“〜ni saishite / ni saishi”: On the Occasion of 〜 (Ceremonial Written Language) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「契約に際して条件を確認する」 — a ceremonial “on the occasion of” for weighty moments.

「卒業に際して、一言」 — the ceremonial expression for “just at the occasion of ～”

A twin of 「にあたって」 — 「卒業に際して、恩師に感謝の言葉を (on graduation, words of thanks to one's teachers).」 「〜に際して／〜に際し」 = on the occasion of ～, at the time of ～, just when ～. It's a ceremonial, formal written timing expression. This guide clarifies its core of “just at some occasion, timing,” its fitness for facing crises etc., and finely distinguishing it from the near-synonymous 「にあたって」 (mostly interchangeable) and the colloquial 「とき.」

Core: just at the occasion, timing of ～ (ceremonial, formal)

「noun／verb dictionary form ＋ に際して（に際し）」 means “just at the occasion of ～, on ～, at the time of ～” — used for a specific occasion, timing, with a ceremonial, formal written feel:

• 開会に際して、主催者よりご挨拶を申し上げます (just at the opening, a greeting from the organizers).
• ご利用に際し、以下の点にご注意ください (on use, please note the following).
• 非常時に際して、冷静な判断が求められる (when facing an emergency, calm judgment is called for).

Feel: the core is “just at this occasion, timing of ～.” It's more formal, more ceremonial than the colloquial 「とき,」 often for addresses, notices, guidance, formal occasions (a meeting, graduation, signing, using a product). It can also be used for facing, encountering some (one-off, even negative sudden) occasion (非常時に際して = when facing an emergency, 危機に際して = when facing a crisis). 「に際し」 is a slightly more written form. In English: “on the occasion of ～, at the time of ～, just when ～, when facing ～.”

Attachment rules

Example sentences

• 新規口座の開設に際して、本人確認書類が必要です。(On opening a new account, ID documents are required.)
• 退職に際し、長年の感謝を申し上げます。(On retiring, I express years of gratitude.)
• 災害に際しては、まず身の安全を確保してください。(When facing a disaster, first secure your own safety.)
• 契約更新に際し、料金の改定がございます。(On contract renewal, there will be a fee revision.)
• 出発に際して、彼は家族と固い握手を交わした。(On departure, he exchanged firm handshakes with his family.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① The core is ‘just at the occasion, timing of ～,' ceremonial, formal — everyday speech uses 「とき.」 This is 「に際して」's register point. It's a ceremonial, formal written “on the occasion of ～,” far more solemn than the colloquial 「とき,」 mostly for addresses, notices, guidance, formal occasions (a meeting, graduation, signing, retiring). Everyday speech almost never uses it — for “when ～,” friends just say 「〜とき,」 not 「に際して」 (which would sound overly formal, stiff). Test: for “on the occasion of ～” in a formal address, notice, guidance → に際して; for everyday “when ～” → とき.

② ⭐Nearly synonymous with 「にあたって,」 mostly interchangeable; the subtle difference is ‘pure timing／fit for on-the-spot encounter' vs ‘facing, undertaking.' This is the point most needing distinction. 「に際して」 and 「にあたって」 both mean “on the occasion of ～,” interchangeable in the vast majority of formal settings (開会に際して ≒ 開会にあたって, 卒業に際して ≒ 卒業にあたって). The subtle difference: 「〜に際して」 leans “just at the occasion, timing of ～” (more purely “that occasion, timing” itself, slightly more neutral in feel); and it's more usable for on-the-spot, passively encountered occasions — facing a crisis, disaster, emergency (危機に際して, 災害に際して, 非常時に際して), this “facing, encountering some (sudden) situation” being 「に際して」's more natural turf. 「〜にあたって」 leans “the moment of facing, undertaking some important matter” (with the active “preparing, resolving for it” nuance, mostly for actively-undertaken positive matters, see 〈にあたって〉). Difference: 「に際して」 leans pure “occasion, timing,” usable for passively facing crises／disasters; 「にあたって」 leans the active “facing, undertaking (some positive great matter)” (see 〈にあたって〉). Test: pure “just at the occasion of ～,” or facing a crisis／disaster etc. on the spot → slightly toward に際して; stressing “facing, undertaking (some great matter), preparing for it” → slightly toward にあたって. In most formal settings both work.

③ Attachment: a noun or verb dictionary form. In attachment, 「に際して」 precedes a noun (開会に際して, 退職に際して) or a verb dictionary form (利用するに際して, 契約するに際し). Test: noun ＋ に際して (開会に際して); verb dictionary form ＋ に際して (利用するに際して). 「に際し」 is a slightly more written form of 「に際して,」 same meaning (common in notices, guidance).

🔄 Compare with similar forms: に際して／にあたって／に先立って／とき

💡 An exam judgment tip

「〜に際して／〜に際し」 = just at the occasion of ～, on ～ — three points: ① the core is “just at the occasion, timing of ～,” ceremonial, formal written (addresses／notices／guidance), while everyday uses 「とき」; ②⭐nearly synonymous with 「にあたって,」 mostly interchangeable — the subtle difference: に際して leans “pure timing” and is more usable for facing crises／disasters on the spot (危機に際して), にあたって leans the active “facing, undertaking some positive great matter” (see 〈にあたって〉); ③ attachment is a noun or verb dictionary form. This twin pair (に際して／にあたって) is easy to remember: for a formal “on the occasion of ～,” both are fine, mostly interchangeable; only for on-the-spot, passively encountered occasions like “facing a crisis, disaster” is 「に際して」 more natural (危機に際して ＞ 危機にあたって). For everyday “when ～,” use neither — just use 「とき.」

❓ Common questions

Q: What exactly is the difference between 「に際して」 and 「にあたって」? Interchangeable?

The two are very close, both meaning “on the occasion of ～,” interchangeable in the vast majority of formal settings, with a subtle difference. 「〜に際して」 = just at the occasion of ～, on ～ (leaning pure ‘occasion, timing,' and more usable for on-the-spot, passively encountered situations): it more purely means “this occasion, timing of ～” itself, slightly more neutral in feel; and it's more usable for facing, encountering some (sudden, even negative) situation — 危機に際して (when facing a crisis), 災害に際して (when facing a disaster), 非常時に際して (in an emergency), this “facing, encountering” being its natural turf: 緊急事態に際して、落ち着いて行動する (when facing an emergency, act calmly). 「〜にあたって」 = on the occasion of ～, facing ～ (leaning the active ‘facing, undertaking some important matter,' see 〈にあたって〉): it leans slightly toward the active “facing this, preparing, resolving, setting about it,” mostly for actively-undertaken positive great matters (opening, appointment, a new project): 新事業を始めるにあたって、決意を新たにする (on undertaking a new venture, renew one's resolve). Difference: 「に際して」 leans pure “occasion, timing,” usable for passively facing crises／disasters; 「にあたって」 leans the active “facing, undertaking (a positive great matter).” Test: pure “just at the occasion of ～,” or facing a crisis／disaster on the spot → slightly toward に際して (危機に際して ＞ 危機にあたって); stressing “facing, undertaking some positive great matter, preparing for it” → slightly toward にあたって. But for general formal occasions like a meeting, graduation, signing, the two interchange freely — no need to fret.

Q: What's the difference between 「に際して」 and 「に先立って」?

The difference is ‘just at the time of ～' vs ‘prior to ～.' 「〜に際して」 = just at the occasion of ～, on ～ (right at that occasion, timing): it means “just at the occasion, timing ～ occurs,” “at the time of ～, on ～”: 出発に際して、挨拶をする (just at departure, give a greeting — right at the departure timing), 契約に際して、条件を確認する (on signing, check conditions — right at the signing occasion). 「〜に先立って」 = prior to ～, ahead of ～ (earlier in time than something, beforehand, in advance): it means “‘before' ～ occurs, doing something in advance,” stressing the temporal “ahead of, beforehand”: 出発に先立って、持ち物を確認する (before departure, check one's belongings first — done in advance of departure), 会議に先立ち、資料を配布する (before the meeting, distribute materials first). Difference: 「に際して」 is “just at the time of ～” (right at that occasion); 「に先立って」 is “prior to ～” (earlier in time, in advance). Test: to say “just at the occasion of ～, at the time of ～” → に際して; to say “‘before' ～, ahead of ～, beforehand” → に先立って. So “give a greeting at departure” is 「出発に際して,」 “check belongings before departure” is 「出発に先立って」 — one is “at the moment,” the other “before.”

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「ビザの申請___、各種書類が必要となります。」(on applying for a visa)

(A) について　(B) に際して　(C) によって　(D) に向けて

Q2. 「結婚する___、お世話になった皆様に感謝を伝えたい。」(on the occasion of marrying)

(A) に際して　(B) にあたって　(C) において　(D) にとって

Q3. In which sentence is 「に際して」 most appropriate?

(A) 卒業するに際して、先生に感謝した。

(B) 手術を受けるに際して、事前に説明を受けてください。

(C) 旅行に際して、楽しみましょう。

(D) 仕事に際して、頑張る。

Q4. 「契約___、こちらの条件を必ずご確認ください。」(on signing the contract)

(A) について　(B) に際して　(C) において　(D) によって

Q5. What's the biggest difference between 「に際して」 and 「にあたって」?

(A) exactly the same, interchangeable

(B) に際して is a concrete procedure/condition; にあたって is preparation/sentiment at a major occasion

(C) にあたって is written only

(D) に際して is colloquial only

Answer Key

1. (B) に際して ── ビザの申請に際して = on applying for a visa (a procedure/formal occasion).

2. (A) に際して ── 結婚するに際して = on the occasion of marrying. (にあたって also fits.)

3. (B) 手術を受けるに際して ── に際して suits a procedural notice (pre-surgery instructions).

4. (B) に際して ── 契約に際して = on signing the contract.

5. (B) ── に際して is a concrete procedure/condition; にあたって is preparation/sentiment at a major occasion.