Career

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: ...

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. ...

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. ...