Jobs & Career

What you'll learn in this guide How Japanese professional networking differs from Western norms Business card (meishi) etiquette — done correctly and incorrectly The best networking events and communities for foreigners in Japan LinkedIn Japan strategy: what works differently here How to build a network when you’re new, foreign, and don’t speak Japanese After-work culture (nomikai) and how to navigate it Networking in Japan is different from what most foreigners are used to. It’s slower, more relationship-focused, and relies heavily on context and introductions. But once you understand how it works, building a genuine professional network in Japan is very achievable — even without fluent Japanese. Here’s how. ...

Remote work and Japan have a complicated relationship — visa rules, tax implications, and cultural expectations around physical presence all create friction that most remote workers don’t anticipate. Here’s what you actually need to know before working remotely from Japan. The Core Question: What Visa Do You Need? This is where many people get confused. The answer depends on who pays you and where your employer is based. Situation Visa Required Working remotely for a Japanese company Standard work visa (Engineer, Humanities, etc.) Working remotely for a foreign company while in Japan Complicated — see below Freelancing with Japanese clients Business Manager visa or change of status needed Working Holiday + remote work for foreign employer Usually OK within WHV rules Working for a Foreign Employer from Japan This is the grey zone. Japan doesn’t yet have a dedicated “digital nomad visa” for this purpose. ...

Salary negotiation in Japan is unusual — many companies present offers as fixed, and pushing back can feel culturally awkward. But negotiation is possible, and knowing how to approach it makes a real difference to your starting package. Here’s how to negotiate salary effectively in the Japanese context. Is Salary Negotiation Normal in Japan? At traditional Japanese companies: Less common. Salaries are often determined by seniority and fixed pay grades. Negotiation is possible but can feel uncomfortable for both sides. ...

Shukkatsu — Japan’s new graduate job hunting season — operates on a calendar and process that shocks most foreigners encountering it for the first time. It is highly structured, starts earlier than you’d expect, and has its own rituals and expectations. Here’s how to navigate it as a foreign student or graduate. What Is Shukkatsu? Shukkatsu is the system where Japanese companies recruit new graduates (新卒, shinsotsu) in a coordinated nationwide process. Key features: ...

Teaching English in Japan remains one of the most accessible paths to living and working here legally — but the experience varies enormously depending on where and how you do it. ALT programs, eikaiwa schools, and private tutoring are completely different worlds. Here’s how to choose the right path. Types of English Teaching Jobs in Japan 1. JET Programme (ALT in Public Schools) The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme is the gold standard. You work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in a Japanese public school. ...

You want to work in Japan but your Japanese is minimal — or nonexistent. Maybe you’re just starting, maybe you’ve been studying for a while but you’re nowhere near business level, maybe you’re wondering whether to even bother moving without language skills first. The question everyone asks some version of: is it actually possible? Honest answer: yes, but the path is narrower than the optimistic parts of the internet suggest, and the industries where it works are specific. Here’s an accurate picture. ...

Overtime in Japan has a reputation — some of it deserved, much of it exaggerated. But the culture around hours worked, karoshi, and work-life balance is real and affects foreign employees in specific ways. Here’s what to expect and how to navigate it. The Legal Framework for Overtime in Japan Japan’s Labor Standards Act sets clear rules on overtime: Standard Working Hours The legal standard is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Work beyond this requires either overtime pay or a formal agreement. ...

What you'll learn in this guide What to wear, how to bow, and what to say when you walk in the door The 5 most common Japanese interview questions — with model answers in English How to explain your “reason for applying” (志望動機) the way Japanese interviewers want to hear it What happens after the interview and how the Japanese hiring process works Special considerations for foreign candidates at Japanese companies Quick Answer Japanese job interview basics: wear a dark suit (black/navy/charcoal), arrive 5–10 minutes early (never late), bow 30 degrees when greeting. The 5 questions every interviewer asks: (1) jiko shōkai — 1–2 minute self-introduction, (2) shibo douki — why specifically this company (not just the industry), (3) strengths and weaknesses with examples, (4) where you see yourself in 3–5 years, (5) describe a challenge you overcame. Multiple rounds (2–4) are standard. Send a thank-you email the same day. Business Japanese (JLPT N2+) is expected at most traditional Japanese companies; tech and international firms often interview in English. ...

Quick Answer Japanese workplace culture runs on implicit rules most foreigners are never told: arrive early, stay late (even if you have nothing to do), build consensus before meetings (nemawashi), never say “no” directly, and attend social events as work obligations. The rules aren’t inherently worse — they’re just different, and breaking them unintentionally creates invisible friction that’s hard to identify and fix. “I work longer hours here than anywhere in my life, and I still feel like I’m underperforming.” That sentence, or a version of it, gets posted constantly by foreigners in Japan’s work culture. The frustration isn’t just about long hours — it’s about a system of unwritten rules that nobody explains, and that most Japanese colleagues assume you already understand. ...