1on1

• Reading: ワンオンワン
• Romaji: wan on wan
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'one-on-one' — written as 1on1 in schedules and business communication
• Pronunciation: /waɴ oɴ waɴ/

Meaning

A one-on-one meeting between a manager and a team member, typically held regularly for feedback, career discussion, and relationship building.

Adopted from Silicon Valley management practices, 1on1 meetings became a major trend in Japanese companies from the late 2010s. Yahoo Japan was one of the first major adopters, publishing a book about it in 2017 that popularized the concept. Unlike traditional Japanese top-down management, 1on1s are meant to be employee-driven conversations. Reception is mixed: some workers value the dedicated time, while others see it as another corporate obligation.

Examples

1. 明日の1on1で、異動の希望を上司に伝えようと思う。 I'm planning to tell my boss about my transfer request in tomorrow's 1-on-1.
2. 1on1が形だけになってて、毎回同じ話しかしない。 Our 1-on-1s have become just a formality — we end up talking about the same things every time.
3. いい上司との1on1はモチベーション上がるけど、相性悪いと地獄だよね。 A 1-on-1 with a good boss is a real morale boost, but with a bad match it's absolute torture.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, business, management

Tone: professional, matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 来週の1on1で今後のキャリアについて相談したいんですが。 (I'd like to discuss my future career path in our 1on1 next week.)
• 1on1ではなんでも気軽に話してくれていいよ。 (Feel free to talk about anything in our 1on1.)

Don't Say

• 1on1で上司の悪口を言うのは避ける — 評価に影響する可能性がある (Avoid badmouthing your boss's boss in 1on1s — it could affect your evaluation)

Common Mistakes

• Treating 1on1 as a status update meeting — it's supposed to be a development-focused conversation
• Not preparing topics and wasting the time on small talk

Origin & History

From English 'one-on-one.' Popularized in Japanese corporate culture after Yahoo Japan's 2017 book on the practice. Became widespread as tech companies and progressive organizations adopted Silicon Valley-style management.

Cultural Context

Era: Late 2010s adoption in Japan, popularized 2017+

Generation: Working adults in corporate environments

Social background: Tech companies and progressive corporations

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. More common at tech companies and foreign-affiliated firms than at traditional Japanese companies.