This research focuses on phatic expressions as language functions used in Japanese emails. One of the popular Japanese email providers is yahoo Japan. This research uses a descriptive method with a qualitative approach that refers to Bronislaw Malinowski's phatic theory. In this study the data was taken from yahoo subscription emails such as personalized notifications, advertisements and offers. This study found that phatic expressions are used as small talk before getting into the main topic of information. Small talk does not carry important information. However, small talk has a great impact in relationships especially between individuals who do not have a close relationship. In Japanese small talk is an expression of greeting that has an important function in maintaining social relationships between the receiver of information and the giver of information. This is similar to the Japanese concept of tatemae in maintaining harmony between individuals.