head office; headquarters; parent company
Only with reading ほんしゃ
Refers to the main office of a company or organization, or the parent company in a corporate group.
The head office is in Tokyo.
本社から指示が来た。
Instructions came from headquarters.
Used for the principal shrine in a complex or the head shrine of a sect. Less common than the corporate sense.
この神社の本社は京都にある。
The main shrine of this Shinto shrine is in Kyoto.
this company; this shrine
Only with reading ほんしゃ
Polite or formal way to refer to one's own company or shrine, often in business or religious contexts.
本社では、新製品の開発を進めております。
Our company is currently developing a new product.
This company has its headquarters in Tokyo.
Please contact the head office for more details.
He is an employee sent from the head office.
I'm scheduled to work at the head office starting next year.
本社 is a company's head office, while 営業所 is a local branch office under its authority.