Meaning & Usage
に際して (にさいして) is a formal Japanese grammar pattern used to express doing something on the occasion of a specific event or at an important moment. It marks an event as the context — or trigger — for another action: a precaution, a preparation, a ceremony, or a formal declaration. What follows is directly tied to the weight of that moment.
English has phrases like "on the occasion of," "at the time of," and "when [important event] happens." に際して, though, carries ceremonial weight those English phrases rarely match. It implies the event is not trivial — it is a significant milestone, transition, or moment that calls for deliberate attention.
This grammar point appears extensively in formal writing: company announcements, graduation speeches, official notices, policy documents, and ceremonial addresses. In casual conversation, it sounds stiff — even pompous. Knowing when not to use it matters as much as knowing the meaning itself.
Think of に際して as a spotlight on an event. It signals: right here, at this juncture, what follows demands attention. The event has special status — and the action responds to that status. Verbs like 注意する (to be careful), 確認する (to confirm), 準備する (to prepare), and お礼を申し上げる (to express gratitude) pair naturally with it for this reason.
に際して also appears as に際し (にさいし) — a compressed form equally formal and widely used in business and legal writing. The two are grammatically identical; に際し is simply the version favored when brevity matters.
Structure & Formation
The formation of に際して is straightforward, but attention must be paid to what word types precede it.
| Word Type | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + に際して | 卒業に際して |
| Verb (dictionary form) | Verb (dict.) + に際して | 渡航するに際して |
| Verb (noun form) | Verbal noun + に際して | 契約に際して |
When a verb precedes に際して, it must appear in its dictionary (plain non-past) form. You cannot attach に際して to a past-tense verb, a te-form, or a masu-form. The most natural phrasing tends to use a noun or a verbal noun (サ変動詞の語幹), as these flow most naturally in formal prose.
The particle に attaches directly to the noun or verb, and 際して is the te-form of the verb 際する (さいする), meaning "to face a moment" or "to be at a juncture." This underlying meaning reinforces the sense that に際して is always about a significant, defined moment in time.
- Noun + に際して — most common in written and ceremonial contexts
- Dictionary Verb + に際して — more common in instructional or procedural writing
- に際し — shortened form, identical in meaning, slightly more compact in writing
Example Sentences
Formal Ceremonies & Announcements
卒業に際して、学長がお祝いの言葉を述べた。
Sotsugyou ni saishite, gakuchou ga oiwai no kotoba wo nobeta.
On the occasion of graduation, the university president gave congratulatory remarks.
新年に際し、社長からメッセージが届いた。
Shinnen ni saishi, shachou kara messeeji ga todoita.
On the occasion of the New Year, a message arrived from the company president.
創立百周年に際して、記念式典が開催された。
Souritsu hyaku shuunen ni saishite, kinen shikiten ga kaisai sareta.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding, a commemorative ceremony was held.
Business & Procedural Contexts
契約を結ぶに際して、内容をよく確認してください。
Keiyaku wo musubu ni saishite, naiyou wo yoku kakunin shite kudasai.
When signing a contract, please confirm the contents carefully.
海外赴任に際して、ビザの取得が必要です。
Kaigai funin ni saishite, biza no shutoku ga hitsuyou desu.
On the occasion of an overseas assignment, obtaining a visa is necessary.
新しいシステムを導入するに際し、全社員への研修が行われた。
Atarashii shisutemu wo dounyuu suru ni saishi, zen shain e no kenshuu ga okonawareta.
Upon introducing the new system, training was conducted for all employees.
Travel & Life Events
渡航するに際して、健康保険の加入をお勧めします。
Tokou suru ni saishite, kenkou hoken no kanyuu wo osusume shimasu.
When traveling abroad, we recommend enrolling in health insurance.
結婚に際して、両親に深く感謝いたします。
Kekkon ni saishite, ryoushin ni fukaku kansha itashimasu.
On the occasion of my marriage, I am deeply grateful to my parents.
退職に際し、長年お世話になった皆様にお礼を申し上げます。
Taishoku ni saishi, naganen osewa ni natta minasama ni orei wo moushiagemasu.
On the occasion of my retirement, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have supported me over the years.
Official Notices & Legal Language
入国に際して、パスポートの提示が求められます。
Nyuukoku ni saishite, pasupooto no teiji ga motomeraremasu.
Upon entry to the country, presentation of a passport is required.
本サービスをご利用になるに際して、利用規約にご同意ください。
Hon saabisu wo goriyou ni naru ni saishite, riyou kiyaku ni godoui kudasai.
When using this service, please agree to the terms of use.
個人情報を提供するに際し、目的を明示する必要がある。
Kojin jouhou wo teikyou suru ni saishi, mokuteki wo meiji suru hitsuyou ga aru.
When providing personal information, it is necessary to clearly state the purpose.
Speeches & Expressions of Gratitude
開会に際して、一言ご挨拶申し上げます。
Kaikai ni saishite, hitokoto goaisatsu moushiagemasu.
On the occasion of the opening, allow me to say a few words of greeting.
出版に際し、多くの方々にご協力いただきました。
Shuppan ni saishi, ooku no katagata ni gokyouryoku itadakimashita.
On the occasion of this publication, I received the cooperation of many people.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using に際して in Casual Conversation
❌ ランチを食べるに際して、手を洗ってね。
✅ ランチを食べる前に、手を洗ってね。
に際して is a formal, written-language expression. Drop it into everyday situations — like telling a friend to wash their hands before lunch — and it sounds comically out of place. Reserve it for ceremonies, official announcements, speeches, contracts, and formal documents. For everyday speech, use 前に (before) or とき (when) instead.
Mistake 2: Attaching に際して to Adjectives or Past-Tense Verbs
❌ 忙しいに際して、ミスが増えた。
✅ 多忙な時期に際して、ミスが増えた。
に際して cannot follow adjectives (い-adjectives or な-adjectives) or past-tense verb forms. It requires a noun or a dictionary-form verb. When an adjective describes the situation, convert the idea into a noun form before attaching に際して. Learners often hit this snag when they try to force the pattern onto incompatible word types.
Mistake 3: Confusing に際して with にあたって
❌ 卒業に際して、将来の夢を考えた。(unnatural nuance)
✅ 卒業にあたって、将来の夢を考えた。
Both に際して and にあたって mean "on the occasion of," but their nuances differ. に際して emphasizes the moment itself — its significance — and pairs naturally with ceremonial or procedural actions. にあたって emphasizes the act of facing or approaching an event, and is slightly more personal, often used when someone reflects or decides in response to what lies ahead. For personal reflections or preparations, にあたって usually fits better.
Mistake 4: Omitting the Formality Register in Context
❌ (In a text message to a friend) 旅行に際して、気をつけてね！
✅ (In a text message to a friend) 旅行のとき、気をつけてね！
Even when technically grammatical, に際して in a text message or casual email creates a jarring register mismatch. It signals a serious, formal tone that feels out of place between friends. Be conscious of the overall register of your communication before reaching for this pattern.
Mistake 5: Treating に際して as Interchangeable with ときに
❌ 毎朝起きるに際して、水を飲んでいる。
✅ 毎朝起きるとき、水を飲んでいる。
に際して is reserved for significant, non-routine events. It cannot describe habitual, everyday, or trivial actions. Drinking water each morning does not qualify. Use ときに (when) or たびに (every time) for regular or repeated actions.
Cultural Notes
Japanese society attaches great importance to marking transitions with the right language. に際して reflects the cultural distinction between hare and ke (ハレとケ) — ceremonial occasions (ハレ) versus ordinary daily life (ケ). This grammar belongs firmly in the ハレ register, signaling that something significant is being acknowledged.
に際して turns up most naturally in wedding and retirement speeches, company ceremonies, academic prefaces, and official government notices. It marks the register before a single word of content appears. A company president addressing staff at the start of a new fiscal year, a university rector speaking to graduates — に際して anchors those elevated moments in language.
In business correspondence, choosing に際して correctly signals more than grammar knowledge — it shows cultural awareness. Japanese professionals recognize it as a marker of someone who has internalized social register, not just vocabulary. For learners, getting it right suggests real fluency, not just textbook memorization.
Japanese companies also reach for に際して in internal policy documents, safety manuals, and onboarding materials. Phrases like 入社に際して (on joining the company) and 業務を開始するに際して (when beginning work duties) appear routinely in such writing.
JLPT Tips
On the JLPT N2 exam, に際して appears most frequently in reading comprehension passages drawn from formal documents, business communications, and academic texts. Spot it quickly and you immediately know the sentence is anchoring an important event as context — which helps you parse formal paragraphs without slowing down.
In the grammar section, you may be asked to choose between に際して, にあたって, の際に, and similar expressions. The key distinguishing factors are: formality level (に際して is among the most formal), word type compatibility (nouns and dictionary-form verbs only), and nuance (ceremonial moment vs. personal preparation vs. general timing).
On test day: if the sentence involves a ceremony, formal announcement, official notice, or legally significant moment, に際して is likely the correct answer. If the sentence describes a personal reflection or preparation before an event, にあたって may be more appropriate. If the sentence describes a habitual action, neither applies — look for ときに or たびに.
Pay attention to the shortened form に際し. Exam passages often use this compressed form without explanation, and test-takers who only learned に際して may not immediately recognize it. Treat に際し and に際して as fully interchangeable for exam purposes.
Practice writing your own sentences in contexts like company announcements, travel advisories, or speech openings. Writing them builds an instinct for the register and tone — which is ultimately what the JLPT tests. Not just the rule, but when and why native speakers reach for it.