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The correct suffix is basically based on who they are, not who you are. Regardless of your current position, you use 先生 when writing to a teacher (e.g., 助教, 講師, 准教授 or 教授). Otherwise, you will use さん or 様 appropriately.

As a professor writing to another professor, should I use 〜さん (like in other workplaces) or 〜先生?

Since you're writing to a teacher, you need to stick to 先生. This is the same even if you are a university president or a Nobel Prize winner. You should not use さん unless you're talking to them as your personal friend.

As a professor writing to a junior staff member (doctoral student or post-doc), what is the right form of address?

• If that staff member holds a title as a teacher, you need to always use 先生.
• If that staff member holds a license such as a medical license, which warrants being called 先生 even by the general public, then you use 先生, too.
• When writing to those who do not hold such titles or licenses, including grad students, post-doc researchers (paid or unpaid) and research assistants, you use さん when they are your subordinates, and 様 when they are outside your research group. In direct conversations, it's generally safe to use さん to address such outside researchers.

I have noticed in some emails that another professor addresses the junior researcher as 〜君, but I am wondering if that is a general thing.

君 is still commonly used in some universities (慶應義塾's convention is well-known), but it's generally considered outdated in business and academic settings. 君 might have been a respectful way of addressing your peers more than half a century ago, but it's now primarily a way of addressing young boys. Some researchers may feel confused or even offended if addressed with 君.

The correct suffix is basically based on who they are, not who you are. Regardless of your current position, you use 先生 when writing to a teacher (e.g., 助教, 講師, 准教授 or 教授). Otherwise, you will use さん or 様 appropriately.

As a professor writing to another professor, should I use 〜さん (like in other workplaces) or 〜先生?

Since you're writing to a teacher, you need to stick to 先生. This is the same even if you are a university president or a Nobel Prize winner. You should not use さん unless you're talking to them as your personal friend.

As a professor writing to a junior staff member (doctoral student or post-doc), what is the right form of address?

• If that staff member holds a title as a teacher, you need to always use 先生.
• If that staff member holds a license such as a medical license, which warrants being called 先生 even by the general public, then you use 先生, too.
• When writing to those who do not hold such titles or licenses, including grad students, post-doc researchers (paid or unpaid) and research assistants, you use さん if they are your subordinates, and 様 if they are outside your research group. In direct conversation, it's generally safe to use さん to address such outside researchers.

I have noticed in some emails that another professor addresses the junior researcher as 〜君, but I am wondering if that is a general thing.

君 is still commonly used in some universities (慶應義塾's convention is well-known), but it's generally considered outdated in business and academic settings. 君 might have been a respectful way of addressing your peers more than half a century ago, but it's now primarily a way of addressing young boys. Some researchers may feel confused or even offended if addressed with 君.

As a professor writing to another professor, should I use 〜さん (like in other workplaces) or 〜先生?

Since you're writing to a teacher, you need to stick to 先生. This is the same even if you are a university president, a prime minister or a Nobel Prize winner. You should not use さん unless they have become your personal friend.

As a professor writing to a junior staff member (doctoral student or post-doc), what is the right form of address?

• If that staff member holds a title as a teacher (e.g., 教諭, 助教, 講師), you need to always use 先生.
• If that staff member holds a license such as a medical license, which warrants being called 先生 even by the general public, then you use 先生, too.
• For those who do not hold such titles or licenses, including grad students, post-doc researchers (paid or unpaid) and research assistants, you use さん when writing to your subordinates, and 様 when writing to those outside your research group. It's also generally safe to use さん when addressing such outside researchers in direct conversations.

I have noticed in some emails that another professor addresses the junior researcher as 〜君, but I am wondering if that is a general thing.

君 is still commonly used in some universities (慶應義塾's convention is well-known), but it's generally considered outdated in business and academic settings. 君 might have been a respectful way of addressing your peers more than half a century ago, but it's now primarily a way of addressing young boys. Some researchers may feel confused or even offended if addressed with 君.

The correct suffix is basically based on who they are, not who you are. Regardless of your current position, you use 先生 when writing to a teacher (e.g., 助教, 講師, 准教授 or 教授). Otherwise, you will use さん or 様 appropriately.

As a professor writing to another professor, should I use 〜さん (like in other workplaces) or 〜先生?

Since you're writing to a teacher, you need to stick to 先生. This is the same even if you are a university president or a Nobel Prize winner. You should not use さん unless you're talking to them as your personal friend.

As a professor writing to a junior staff member (doctoral student or post-doc), what is the right form of address?

• If that staff member holds a title as a teacher, you need to always use 先生.
• If that staff member holds a license such as a medical license, which warrants being called 先生 even by the general public, then you use 先生, too.
• When writing to those who do not hold such titles or licenses, including grad students, post-doc researchers (paid or unpaid) and research assistants, you use さん when they are your subordinates, and 様 when they are outside your research group. In direct conversations, it's generally safe to use さん to address such outside researchers.

I have noticed in some emails that another professor addresses the junior researcher as 〜君, but I am wondering if that is a general thing.

君 is still commonly used in some universities (慶應義塾's convention is well-known), but it's generally considered outdated in business and academic settings. 君 might have been a respectful way of addressing your peers more than half a century ago, but it's now primarily a way of addressing young boys. Some researchers may feel confused or even offended if addressed with 君.

As a professor writing to another professor, should I use 〜さん (like in other workplaces) or 〜先生?

Since you're writing to a teacher, you must stick to 先生. This is the same even if you are a university president, a prime minister or a Nobel Prize winner. Don't use さん unless they have become your personal friend.

As a professor writing to a junior staff member (doctoral student or post-doc), what is the right form of address?

• If that staff member holds a title as a teacher (e.g., 教諭, 助教, 講師), always use 先生.
• If that staff member holds a license such as a medical license, which warrants being called 先生 even by the general public, then you use 先生, too.
• For everyone who does not hold such titles or licenses, including grad students, post-doc researchers (paid or unpaid) and research assistants, you use さん when writing to your subordinates, and 様 when writing to those outside your research group. It's also generally safe to use さん when addressing such outside researchers in direct conversations.

I have noticed in some emails that another professor addresses the junior researcher as 〜君, but I am wondering if that is a general thing.

君 is still commonly used in some universities (慶應義塾's convention is well-known), but it's generally considered outdated in business and academic settings. 君 might have been a respectful way of addressing your academic peers more than half a century ago, but it's now primarily a way of addressing young boys. Some researchers may feel confused or even offended if addressed with 君.

As a professor writing to another professor, should I use 〜さん (like in other workplaces) or 〜先生?

Since you're writing to a teacher, you need to stick to 先生. This is the same even if you are a university president, a prime minister or a Nobel Prize winner. You should not use さん unless they have become your personal friend.

As a professor writing to a junior staff member (doctoral student or post-doc), what is the right form of address?

• If that staff member holds a title as a teacher (e.g., 教諭, 助教, 講師), you need to always use 先生.
• If that staff member holds a license such as a medical license, which warrants being called 先生 even by the general public, then you use 先生, too.
• For those who do not hold such titles or licenses, including grad students, post-doc researchers (paid or unpaid) and research assistants, you use さん when writing to your subordinates, and 様 when writing to those outside your research group. It's also generally safe to use さん when addressing such outside researchers in direct conversations.

I have noticed in some emails that another professor addresses the junior researcher as 〜君, but I am wondering if that is a general thing.

君 is still commonly used in some universities (慶應義塾's convention is well-known), but it's generally considered outdated in business and academic settings. 君 might have been a respectful way of addressing your peers more than half a century ago, but it's now primarily a way of addressing young boys. Some researchers may feel confused or even offended if addressed with 君.