire regret.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. In internal emails, should I use "tosha" or "heisha"?
For internal emails, "tosha" is the default. Coworkers are on equal footing, so the humility of "heisha" feels excessive — the neutral "tosha" fits better. That said, if you're writing to someone in another department where you want to come across as deferential (for example, asking another department's manager for help), choosing "watakushi-domo" can convey a more polite tone.
Q2. Is it rude to use "tosha" when talking with my boss or seniors?
Using "tosha" in spoken conversation is not particularly rude. That said, internal spoken communication often uses more casual expressions like "uchi no kaisha" (my workplace) or simply "uchi." Choose what fits your company's culture and your relationship with the listener.
For formal meetings or presentations to executives, "tosha" or "waga-sha" produces a more polished impression.
Q3. Is it odd to repeat "tosha" throughout a document?
Repeating "tosha" multiple times in the same document is not in itself a problem, but starting every sentence with "Tosha wa…" can feel monotonous. From the second mention onward, you can omit the subject, switch to "heisha" or "watakushi-domo" for variety, or write the company name directly. These adjustments improve readability.
Q4. What if someone points out my use of "tosha" in an email?
If a client or customer raises a concern about your use of "tosha," they often mean "please use the more polite 'heisha'." Switching to "heisha" in your next email is a natural way to adjust.
There's no need to apologize profusely — just transition smoothly: "I apologize. Regarding heisha's ◯◯…"
Q5. Can sole proprietors or freelancers use "tosha"?
Strictly speaking, "tosha" doesn't fit sole proprietors or freelancers, who don't have a corporate legal entity. If you have a trade name, you can say "tō-◯◯ (trade name)." Otherwise, "watakushi" (私), "jibun" (自分), or "tōhō" (当方) work well.
"Tōhō" is a convenient self-reference that works for both individuals and organizations. For freelancers communicating with clients, it combines politeness with neutrality.
Summary: how to use 「当社」
To close, here are the key points from this article:
"Tosha" (当社) is a polite expression for "my company," read as "tōsha"
"Tosha" is neutral polite language, "heisha" is humble (kenjōgo), and "jisha" is not honorific at all but a factual expression
Use "tosha" for internal notices, official statements, and contracts; use "heisha" for one-on-one emails to business partners
"Jisha" works best for competitive comparisons and internal review settings, contrasted with "tasha" (other companies)
Misuses to avoid: "tosha-sama," "tō-heisha," and similar double or honorific-on-self constructions
Industries swap in "tōkō" (bank), "tōin" (hospital), "tōten" (retail), and so on
During job hunting, use "genshoku," "zenshoku," or "heisha" for your company, and "kisha" or "onsha" for the hiring company
Mastering "tosha," "heisha," and "jisha" sharpens your fundamental business skills. At the same time, don't lean on honorifics alone — also build a way to verify the real workplace fit. That combination is the path to a career choice you won't regret.
