Birthday Wishes in Japanese: Expressing Best Wishes

Published: 20 Jun 2025

Birthday Wishes in Japanese are a wonderful way to express your love, respect, and joy for someone on their special day. Japanese culture places great emphasis on politeness and thoughtfulness, so Birthday Wishes in Japanese are often filled with gratitude and well-wishing for health, happiness, and success. Whether you’re sending a message to a friend, family member, or colleague, offering your birthday wishes in Japanese adds a unique and heartfelt touch.

Here are several birthday wishes in Japanese, along with their English translations, to help you celebrate someone’s birthday in a meaningful way.

Basic Birthday Wishes in Japanese

お誕生日おめでとう (Otanjobi omedetou)
Translation: Happy Birthday!
This is the simplest and most common way to say “Happy Birthday” in Japanese. It can be used in both casual and formal settings.
お誕生日おめでとうございます (Otanjobi omedetou gozaimasu)
Translation: Happy Birthday (more polite form).
The addition of “gozaimasu” makes this a more formal and polite way of wishing someone a happy birthday. It’s ideal for people you don’t know well or for professional settings.

Wishing Health and Happiness

健康と幸せを祈っています (Kenko to shiawase wo inotteimasu)
Translation: Wishing you health and happiness.
This birthday wish expresses a desire for the recipient’s well-being and joy. It’s a thoughtful message for someone you care about.
素晴らしい一年になりますように (Subarashii ichinen ni narimasu you ni)
Translation: I hope this year will be wonderful.
This message expresses your hope that the recipient’s coming year is filled with greatness and success.

Wishing Success and Good Fortune

これからもずっと幸せでありますように (Korekara mo zutto shiawase de arimasu you ni)
Translation: I hope you continue to be happy forever.
A heartfelt message for a loved one, wishing them lasting happiness in the years to come.
これからの一年が素晴らしいものでありますように (Korekara no ichinen ga subarashii mono de arimasu you ni)
Translation: I hope the coming year will be a wonderful one.
This is a nice way to wish someone a successful and happy year ahead, perfect for a birthday wish.

Fun and Lighthearted Birthday Wishes

素敵な一日を過ごしてくださいね (Suteki na ichinichi wo sugoshi kudasai ne)
Translation: Have a wonderful day.
A simple and warm message to wish someone a lovely birthday filled with joy and happiness.
ケーキがいっぱい食べられますように (Keeki ga ippai taberaremasu you ni)
Translation: I hope you can eat lots of cake!
This fun and lighthearted message is perfect for someone with a sweet tooth, making their birthday even more special.

Wishing Youth and Vitality

いつまでも若々しくいてください (Itsumademo wakawakashiku ite kudasai)
Translation: Please stay youthful forever.
This is a common birthday wish for older people, wishing them to stay vibrant and full of energy.
ますます素晴らしい一年をお祈りします (Masumasu subarashii ichinen wo oinorishimasu)
Translation: Wishing you an even better year ahead.
This message is perfect for someone who is already doing well and you want to wish them continued success.

Birthday Wishes in Japanese for Loved Ones

あなたの誕生日をお祝いできて本当に嬉しいです (Anata no tanjoubi wo oiwai dekite hontou ni ureshii desu)
Translation: I’m really happy to be able to celebrate your birthday.
A heartfelt message that expresses how much it means to you to share their special day with them.
あなたの存在は私にとってとても大切です (Anata no sonzai wa watashi ni totte totemo taisetsu desu)
Translation: Your presence means so much to me.
This heartfelt message is ideal for a close friend or loved one, expressing the deep value of their relationship.

Wishing a Bright Future

未来に素晴らしいことがたくさん待っていますように (Mirai ni subarashii koto ga takusan matteimasu you ni)
Translation: I hope many wonderful things are waiting for you in the future.
This wish is perfect for someone starting a new chapter in their life and can be used to express hope for their future.
あなたの未来が輝かしいものでありますように (Anata no mirai ga kagayakashii mono de arimasu you ni)
Translation: May your future be filled with brilliance.
This elegant message is ideal for someone who is entering an exciting new phase in their life, like graduating or starting a new job.

Wishing for Good Times and Memories

素敵な思い出をたくさん作ってください (Suteki na omoide wo takusan tsukutte kudasai)
Translation: Please make lots of wonderful memories.
A lovely birthday wish encouraging the recipient to create joyful and memorable moments in the year ahead.
最高の一日になりますように (Saikou no ichinichi ni narimasu you ni)
Translation: I hope it will be the best day ever.
A simple but heartfelt wish that the recipient’s birthday will be the most memorable and enjoyable one.

A Fun Birthday Wish for a Friend

誕生日おめでとう！これからも一緒に楽しい時間を過ごそうね (Tanjoubi omedetou! Korekara mo issho ni tanoshii jikan wo sugosou ne)
Translation: Happy Birthday! Let’s keep spending fun times together.
A playful and friendly message for a close friend, expressing excitement for the future times you’ll share together.

Conclusion: Birthday Wishes in Japanese

Birthday wishes in Japanese are a beautiful way to show your affection, respect, and joy for someone on their special day. Whether you choose a simple wish, a fun message, or a heartfelt blessing, expressing your thoughts in Japanese can add a personal and meaningful touch to the celebration. From wishing good health and happiness to offering success and prosperity, these birthday messages are perfect for a variety of occasions and relationships.So, whether it’s for a friend, a loved one, or a colleague, don’t hesitate to share your birthday wishes in Japanese and make their day even more memorable. Happy Birthday in Japanese!