22 Japanese ways to say “Let’s Start”

Ready to dive into the vibrant world of Japanese expressions? Whether you’re gearing up for a meeting, a workout, or just about anything else, knowing different ways to say “Let’s start” can make your conversations more lively and natural.

Japanese offers a variety of phrases that fit casual chats, formal settings, and everything in between. Each phrase carries its own flavor and context, so you’ll always sound just right.

In this listicle, we’ll explore 22 Japanese ways to say “Let’s start,” complete with pronunciation guides and simple explanations to help you remember and use them confidently.

Learning these phrases not only boosts your Japanese skills but also deepens your cultural understanding—making your language journey all the more rewarding.

Plus, mixing up how you say “Let’s start” keeps your conversations fresh and engaging for both you and your friends or colleagues.

So, let’s get going and discover these wonderful expressions together!

Getting Ready to Begin

Before jumping into the list, it’s good to know that Japanese phrases to start something often vary by context, tone, and formality.

Some expressions are perfect for casual meet-ups with friends, others for business or formal gatherings, and a few are just everyday slang used by natives.

Understanding these nuances will help you choose the right phrase for the right moment.

Sometimes, using a great beginner phrasebook can give you a perfect starting point for a cohesive understanding.

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, mixing in new phrases will feel natural and fun.

Remember, practice is key—try these expressions out loud and in conversations whenever you can!

Part 1: Casual Suggestions

1. さあ、始めよう！ (Sā, hajimeyō!) – “Alright, let’s start!”

This is a cheerful and straightforward way to say “let’s start” among friends or informal groups.

The word さあ (Sā) is like “well” or “alright,” and 始めよう (hajimeyō) is the volitional form of 始める (hajimeru), meaning “to start,” so together it’s “Alright, let’s start!”

It’s energetic and encourages everyone to get going together.

Perfect for casual settings like starting a game or a fun project.

You might hear this at the beginning of a karaoke session or a casual meeting.

Give it a try next time you want to kick off something with friends in a lively way!

2. 行こう！ (Ikou!) – “Let’s go!”

This is a super casual, native-like way to say “let’s start” by implying “let’s go” or “let’s move.”

行こう (Ikou) is the volitional form of 行く (iku), meaning “to go.” It’s short, punchy, and perfect for active starts.

Great for starting a walk, a trip, or any physical activity.

Remember, don’t overuse it in formal situations—it’s best with friends or peers.

Example: When your group is ready to leave the house, shout “行こう！” to get everyone moving.

This phrase is easy to remember and a natural way to sound like a local.

3. はじめましょう！ (Hajimemashō!) – “Let’s begin!”

This is a polite yet still casual phrase for “let’s start” that you can use in many everyday situations.

はじめましょう is the polite volitional form of 始める, meaning “let’s begin.” It’s slightly more formal than はじめよう but still friendly.

Perfect for study groups, clubs, or casual business meetings.

It shows respect but keeps the mood light and collaborative.

Try this one when you want to be polite but not too stiff.

It’s a great phrase to have in your conversation toolkit.

4. じゃあ、スタート！ (Jā, sutāto!) – “Okay, start!”

Here, じゃあ (Jā) means “well then” or “okay,” and スタート (sutāto) is the loanword “start.”

It’s very casual and often used in sports, games, or competitions.

Using katakana loanwords like this makes the phrase feel trendy and modern.

Great for when you want a quick and energetic start.

Keep in mind it’s not formal, so save it for fun or informal settings.

Try shouting this at your next game night to pump up the energy!

5. やろう！ (Yarō!) – “Let’s do it!”

やろう is the volitional form of やる, meaning “to do.” It’s a very casual and motivational way to say “let’s start.”

This phrase has a can-do spirit and works well when starting anything from a project to a workout.

It’s perfect for encouraging friends or teammates.

Be careful not to use it in formal settings, as やる is a bit rougher than 始める.

Example: Before a group study session, you could say “さあ、やろう！”

It’s a great phrase to express enthusiasm and readiness.

6. じゃあ、始めるね (Jā, hajimeru ne) – “Okay, I’ll start now.”

This phrase is casual and slightly softer, often used when you want to politely announce that you’re starting something.

じゃあ (Jā) means “okay,” 始める (hajimeru) means “to start,” and ね (ne) softens the tone, like “okay?” or “right?”

It’s useful when you want to check in with others before beginning.

Good for presentations, lessons, or informal meetings.

It shows awareness of others and invites a gentle start.

Try this when you want to be polite but still relaxed.

7. そろそろ始めようか (Sorosoro hajimeyō ka) – “Shall we start soon?”

そろそろ means “soon” or “it’s about time,” and 始めようか is “shall we start?” in volitional form with a question tone.

This phrase is casual and perfect for gently prompting a group to get going.

It’s great for study sessions, meetings, or events where people might be lingering.

It’s friendly and considerate without being pushy.

Try this when you want to signal the start is near but still allow time for preparation.

A very natural way to keep things moving smoothly.

8. いよいよ始めるよ！ (Iyoiyo hajimeru yo!) – “Finally, we’re starting!”

いよいよ means “at last” or “finally,” adding excitement to 始めるよ, which is “I/we are starting.”

This phrase is casual and expresses eagerness and anticipation.

It’s great for important events, performances, or any awaited start.

Use the particle よ (yo) to emphasize the announcement.

Perfect for rallying a group’s energy right before kickoff.

It’s an enthusiastic and warm way to say “Let’s start!”

Part 2: Polite & Formal Suggestions

9. 始めさせていただきます (Hajime sasete itadakimasu) – “Allow me to start.”

This is a very polite and humble way to say “let me start,” often used in business or formal speeches.

始めさせていただきます combines 始める (start) with a humble permission phrase, showing respect to listeners.

It’s perfect for presentations, meetings, or ceremonies.

Using this phrase shows professionalism and courtesy.

Try this in formal situations where you want to make a respectful opening.

It’s a great phrase to master for work or official events.

10. これから始めます (Kore kara hajimemasu) – “I will start now.”

これから means “from now,” and 始めます is the polite present/future form of 始める (to start).

This phrase is commonly used in formal and semi-formal situations to clearly state the start of an event or session.

It’s straightforward and polite without being overly humble.

Good for meetings, classes, or workshops.

It helps your audience know exactly when you’re beginning.

Practice this phrase to sound clear and professional.

11. それでは、始めさせていただきます (Soredewa, hajime sasete itadakimasu) – “Well then, I will start now.”

それでは means “well then” or “in that case,” making this phrase a polite and smooth way to transition into starting.

It’s often used in formal speeches or official meetings.

Combining それでは with 始めさせていただきます adds a respectful tone and flow.

Use this when you want to start with a polished and courteous expression.

It shows you’re mindful of timing and etiquette.

Perfect for business presentations or formal ceremonies.

12. ただいまより開始いたします (Tadaima yori kaishi itashimasu) – “We will begin from now.”

ただいまより means “from this moment,” and 開始いたします is a very polite way of saying “to start” or “commence.”

This phrase is often used in formal or official settings like conferences or ceremonies.

It’s more formal than 始めます and fits situations requiring high respect.

Perfect for official announcements or event openings.

It sounds professional and clear.

Keep this phrase handy for formal Japanese occasions.

13. これより開始いたします (Kore yori kaishi itashimasu) – “We will commence from now.”

Similar to the previous one, これより means “from here,” and 開始いたします is a humble, formal phrase for “we start.”

This phrase is used in official meetings, seminars, or ceremonies.

It shows humility and respect to the audience.

It’s a reliable phrase when you want to sound professional and polite.

Try it for any formal event where a dignified tone is required.

It reflects politeness and clarity.

14. そろそろ始めさせていただきます (Sorosoro hajime sasete itadakimasu) – “We will start soon.”

Adding そろそろ makes this phrase a polite way to say “we will start soon.”

It’s gentle and respectful, perfect for formal groups who want to signal readiness without rushing.

Useful for business meetings, formal classes, or official gatherings.

This phrase balances politeness with a soft prompt.

It helps keep everyone on track smoothly.

Use it when you want to prepare your audience politely.

15. まずはじめに (Mazu hajime ni) – “First of all, let’s start.”

まず means “first” or “to begin with,” and はじめに is “at the start.”

This phrase is a formal but natural way to introduce the start of a speech or lesson.

It signals the beginning of a sequence or agenda.

Great for classrooms, seminars, or workshops.

It helps organize your message clearly.

Keep this phrase in mind for structured presentations.

16. これから進めてまいります (Kore kara susumete mairimasu) – “We will proceed from now.”

進めてまいります is a humble, polite way of saying “we will proceed,” and これから means “from now.”

It’s often used in business or formal presentations to indicate moving forward.

It’s less direct than “start” but implies the beginning of progress.

Use it when you want to sound courteous and professional.

This phrase is useful in meetings and project updates.

It gives a smooth, respectful tone.

Part 3: Very Casual / Native-like Expressions

17. やっちゃおう！ (Yacchaō!) – “Let’s just do it!”

やっちゃおう is the casual volitional form of やってしまおう, meaning “let’s just do it” or “let’s get it over with.”

It’s very informal, used mostly among close friends when ready to dive into something without hesitation.

It has a playful and spontaneous tone.

Perfect for casual challenges or spontaneous plans.

Use this with people you’re comfortable with to sound natural.

It’s a fun way to show eagerness with a bit of attitude.

18. さあ、行くぞ！ (Sā, iku zo!) – “Alright, let’s go!”

さあ (Sā) means “alright,” 行く (iku) means “to go,” and ぞ (zo) is a masculine sentence-ending particle that adds emphasis.

This phrase feels energetic and masculine, often used among male friends.

It’s casual and spirited, great for rallying a group.

Best used in informal, friendly settings.

Example: Before a sports match, shouting “さあ、行くぞ！” pumps up the team.

It’s a strong and motivating way to say “let’s start.”

19. さあ始めっか！ (Sā hajimekka!) – “Shall we start?” (very casual)

Here, さあ means “well” or “alright,” and 始めっか is a very casual, dialect-influenced contraction of 始めようか.

This phrase feels very natural among close friends or in casual regions of Japan.

It’s perfect for informal conversations when you want to start something together.

Use it to sound native-like and relaxed.

Try it with friends during casual hangouts or game nights.

It’s a cool phrase to add local flavor to your speech.

20. よし、始める！ (Yoshi, hajimeru!) – “Alright, I’m starting!”

よし is an expression meaning “alright” or “okay,” often used to psych oneself up.

This phrase is casual but confident, used when you’re about to begin something yourself.

It’s common in everyday speech to express readiness.

Great for starting personal tasks, workouts, or study sessions.

It shows positive energy and focus.

Use it to motivate yourself before starting something important.

21. さあ、始めちまおうぜ！ (Sā, hajimechimaō ze!) – “Alright, let’s just get started!”

This phrase uses the casual contraction 始めちまおう instead of 始めよう and the masculine particle ぜ for emphasis.

It’s very informal, masculine, and energetic.

Perfect for groups of close male friends or teammates.

It adds a sense of urgency and camaraderie.

Be careful not to use it in polite or mixed company.

It’s a great expression to sound like a native in casual male circles.

22. じゃ、始めよっか！ (Ja, hajimeyokka!) – “Well then, shall we start?”

じゃ is a casual “well then,” and 始めよっか is a friendly contraction of 始めようか, meaning “shall we start?”

This is a very natural, everyday phrase you’ll hear often among friends.

It’s polite enough for casual conversations but still relaxed.

Great for smoothly transitioning into an activity or meeting.

Use it to sound approachable and friendly.

It’s a versatile phrase to wrap up your “let’s start” toolkit.

Concluding Thought

Exploring these 22 ways to say “Let’s start” in Japanese shows how rich and varied the language can be.

From casual hangouts to formal events, each phrase brings a unique tone and feeling that fits perfectly into its context.

Keep practicing these expressions, and soon you’ll feel confident to start any conversation or activity the Japanese way—warmly, naturally, and with the right vibe.