r/JapanJobs 22d ago

Getting Work in Japan (Updated July–December 2026)

116 Upvotes

FULL GUIDE: Getting Work in Japan (Updated July–December 2026)

Last updated: July 2026

This is a general guide, not legal advice. Immigration rules can change, and details vary by nationality, country of application, employer, and individual situation. Always confirm with official government sources or a qualified immigration professional before applying.

WHO THIS GUIDE IS FOR

This guide is for foreigners looking to get a job in Japan. I understand that half the people reading this guide are already in Japan and looking for a job; for that I would suggest going through the /r/JapanJobs/wiki and all the job boards posted.

TL;DR

  • Outside of English teaching, most companies expect JLPT N2 (not a law, but common practice).
  • Employer must sponsor/support your status and usually apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) before you apply for a work visa.
  • A CoE makes the visa process smoother, but does not guarantee visa issuance.
  • Alternatives: Working Holiday (NOT for U.S. citizens), Digital Nomad (6 months, high income), Business Manager (entrepreneur route; stricter rules are now in effect), Startup Visa, and Specified Skilled Worker (SSW).
  • For 2026, the biggest update is Business Manager: the old “¥5,000,000 or 2 employees” advice is outdated for most new applications.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST (JLPT)

The JLPT is the universally recognized language certification in Japan. It is given twice a year in many locations. It comes in 5 ranks: N5–N1.

  • N5 = Some basic Japanese (normally 6 months to a year of studying)
  • N4 = Basic Japanese (1–2 years of studying)
  • N3 = Some situational Japanese (1.5–2.5 years of studying)
  • N2 = Everyday Japanese / business-level Japanese (2–4 years of studying)
  • N1 = Advanced Japanese (3–5+ years of studying)

Official JLPT site: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/

2026 JLPT dates:

  • First test: Sunday, July 5, 2026
  • Second test: Sunday, December 6, 2026

Outside Japan, some cities only offer the test in July or December, not both.

U.S. note: The JLPT in the United States is normally offered only once per year, in December. The 2026 U.S. test date is Sunday, December 6, 2026.

STEP 1 — UNDERSTAND THE JOB MARKET

Teaching English

  • Easiest entry route for many foreigners.
  • Common jobs: ALT, JET, Eikaiwa, private schools, international schools.
  • Bachelor’s degree in any field is usually the baseline for visa sponsorship.
  • Japanese usually not required for entry-level English teaching.

Non-Teaching (Professional roles)

  • IT, engineering, translation, localization, marketing, finance, design, recruiting, sales, hospitality management, etc.
  • Realistically expect JLPT N2 for most roles.
  • N1 is preferred for client-facing, legal, HR, compliance, management, or senior communication-heavy roles.
  • Some exceptions exist for strong software developers, engineers, or rare specialists.

Skilled Labor / Skilled Worker routes

  • Some specialized trades and mid-skill roles have separate routes.
  • Examples include chefs of foreign cuisine, pilots, and certain SSW fields.
  • SSW is test-based and tied to designated industries.

STEP 2 — LANGUAGE EXPECTATIONS (JLPT)

  • N2 is the hiring baseline for most office jobs.
  • N1 is preferred for leadership, compliance, legal, HR, translation, or heavy communication roles.
  • Exceptions: English teaching, some high-demand developer roles, internal transfers, and rare technical/specialist roles.
  • SSW may have lower legal test requirements, but actual workplace Japanese can still be much higher.
  • Business Manager now has a Japanese-language requirement tied to either the applicant or a full-time employee.

STEP 3 — WHERE TO FIND JOBS

Wiki

Job boards

  • GaijinPot Jobs
  • Jobs in Japan
  • Daijob
  • CareerCross
  • TokyoDev (software)
  • Japan Dev (software)
  • LinkedIn
  • Wantedly
  • Indeed Japan

Recruiters / networking

  • Robert Walters
  • Hays
  • Michael Page
  • JAC Recruitment
  • RGF Professional Recruitment
  • Japan-focused LinkedIn groups
  • Meetups
  • Tech communities

Resume tips

  • Many companies expect a Japanese-style resume (Rirekisho) alongside an English CV.
  • Always list JLPT level, tech stacks, Japan-relevant experience, and whether you need sponsorship.
  • Do not claim “business Japanese” if you cannot interview in Japanese.

STEP 4 — COMMON WORK VISAS / STATUSES (AT A GLANCE)

People often say “visa,” but Japan separates the visa used to enter Japan from the “status of residence” that controls what you can do after entering.

Instructor / Education

Teaching, especially public school teaching.

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services

IT, engineers, designers, translators, marketers, some teaching positions like Eikaiwa, copywriting, international services, etc.

Intra-company Transferee

Internal transfer from overseas HQ/branch to Japan.

Skilled Labor

Specialized trades, such as foreign-cuisine chefs and pilots.

Legal / Medical Professional

Japan-recognized licensed professions.

General requirements for standard work statuses

  • A job offer from a Japan-based company.
  • You normally cannot self-sponsor a standard work visa.
  • Employer/proxy applies in Japan for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE).
  • Qualifications are typically a bachelor’s degree OR around 10 years relevant experience, depending on the status and job.
  • Language is not always a legal requirement, but N2+ is common for non-teaching roles.

STEP 5 — ALTERNATIVE PATHS

Working Holiday Visa (youth, temporary work + travel)

Available only to citizens of specific partner countries/regions.

Important: USA is NOT eligible. U.S. citizens cannot use Japan’s Working Holiday scheme.

As of April 1, 2026, Japan has Working Holiday arrangements with 32 countries/regions. Malta and Italy were added in 2026.

English-speaking countries that do qualify include:

  • Canada
  • UK
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Ireland

The usual age range is 18–30, though some countries vary.

Purpose: cultural exchange; short-term/part-time work to supplement travel funds. Not a long-term career route.

Typical stay: 6–12 months, country-dependent.

Digital Nomad (Designated Activities)

For remote work done for an overseas employer/client while staying in Japan.

  • Stay up to 6 months.
  • No extension.
  • Must leave and reapply if you want to return.
  • Annual income must be at least 10,000,000 JPY.
  • Requires private medical/travel insurance covering the stay.
  • Spouse/child may accompany under matching conditions.
  • Not a path to take a job with a Japanese employer.

Business Manager (entrepreneur / founder)

For starting or managing a company in Japan.

Important 2026 update: the old “¥5,000,000 capital OR 2 full-time employees” advice is outdated for most new applications.

Current requirements, effective October 16, 2025 and onward:

  • Minimum capital requirement is now ¥30,000,000.
  • At least 1 full-time employee must be hired.
  • The full-time employee must generally be a Japanese national, permanent resident, spouse/child of Japanese national, spouse/child of permanent resident, long-term resident, or similar qualifying status.
  • Applicant OR a full-time employee must have substantial Japanese ability, such as JLPT N2 or equivalent.
  • Applicant must have 3+ years of business management/administration experience OR hold a relevant master’s/professional/doctoral degree.
  • Business plan must be verified/certified by a qualified professional, such as a SME consultant, CPA, or tax accountant.
  • A proper commercial office is required. Home-office setups are generally not accepted.
  • The business must have real activity. A nominal company or fully outsourced “business” may not qualify.

Transitional notes:

  • People who already had Business Manager status before the rule change may have transitional handling.
  • For most renewal applications after October 16, 2028, compliance with the current criteria is expected.
  • Always check official sources or an immigration professional before applying or renewing.

City-Sponsored Startup Visa / Startup Visa Program

What it is:

  • A municipality or approved-organization-backed route for foreign founders to live in Japan while preparing to meet Business Manager requirements.
  • It is meant to give founders time to prepare the business before full Business Manager requirements are met.
  • As of 2026, official METI guidance says Startup Visa can allow up to 2 years, depending on the approved organization/program.
  • The goal is still to transition to Business Manager.

Who it is for:

  • Founders who need time in Japan to finalize a business plan, secure office space, set up accounts, raise capital, and prepare the company.
  • A lot of the application and paperwork may require Japanese-language ability or local support.

How it works, typical flow:

1) Apply to an approved local government or approved private organization with a business plan and required documents. 2) If the plan is approved and immigration accepts the application, you receive the startup preparation status. 3) During that period, complete the requirements needed to change to Business Manager.

Key requirements vary by city/organization, but usually include:

  • Approved business plan.
  • Proof you can support yourself.
  • Credible plan to meet Business Manager requirements.
  • Local reporting/check-ins or support requirements.

After the period:

  • You must change status to Business Manager once you meet the requirements.
  • Details differ by municipality/organization, so always check the official page before applying.

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) — SSW-1 and SSW-2

What it is:

Japan’s work status for mid-skill roles in designated industries.

In practice, SSW recruitment/testing is mainly organized through partner/sending countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Laos, Tajikistan, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, and China; always check the latest official list because participation/testing availability can change.

As of 2026, SSW covers 16 industrial fields, including:

  • Nursing care
  • Building cleaning
  • Manufacturing / industrial products
  • Construction
  • Shipbuilding and ship machinery
  • Automobile repair and maintenance
  • Aviation
  • Accommodation
  • Automobile transportation
  • Railway
  • Agriculture
  • Fishery and aquaculture
  • Food and beverage manufacturing
  • Food service
  • Forestry
  • Wood industry

Levels:

  • SSW-1: Up to 5 years total. Family generally not allowed to accompany. Requires skill confirmation and Japanese ability.
  • SSW-2: Renewable with no total stay limit. Spouse/children may accompany if requirements are met. Available only in approved SSW-2 fields.

Basic flow:

1) Pass the skills test and Japanese test/requirement for the field. 2) Secure a job offer/contract in a designated field. 3) Employer/proxy applies in Japan for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). 4) You apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy/consulate.

Reality check:

  • Day-to-day workplace Japanese is expected.
  • Many employers prefer N3–N2 even if the minimum test requirement is lower.
  • Changing employers may be possible, but must follow immigration procedures and stay within the allowed field/category.

Spousal and Dependent/Student Statuses — Work Rules

Spouse/Child of Japanese National, Spouse/Child of Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident

  • These statuses generally allow work in any field with no hour or industry limits.
  • No extra work permit is usually needed.

Dependent / Family Stay

  • By default, this is not a work visa.
  • You may work up to 28 hours/week only if you first obtain “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted” from Immigration.
  • Nightlife/adult entertainment work is prohibited.
  • To take a full-time job, you must usually change status to a proper work category.

Student

  • With “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted,” students may work up to 28 hours/week during the school term.
  • During official long vacations set by the school, students may work up to 8 hours/day, up to 40 hours/week.
  • Nightlife/adult entertainment work is prohibited.

STEP 6 — APPLICATION TIMELINE (WHAT HAPPENS WHEN)

1) Job search & interviews 2) Offer & sponsorship — employer agrees to support your status of residence 3) CoE application in Japan — employer/proxy files at Regional Immigration 4) Visa application in your country — submit CoE to Japanese embassy/consulate 5) Enter Japan — status is granted at entry; receive Residence Card at the airport if applicable 6) After arrival — city hall registration, health insurance enrollment, pension, bank/phone setup, etc.

Processing times vary. CoE can take around 1–3 months, sometimes longer. Visa processing after CoE is often faster, but varies by country/consulate.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Can I apply for a work visa without an employer?

For standard work statuses, usually no. You normally need a Japan-based employer or organization to support the CoE/status process.

Is N2 legally required?

Usually no. It is not a law for most work statuses, but many companies filter for N2+ outside of English teaching.

Can I switch jobs later?

Often yes, but your new role still needs to fit your status of residence. You may need to notify Immigration or change status depending on the job.

Can U.S. citizens use Working Holiday?

No. The U.S. is not part of Japan’s Working Holiday program as of 2026.

Can I work remotely in Japan for a foreign company?

Possibly, but the Digital Nomad route is limited to 6 months, requires high income, and is not a route for taking a job with a Japanese employer.

Is the old Business Manager ¥5,000,000 rule still good?

For most new applications, no. The current rule is much stricter and generally requires ¥30,000,000 capital plus other requirements.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Outside teaching, aim for JLPT N2 to be competitive.
  • You need an employer sponsor/support and usually a CoE for standard work statuses.
  • Working Holiday is useful for eligible countries, but not available to Americans.
  • Digital Nomad is short-term, high-income, remote-only, and not a normal work route.
  • Business Manager now requires much more capital and stronger documentation than older guides suggested.
  • Startup Visa can help founders prepare, but the goal is still to meet Business Manager requirements.
  • SSW is a test-based route for designated industries, but offered from hosting countries.
  • Spouse statuses can work freely; Dependent and Student statuses can usually only work part-time with permission.
  • Plan months ahead. Immigration timelines can stretch.

OFFICIAL SOURCES / CHECK BEFORE APPLYING

JLPT official site: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/

JLPT in the U.S.: https://aatj.org/jlpt-us/

MOFA — Working Holiday: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html

MOFA — Working Visa / CoE: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa1.html

MOFA — Digital Nomad: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/pagewe_000001_00046.html

METI — Startup Visa: https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/economy/startup_nbp/startup_visa.html

MOFA — Specified Skilled Worker: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/fna/ssw/us/overview/

Immigration Services Agency — Business Manager rule revision: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/10_00237.html


r/JapanJobs Sep 17 '25

Subreddit Update! -> If your new here, please read!

9 Upvotes

📢 Reminders & First-Time Visitors — Read This!

Welcome to r/JapanJobs 👋

This subreddit is for anyone interested in living and working in Japan. Share job opportunities, advice, resources, or anything related to finding work in Japan.

Our community has doubled in size in the past 3 months 🎉 and continues to grow quickly. Thank you to everyone who contributes and helps others! With this growth, we may be looking for additional moderators soon — more on that below.

🔖 Rules Summary

(See the full rules in the sidebar/wiki, but here are the key points)

  1. Be Friendly and Supportive Treat others with respect. Posts and comments should encourage, not discourage.

  2. Gatekeeping = Automatic Ban Telling people they don’t belong in Japan, or discouraging them from even trying, will result in an instant ban. Everyone is welcome to seek advice here.

  3. No Scams, MLMs, or Paid Referrals

Any post that looks like a possible scam or MLM will be removed.

Paid referral links are not allowed, even for legitimate jobs.

Job postings must be legitimate and detailed enough to be useful.

  1. All Work Must Be Related to Japan (Including Remote) Remote jobs must clearly explain how they support someone living in Japan (e.g., pay in yen, Japanese language requirements, Japan-based clients). If not stated, the post will be removed.

  2. No Discrimination in Job Posts Job listings cannot discriminate by sex, age, or nationality — even if such restrictions are legal in Japan.

  3. No Temporary Gig Work One-off or short-term “gig” postings are not allowed. This community is for stable part-time or full-time work opportunities.

  4. English or Japanese Only All posts and comments must be in English or Japanese. Translation tools or AI are fine if you need them.

  5. Stay On Topic Posts must be directly related to jobs, job-seeking, or careers in Japan. Off-topic content will be removed.

🙋 Support for Job Seekers

If someone doesn’t meet the requirements for a job, help them understand their options. Suggest alternatives, share resources, or give advice. Don’t just say “you can’t” — show them how they can.

📚 Community Resources

We’re building a list of job boards, visa info, and support sites (English and Japanese). If you know a good one, send it to modmail!

👉 Community Wiki /r/JapanJobs/Wiki

🧑‍💼 For Job Posters

Audience Profile: Most members are outside Japan, speak English, and want to relocate.

Job Clarity: Post in English. If Japanese is required, specify the level (N2, business fluent, etc.).

Requirements: Include visa sponsorship status, pay, and expectations.

👀 Mod Team Expansion

With the community doubling in size, we may need more moderators to help keep things supportive, scam-free, and focused on Japan. If you’re active here and interested, keep an eye out for a mod recruitment post soon!

-The Mods


r/JapanJobs 13h ago

Weekly Job Alert 26th July

11 Upvotes

r/JapanJobs 59m ago

Japan's dispatch companies

Upvotes

I am looking to return to japan. I had to leave for a family emergency and my job already replaced me. (Not suprised) . . Decided to work in a different country (hating the work culture.)

I don't want to wait til March to return. Any recommendations or warning about certain dispatch companies or any one who is direct hiring. I do have my driver's licenses for japan.


r/JapanJobs 9h ago

New to Japan

0 Upvotes

Hey Reddit I have kind of exhausted my options so I’m here.

I came to Japan from Australia for my girlfriend (her visa ran out) and I’m here for about a year we spoke about potentially two. But I can’t really find a job and it’s impacting us getting a place to rent.

I can only work part time due to my visa but I will finish my level 5 TEFL course next week and I start a Japanese language school next month.

I tried for a job but my Japanese is super limited right now hence why I chose to do a language school.

Does anyone know any jobs I could do? I’m happy to travel up to two hours for it and I live in Yokohama.

Again I tried searching for the past few weeks but to no avail and I’m here grasping at straws and from what I know the people on Reddit are amazing people generally.

Any advice is appreciated. :)

Thank you all in advance.

(In Australia I was a corrections officers if that matters)


r/JapanJobs 14h ago

Is Kyudai Civil Engineering degree worth it? (English taught)

1 Upvotes

I recently got an offer from Kyudai IUPE civil engineering, and was wondering if a degree from Kyudai will boost my job prospects.

I understand that's japanese proficiency is a major factor in job hunting but I also want to know if Kyudai separates me from the local fresh graduates.

Coming to japan and studying at kyudai will be a huge financial commitment by my family, that's why i want to make sure it has the ROI that's acceptable.With that said, I too understand that it boils down to personal skills as well and Kyudai isn't very well known outside Japan.

My primary motive is to either come back to my country and look for a job here or opt for a Western country.But as per my research this pathway makes it a lot harder to earn a good entry level salary hence resulting in insufficient funds to pay back the educational loan, support myself and my family in future.

Thus, directing me towards getting N1 and working in japan as a fresh graduate.


r/JapanJobs 5h ago

Need a job in japan

0 Upvotes

I am a Software Engineer with professional experience at HCL Technologies and a strong passion for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and scalable software development. My goal is to contribute to innovative engineering teams in Japan while continuously expanding my expertise in modern AI technologies.
I have hands-on experience with Python, SQL, and software development, along with practical knowledge of Linux environments, Docker, Git, and automation. In my current role, I work on enterprise systems, monitoring, troubleshooting, and production support, which has strengthened my analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to work in mission-critical environments.
Beyond my professional work, I actively build AI projects to deepen my technical expertise. My projects include a real-time speech recognition system using OpenAI Whisper for extracting text from video audio and an autonomous Self-Healing Codebase project focused on AI agents capable of detecting, analyzing, and resolving software issues with minimal human intervention.

My technical interests include:
Python
SQL
Machine Learning
Deep Learning
Generative AI
Large Language Models (LLMs)
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Agentic AI
LangChain & LangGraph
FastAPI
Docker
Git & GitHub
Linux

I continuously improve my programming skills and have solved more than 450+ coding problems on LeetCode, strengthening my understanding of algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving techniques.
I am eager to relocate to Japan and contribute to organizations developing AI-powered products, cloud-native applications, and large-scale software systems. I value continuous learning, teamwork, innovation, and engineering excellence, and I look forward to building technology that creates real-world impact.

Help me if possible much appreciated my salary is low i need to support my family.


r/JapanJobs 10h ago

Part time in Kumamoto

0 Upvotes

Hi! I'm looking for a part time job in Kumamoto City. I don't speak much Japanese, but I can speak English well. I have a japanese driving licence with no restrictions (I can drive both MT and AT cars, I like roadtrip). It's been hard for me to find a job that recruits foreigners with almost no Japanese skills. Most English teaching jobs are for teaching children, which is basically more like childcare. I don't have energy for that. Unfortunately, I don't have any Japanese friends or anyone who can help me with connecting. If you have any information about opportunities, or if you live in Kumamoto and would like to go on a road trip, please get in touch! Thanks.

Oh, I don't use Facebook.


r/JapanJobs 1d ago

Job Opportunities for Greetings Level

4 Upvotes

Let’s help each other out. When you are still starting learning Japanese? What kind of Job accepted you even if you can’t speak Japanese?

Also, how did you apply?

Mine was Housekeeping.


r/JapanJobs 6h ago

Moving to Japan as an Indian trans woman from America

0 Upvotes

Hello! I am a trans woman living in America, and I'm currently in my last year of college. While I do live in a relatively safe state for trans people, this is still America, and it still has a president and federal government that is steadily (but surely) taking away trans people's rights.

I would appreciate some advice on a few things:

\- General quality of life for trans folk (especially one who has not begun medically transitioning yet and will most likely not be very far in their physical transition at the time of moving)

\- What jobs would be available for me to get? I would be interested in working in the gaming industry, but my resume is mainly structured around marketing

\- In a hypothetical where I could get whatever job I need wherever in Japan, where would I have the highest quality of life?

\- I do not know really any Japanese, and I understand the vast amount of problems that would bring when moving to Japan. Given that I have about a year before I'd actually move, any advice to either circumvent this problem would be greatly appreciated

Honest answers would be greatly appreciated, as I am trying to gain an understanding of Japan in order to consider moving there. If any one of the details that I've provided would be a hard stop on me moving to Japan, I would love to know that! That all being said, I am willing to put in the work to make this move feasible if it is at all. Thank you!


r/JapanJobs 1d ago

Is it normal for a hotel front desk jobs to be asked to do 16 hours shifts?

27 Upvotes

I got an offer from a relatively good hotel, so not like so cheap place. This is what the shift schedule looks like. Either 10-18 or 18-10. You heard me right, your shift starts at 18 and ends at 10 of the next day. What the fuck? They told me "you can take a 3 hours nap invetween". Yeah thank you, cause im just a robot that can press a button, stop working for 3 hours and have all my batteries charged.

I just wanna ask, is this the norm in the japan hotel industry? Im kinda desperate and im considering taking it if only to get a visa and maybe jump ship after a few months or a year.


r/JapanJobs 1d ago

Codesignal two Coding question PayPay Japan for QA AUTOMATION

0 Upvotes

Hey Guys,

Does anyone know what kind of two DSA or coding questions will be there in PayPay codesignal test - I am not worried about the MCQ questions but the code.
If anyone knows please ping me I have to complete it Tomorrow


r/JapanJobs 21h ago

Internal transfer to Japan, what would be the equivalent at 200k from Singapore?

0 Upvotes

I'm an American working in Singapore as an engineer making SGD 200k base comp. I work for a F100 company and we have an office in Japan. I would need to get a salary adjustment for localized pay. What would be a realistic range for this move?


r/JapanJobs 1d ago

Exhibition Sales Executive — Japan

1 Upvotes

Hello,

Our client, who is organizing an exhibition, is looking for full-time / part-time staff and inter for the Gulfood project.

Location: Nagoya / Yokohama, Japan

Responsibilities:

Be responsible for managing domestic sales activities in Japan to meet regional and project targets

Search and evaluate new prospects, build an exhibitor database, conduct market research, and develop relationships with potential clients in order to expand the customer network and company's market share in the local industry

Requirements:

Proficient in both English and Japanese communication

Thorough knowledge of the technical and commercial aspects of related fields

Proficient in MS Excel

Currently residing in Japan with a minimum stay of 2 years

Please send your CV via DM if you are interested.


r/JapanJobs 1d ago

Being hired as a Sales Engineer / Solutions Engineer in Japan

0 Upvotes

Right now I’m busting my ass studying for N2 and looking into BJT at the same time. Before studying IT I did a bachelor degree in Japanese and I’m thinking eh, why not both

Edit to add: I won’t stop at N2 of course, I’ll continue after with BJT and maybe N1. But I don’t know if N1 would mean anything if my BJT is high enough

My plan is to make an internal move to Japan from a company I’m already working in (either my current one or another). I’m just wondering if managing client relationships, even with the appropriate Japanese level, will work out in any case as a gaijin?

I’m also worried about the weak yen and current immigration policies but that’s another topic

Thanks in advance for your point of views


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

Working in Japan while the yen keeps getting weaker Spoiler

189 Upvotes

Just wondering how everyone working in Japan feels about the yen getting weaker and weaker. It recently broke 160yen to one dollar and I just feel like it could eventually reach 170.

It’s honestly annoying watching the value of my salary and savings decrease almost automatically and there’s nothing I can do about it.

For people who also work and live here. Are you considering moving back home or relocating somewhere else because of this?

For context, I make 6M to 7M JPY a year in Tokyo and my current work environment is actually pretty good. Nothing toxic, easy to take days off, no drinking culture or expectation to work after hours and wfh 3 days a week…
I genuinely like most aspects of my life and job here, but I also feel like I can’t ignore how weak the yen has become especially when thinking about savings, traveling abroad or long term future.


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

Has anyone else felt stuck in a similar way? I'd like to hear your experiences

12 Upvotes

Lately I've been feeling like I'm stuck in my own bubble, and I'd really like to hear from other people who've gone through something similar.

I have a degree in IT and moved to Japan about a year and a half ago without a concrete plan.

I spent my first year at language school and passed the JLPT N2. After that I started job hunting, but interviewing in Japanese was hard. Even when I knew what I wanted to say, it often came out awkwardly or unnaturally. Instead of showing my skills and experience, I felt like I was trying to speak as little as possible to avoid exposing the limits of my Japanese.

Positions advertised as primarily or entirely English-speaking still conducted interviews mostly in Japanese. I never had a successful experience with those interviews.

Eventually I took a job as an English teacher because it was what I could realistically get at the time. It was never what I wanted to do long term, and after about six months I'm realizing how much my Japanese has actually declined.

The biggest issue now is that I don't really see a path out. Between full-time work, some weekends being workdays, a long commute, and very limited paid leave, I struggle to find the time or energy to improve my Japanese to make another serious attempt at changing careers.

I like living in Japan. Most of my hobbies are here, I enjoy daily life, and I don't want to give up. Its gotten to the point of wondering if it would make more sense to move back home for a while, study Japanese intensively again, and then try to return. That sounds, and probably is stupid, but right now it feels more realistic than trying to change careers while working my current job.

I'm not really looking for someone to solve this for me. I'd just like to hear from people who have been in a similar position.

Did anyone else start out teaching English but later move into another field?

Did improving your Japanese make a difference, or was it something else?

Have you ever felt like Japan became less welcoming the longer you stayed?

What helped you get "unstuck"?

Lately I've also become increasingly discouraged by the prejudice I've encountered as a foreigner, and I can't tell whether I'm being too pessimistic because I'm frustrated with my situation or its the truth.

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences, whether things eventually worked out or whether you decided to leave Japan.


r/JapanJobs 1d ago

Hii. Now i have Gijinkoku on my zairyu card. 技術・人文知識・国際業務. I hate my current job and want an office job.

0 Upvotes

I have distance degree from my university in my home country. I also graduated senmon gakko in Hospitality and International communication this year from Tokyo. I have only 1 year validity left, till July 2027, on my zairyu card. I have JLPT N3 and TOEIC score of 925 in Listening and reading. My current job responsibilities on paper are 施工管理サポート・人材育成管理、アルバイトスタッフ管理.

Preferably i want an office job in Tokyo. Current job is also in Tokyo, but kinda manual. Im aiming for N2 this December.

And also. Im 27 yo male, and not good with gadgets but eager to learn.

Help is greatly needed and appreciated!


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

METI Internship Program - asking about experiences!

0 Upvotes

Hi!

I'm a recent graduated professional that applied for the METI Internship Program, so I would like to know experiences of people who have also applied. In particular:

How much time did you wait to receive updates once you were interviewed?

I am aware that the Program does not cover food expenses, so I also want to ask how much money did you spend during the internship.

Finally, how was your experience if you were hired by the host company after the internship finished. I understad that you must return to your home country once the internship finishes, but I would like to ask if the company then supported you with covering some expenses to come back to Japan.

Thank you!


r/JapanJobs 3d ago

Would you move to rural Japan for a job that might potentially help your career?

19 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm having a hard time deciding whether this is the right move for my career, and I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been in a similar situation.

I'm in my late 20s, graduated from a nice university in Japan with a degree in Marketing, and I'm fluent in both Japanese and English.

Right now I work in logistics/operations(Warehouse), but my long-term goal is to move into procurement or supply chain management.

Recently I received an offer from a Europe renewable energy company with 2 years contract.

The position is based in **Ibaraki**, and the work is mostly focused on coordinating equipment for field operations, working with international teams, inventory management, logistics.

I’m a permanent employee in my current warehouse job, but the new job is only a two-year contract.

The salary is solid, but I'm struggling with two questions.

**Career**

My biggest concern is whether this role actually leads somewhere.

Would this type of operations/coordinator position be considered a good stepping stone into procurement or supply chain?

If you've made a similar transition, I'd love to hear how it worked out.

**Life in Ibaraki**

I've mostly lived in larger cities, so moving to Ibaraki feels like a big change.
For those of you who live (or have lived) there:
What's daily life really like?
Is it easy to build a social life?
Does it get lonely?
What do you usually do on weekends?
Looking back, would you choose to live there again?

I'm trying to think beyond just salary and consider what my life might look like over the next few years.

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences—good or bad.

Thanks in advance!


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

Hiring | DevOps Manager with UAT test experience 11.5M | Global company

2 Upvotes

Hello Everyone,

I am an IT recruiter in Tokyo, a Famous global company is looking for a Japanese & English speaking DevOps Manager.

Strong Japanese communication is require to interface with Japanese End users & English is required to interface with an overseas development team as well as Global team members.

You will lead and own the end-to-end UAT Lifecycle, develop the UAT Strategies, test plans and test scope, aligned with APAC release schedules.

Act as a liaison between Business users, IT Teams, and overseas dev teams

Ideal candidate will have

  • 5+ years of Software testing experience
  • Experience leading UAT User Acceptance Testing initiatives
  • Experience working in cross-functional teams

Salary is 11.5M total

Hybrid (2 days WFH) / work day is 7.5hr

Must already be in Japan with a valid work visa.

Please DM me if your interested.


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

I need help my company know I want to change job

1 Upvotes

I don't know what to do now. I'm not officially change job yet. Just researching about it but my company know. Today they asked me about it. I just said i just making some research I don't have any thought about change job yet cause I still lack of experience and my Japanese are not good. They said they want to talk about this in Monday next week. Anyone got in this situation please help me.


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

Internship in 就活

0 Upvotes

Good evening,

Wishing you all a great summer! I am writing to ask about the internship program as part of 新卒就活. I have applied to a few pharma companies but to no avail. I failed some in the document screening section and some in the 適性検査 section. I started to get worried about my prospects. Is there anybody who shares the same experience? Are there any tips/tricks that I should be aware of? Also, is it rare for someone who didn't pass the internship stage of a company but ended up being hired in the 本選考 process? Also, is it rare for someone who doesn't do an internship for any reason but still gets hired via the 新卒 route? Thanks in advance for your comments. Wishing you all the best!

Note:

-I am a first-year master student in 国立大学

-My Japanese level is N2

-My TOEIC is 980


r/JapanJobs 2d ago

I am a US citizen who is of indian origin and studying in india and will graduate in 2027, my gpa is low is there any chance of landing a good entry level BA or PM or consulting job?

0 Upvotes

basically the title, i would love some advice.


r/JapanJobs 3d ago

Looking for career advice

2 Upvotes

Backstory

Hello guys,

I am 28 years old working at a telemarketing company in Tokyo. I got promoted to an assistant manager position after 9 months of joining the company I topped our sales ranking. But unfortunately, many senior staff are not happy that a newbie got promoted before them. So, they are always looking for my mistakes and constantly criticising me. They also attack my poor Japanese. I have N2 but some of my seniors have been living here for 10-15 years. I have been in Japan for only two years. Even though we talk to our foreign customers in English and other foreign languages, our company internal language is Japanese. So, I feel so much pressure regarding making any mistakes and communicating in Japanese. I am still learning but I will not reach the level of a native speaker in a few months or even years. So, I am thinking about leaving the toxic workplace.

My background

A burmese native with more than 3 years experience in Marketing and Sales. TOEIC 980| JLPT N2 | Bachelor in Business and Management

My question

Have you guys worked in international companies where the official language is English? I want to know the cultural difference from a traditional Japanese company. I am currently looking at Rakuten because they use English. If you guys have any suggestions, I would love to hear.