15656
Most of the time when I'm composing e-mail in Japanese it's either:

  * A friendly, informal e-mail to a friend
  * A request for tech support or similar customer service

When composing these e-mails I tend to want to use 拝啓 and 早々, as I was taught
for regular letters in class, but they feel far too formal or stilted. I've
occasionally used こんにちは as an opening, but due to the nature of e-mail that
feels like it may or may not be appropriate depending on the time it is
received.

What is the typical practice for phrasing openings and closings in these
e-mails?

Note: Saw [this](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/5172/openings-
and-closings-salutations-and-valedictions-when-writing-a-letter-e-mai) when
prepping, but it doesn't cover what I was looking for.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-28T16:29:00.877
15637
2014-11-07T21:23:12.760
2017-04-13T12:43:44.207
-1
4914
question
usage email
What's the appropriate 挨拶 for e-mails to a friend and for e-mails to customer service?
For an opening to a "support" or service email, you can often start off with
`いつもお世話になっております` to affirm your "business" relationship with them (even if you
don't really have one).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-28T17:05:35.423
15640
2014-04-28T17:05:35.423
78
15637
answer
I think anything will do for informal emails, but definitely not 拝啓 or 早々 as
these are only used in snail mails. Something like どうも or 元気にしてる？ would be
fine.

In a business setting it's much more complicated (I would even say bizarre),
and you should check with your colleagues as the format varies between
companies or even projects (and some people take offence when the emails don't
conform to them). Here are some general resources on the subject
([link](http://www.sweet.cside5.com/businessletter/2.htm),
[link](http://www.aa.alpha-net.ne.jp/mamos/about/mailhows.html),
[link](http://www.tku.ac.jp/~densan/blog/2007/12/post_23.html))
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T10:56:39.157
15656
2014-04-30T10:56:39.157
499
15637
answer
As you say, `拝啓` and `早々` are too formal for emails.

Opening with `いつもお世話になっております` is appropriate for the emails of requesting
something if you belong to the company and write as an employee of the
company, but I think it's too formal for an email to friends.

I suggest following format:

```

    [to name]さん、こんにちは
    
    [from name]です。
    
    [contents]
    
    よろしくお願いします。
    
    [signature]
    
```

Closing with `よろしくお願いします` is natural for the email of requesting something.
And it is polite but not too formal. If you want the more formal closing, you
can say `ご検討のほど、よろしくお願いします` or `よろしくお願い致します`.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-01T03:49:56.583
15673
2014-05-01T03:49:56.583
5264
15637
answer