アジェンダ

• Reading: アジェンダ
• Romaji: ajenda
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'agenda' → アジェンダ (katakana transliteration)
• Pronunciation: /a.dʑeɴ.da/

Meaning

Agenda; a list of topics or items to be discussed in a meeting.

アジェンダ is one of many English loanwords that have become standard in Japanese office culture. Using it signals a structured, professional approach to meetings. Some workers find the proliferation of such カタカナ語 (katakana words) pretentious, preferring native alternatives like 議題 or 議事次第. Nevertheless, アジェンダ has firmly established itself in modern Japanese workplace communication.

Examples

1. 今日のMTGのアジェンダ共有しておきました。 I've shared the agenda for today's meeting.
2. アジェンダなしで会議始めるのやめてほしい、時間の無駄。 I wish people would stop starting meetings without an agenda — it's a waste of time.
3. アジェンダに追加したいことがあるんですけど、いいですか？ I have something I'd like to add to the agenda — would that be okay?

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, meetings, email

Tone: professional, organized

Do Say

• アジェンダを事前に共有してもらえると助かります。 (It would be helpful if you could share the agenda in advance.)
• アジェンダに沿って進めましょう。 (Let's proceed according to the agenda.)

Don't Say

• 「アジェンダ」を使いすぎるとカタカナ語多すぎと嫌がられることも (Overusing アジェンダ and other katakana words can annoy people who prefer plain Japanese)

Common Mistakes

• Using アジェンダ in very traditional companies where 議題 is preferred
• Pronouncing it as 'agenda' with English stress — Japanese pronunciation is flat: アジェンダ

Origin & History

From English 'agenda,' which itself comes from Latin. Adopted into Japanese business vocabulary as Western meeting practices became standard, particularly from the 2000s onward.

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s onward, now standard business vocabulary

Generation: All working-age adults

Social background: Office workers, especially in tech and consulting

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. More common in modern and international workplaces; traditional companies may still prefer 議題.