How to Use "Ketsuron kara Mōshiagemasu to" (Let Me Start with the Conclusion): Opening Phrases That Make Reports Clear, and Alternatives for Each Situation

In workplace reports, it is considered standard to state the conclusion first. "Ketsuron kara mōshiagemasu to" ("Let me start with the conclusion") is a single phrase that signals this. With this phrase, listeners know that the conclusion is coming and can follow what you say. There are also set opening phrases for changing the topic and for bringing up something important.

When a Chronological Report Gets Interrupted

*This scenario is fictional, based on cases common among learners.

Hoang, who had been with the company for six months, prepared his report for the morning meeting the night before. His notes were arranged in the order that things happened.

"Last week, I sent a quote to Company A. They asked for revisions, so I corrected it and sent it again. After that, they replied and..."

There were no grammatical errors. But the section manager stopped him there and said, "So, what are you trying to say?"

Hoang had planned to say, "The contract has been decided," at the end. He had assumed that telling things in order would get the message across. What the manager wanted to know was whether the report was about a contract being won or a problem that had come up. Without knowing that, the listener has to keep following the story without knowing where it is going.

Business guides explain that the basic approach is to give the conclusion first, followed by the reasons and supporting evidence, and that it helps to assume listeners are usually impatient [1]. They also say that saving the climax for the end, as in a movie or novel, is not needed in workplace reports [1]. A good rule of thumb for the order is conclusion, then background, then what you want to consult about [2].

Reverse the Order of Your Preparation

For his next report, Hoang changed the order in which he wrote things. On the first line of his notes, he wrote the most important point. The reasons and background came after that.

"Let me start with the conclusion: the contract with Company A has been decided. I will explain how it came about."

After this one sentence, the manager said, "Okay, go on," and settled in to listen. The content was almost the same as last time. The only things that changed were the order and the one phrase that signaled it.

The same pattern works when you want to ask for advice. As in "Regarding XX, it looks like we won't make the deadline, so I'd like to consult with you," you state the purpose first [3].

Ways to Give the Conclusion First, and Choosing by Listener

"Ketsuron kara mōshiagemasu to" is a formal expression suited to reports to a superior or presentations at meetings. "Mōshiageru" is the humble form (a way of speaking that lowers oneself) of "iu" (to say). To colleagues or friends, it sounds a bit heavy.

This division is only a guideline. If you are unsure, match the level of politeness you normally use with that person.

If you write "Ketsuron kara mōshiagemasu to, ashita wa ikemasen" ("Let me state the conclusion first: I am unable to go tomorrow") in a message to a friend, it comes across as distant. "Ketsuron kara iu to, ashita wa ikenai n da. Gomen ne" ("To get to the point, I can't go tomorrow. Sorry!") is more natural.

Yōsuru ni, Hanashi wa Kawarimasu ga, Tokoro de, Jitsu wa

Besides giving the conclusion first, there are other opening phrases that signal where the talk is heading.

Yōsuru ni ("in short") is used to state the key point briefly after a long explanation. It comes after the explanation is finished, as in "Various problems overlapped, but in short, we need to review our schedule management." If you put it at the start of a topic that you have not yet explained, it sounds unnatural.

When you want to clearly signal a move to a different agenda item, hanashi wa kawarimasu ga ("changing the subject") fits well. You would say, "That concludes my report. Changing the subject, I'd also like to confirm the hiring matter."

Tokoro de ("by the way") is also a signal for changing the topic. Because it is a short single word, it can be used in meetings and in casual chat alike. If you are talking about work and suddenly say, "I'm moving next week," the other person will be confused. With "Tokoro de, I'm moving next week," they can tell that the subject has changed.

Jitsu wa ("actually," "to tell the truth") is a signal that you are about to say something important or unexpected. For heavy news, whether it is there or not changes how it is received.

• "I was called back for a re-examination after last month's health checkup." (This sounds as though you are stating a fact matter-of-factly, and the listener may take it lightly.)
• "Jitsu wa, I was called back for a re-examination after last month's health checkup..." (The listener understands that something important is starting and settles in to listen.)

However, when you report bad news at work, such as your own mistake, it is explained that the key is to offer an apology first and then state the facts briefly, conclusion first [4]. The situation is different from a personal confession such as one about your health.

Common Mistakes in Usage, and Connecting Sentences

Opening phrases backfire both when overused and when used incorrectly.

• Using them one after another. If you go on like this: "In short, plan A is good. Jitsu wa, plan B also has advantages. Tokoro de, how about plan C? In short, each has its pros and cons." it becomes unclear which part is important. There is no need to use the same opening phrase many times within a single topic.
• What follows "jitsu wa" is trivial. With "Jitsu wa, today's lunch was pasta," the content cannot live up to the listener's expectations. Save "jitsu wa" for consultations, important reports, and unexpected events.

Besides opening phrases, words that connect one sentence to the next also signal the flow of the talk. Take "Miyamoto-san wa senshū yasumimashita. Taichō ga warukatta desu. Shigoto wa watashi ga shimashita." ("Ms. Miyamoto took last week off. She was in poor health. I did the work."). If you revise it to "Miyamoto-san wa senshū, taichō furyō de yasumimashita. Sono tame, tantō gyōmu wa watashi ga hikitsugimashita." ("Ms. Miyamoto took last week off due to poor health. For that reason, I took over her duties."), the relationships between the sentences become clear.

References

1. Tomoyuki Kibe, "'Daibu,' 'Kanari,' 'Dekiru dake hayaku': Big Words Often Used by People Whom Those Around Them Think 'Can't Do Their Job,'" PRESIDENT Online (excerpt from Nyūsha 1-nen-me no Business Skill Taizen), 2022. https://president.jp/articles/-/58083
2. "What Is Hōrensō? Meaning, Tips for Doing It Well, Reasons It Goes Wrong, and Why It Is Called Outdated," LINE WORKS, 2026. https://line-works.com/roger/column/workplace-reporting-basics/
3. "The Importance of Hōrensō (Reporting, Informing, Consulting): Purpose, Method, and Cautions in Business," Mynavi Agent CANVAS, 2025. https://mynavi-agent.jp/dainishinsotsu/canvas/2023/10/post-1102.html
4. Naoyumi Fujita, "How to Use Hōrensō in Business! What Is a Good Way to Report?," All About, 2022. https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/426598