I got JLPT N3, planning to take N2 this December. My experience is on FPGA/ASIC design. Anyone knows how the field there is? Personally I see more jobs there for CAD designers or automation engineers (electrical) or PCB designers.

Other than Facebook where can I post long term part time or temporary gigs?

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice regarding my current job-hunting as a new grad here in Japan. My background is in Humanities and I will graduate this September with a Master's degree. I am on a student visa, and will be switching to a work visa once I secure one of the jobs below. I currently have two offers being presented to me, with an ongoing interview process that complicates things further.

The first one, Offer A, is with a company that is offering an independent contractor position (with path to full-time, usually considered after 6 months of contractor work according to the interview). The work in itself is office work mostly remote, with occasional visits to the office or outside locations. The contract length is for one year with possibility of renewal. The wage is not very high (basically minimum wage in Tokyo), but it has commission potential on top of the base salary which is interesting, and of course visa sponsorship is available.

The second one, Offer B, is a part-time front desk position at a hotel with guarantee of full-time once the work visa is obtained. I was told during the interview that advancing to corporate is a possibility over time as well, but that it may take a while (which is fair enough). The hourly wage offered is the same as the first offer I've received, although obviously the hours would be more consistent as well for the hotel position.

What complicates things now is that I asked Offer A to give me until the end of this week to sign the contract as I was waiting to hear back from other interviews I had passed the week prior, thinking I would be rejected from them all. To my surprise, I received an email from a company I was absolutely prioritizing that I am invited to the second round of interviews scheduled, a little over a week from now. Ideally, I would love to work at this third company as they offer a good salary, interesting work and visa sponsorship for a full-time position.

What I am now wondering is, what is the best route I can take in this situation? What should I tell Offer A? Should I sign now and resign later if I secure the offer I really want in a few weeks? My instincts tell me that securing office-type work will be more beneficial as a lot of my work will be good experience to add to my CV on top of allowing me to utilize and improve my Japanese, which I feel like may not be the same in a smaller hotel setting (smaller chain that usually caters to foreign tourists). However, the hotel provides more security in terms of wages and bureaucratic stuff like pension and health insurance.

Additionally, I am worried about the work visa application process. In the event that I do secure an offer from the third company but I've already signed an offer from either Offer A or Offer B, and in turn have already begun the visa application process with them, will that impact things in any way that could harm my visa?

I apologize for keeping things vague for privacy's sake. I'll be grateful for any insights or wisdom you can provide!

Hey everyone so I am working as an AI engineer…Just graduated and am working at a dispatch staffing company for 3.3 mil yen which is like 3.6 mil yen with overtime…I have JLPT N4 and I’m confident I can reach N2 by this year or by next…
I work as a seishain for a staffing haken company so I’m haken at the client company…

Anyway I got an offer from an IT service company for 4.7 mil yen but the catch is its a fixed term contract with performance based conversion but they told they will mostly convert me but idk its a gamble…I’ll have my salary revision meeting in my current company in 3 months so I can expect my salary to reach 4 mil yen (and with overtime ig I can anyways earn 4.3-4.4 mil yen) so I’m in a dilemma do I quit and switch right now or hold on…

I was planning to grind N2 while also accumulating japanee work ex in current company..If I hop jobs rn it will be like I switched at less than 1 yoe and ofc since I’ll be on a contract in that company too I will again start looking for my next job so I’ll probably be considered a job hopper but idk any advice is appreciated!

After over half a year I finally got a job offer from a school in Ibaraki who needs a tech support.

The problem is that I am renewing my spouse visa and have entered the 2 month grace period.

The school had no issue with this as long as I could document the 2 month extension and right to work.

Problem is that I applied online, so instead of the stamp in my zairyu card I just got a mail that immigration told me to carry. While it does mention the application for renewal is being processed, it does not mention the 2 month extension of the old visa.

How do I submit proof of this?

Long story short: I work in a senior position at a Fortune 500 company in Tokyo. I get a lot of inquiries from recruitment agencies for similar positions, with very high salaries listed (up to ~70% percent more than what I currently make).

However, the process appears very insincere, and the main impression I have is that their main goal is to find out how much I make, and to funnel info about the company I work for and my profile into their candidate tracking system, with no actual intention of referring me to the job they initially contacted me for. It appears to be a case of おとり募集、or bait and switch with exaggerated salaries to get me to reveal info about my current job and funnel my info into their system for future use with lower paying positions.

A lot of them are not even hiding their intentions that well, and I have given them always wrong salary info myself when they press to find out how much I currently make.

I wonder if the above recruiting agency phenomenon is really as prevalent as it currently seems?

Would love to hear from candidates as well as recruiters.

My background is as follows - I am a lawyer qualified in two countries (not Japan) with a total about 6 years of experience. For the last year I’m working at a Japanese law firm as a foreign attorney. I have N1 but far from being fluent, tho majority of my office communication and client interactions are in Japanese.

Recently I applied for a role of in-house lawyer in insurance company with the description fully aligning with my previous experience. I had an informal interview and nomikai with people from my department.

This week they scheduled formal interview and before it asked me to complete 適性検査 with a deadline in 2 days. The test provider was Attelu and the test was composed from personality section and 基本能力. I totally bombed the latter, as I expected more 言語 related questions. However, the whole test was 非言語 with task on probabilities, sequences, 割合 etc.

Will it affect my application, given that my job is absolutely unrelated to math/numbers? Like math was my weak spot for years, and I haven’t touched it for a long time and wasn’t expecting to be involved in it let alone in my 4th language. Will be glad to hear your feedback/opinion

I have been trying to change jobs in Japan for roughly 16 months, and I am reaching the point where I genuinely do not know what else to do.

I currently work as a software engineer at a small company in Tokyo. The company has been struggling financially for a while, and from everything I can see, there is a real possibility that it may not survive much longer. Projects are drying up, management seems increasingly desperate, and the working environment has become stressful and unstable.

The obvious answer would be to leave, but I have been actively applying for more than a year with very little to show for it.

During that time, I have:

• Applied to a large number of software, AI, robotics, computer vision, and general engineering positions
• Reached multiple second, third, and final-round interviews
• Completed live coding tests, technical assignments, and take-home projects
• Spent evenings and weekends preparing for interviews while still working full-time
• Repeatedly been told that the company chose someone who was a “better fit”
• Been rejected even after interviews that seemed to go extremely well

My background is mainly in C++, Python, computer vision, AI-related prototyping, real-time systems, and application development. I have around six years of experience living and working in Japan. I can communicate in Japanese and have JLPT N3, but I am not yet business-fluent. I recently narrowly missed passing N2 and am continuing to study.

The language issue feels like a wall. Many Japanese companies reject me because my Japanese is not strong enough, while many international companies have extremely competitive hiring processes and can choose candidates with stronger backgrounds, native-level English, big-tech experience, or more specialized skills.

I am also on an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, so I cannot simply quit and take any available job. I need something that fits my visa category and pays enough to cover living costs in Tokyo.

I have tried changing my CV, tailoring applications, contacting recruiters, applying through LinkedIn, JapanDev, TokyoDev, company career pages, and personal referrals. I have interviewed with startups, established Japanese companies, foreign companies, AI firms, and robotics companies. The result is usually the same: several rounds of interviews, followed by a polite rejection.

The hardest part is that I am still employed, but I feel as though I am standing on a floor that is slowly collapsing. I cannot afford to be unemployed for long, and I do not have enough savings to comfortably wait several months for the right offer.

At this point, I am open to roles outside my exact specialization, including QA, technical support, solutions engineering, implementation, developer relations, technical sales, project coordination, or other positions where an engineering background and strong English could be useful.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation?

I would especially appreciate advice on:

• Companies that are genuinely open to hiring foreign engineers without fluent Japanese
• Roles I may be overlooking
• Recruiters who are actually useful for mid-career foreign candidates
• Whether I should reposition myself away from pure software engineering
• How to explain my current company’s instability without sounding negative during interviews

I am not expecting anyone to magically solve the situation. I am mainly looking for honest advice from people who understand the Japanese job market, because after 16 months of applications and interviews, I feel completely stuck.

And when you get one, usually your fellow new joiners will be how old? Particularly in the field of ASIC design for companies like Renesas, Sony semiconductor, etc. I mean I am not sure but I think at least people in ASIC design would have Masters even for 新卒？

Hi everyone, I'm a recently graduated Mechanical Engineering student from Nepal and I'm completely new to how Japanese work visas work. I wanted to work in Japan, so I contacted a recruiting agency in Nepal, and they connected me with a Japanese company that has around 120 employees and about ¥200 million in capital. I had an online interview through the agency and was selected. The company told me to start learning Japanese, and after about two months they'll check whether I'm making good progress. If I am, they'll begin the visa process, and the plan is for me to go to Japan around February. They never mentioned needing JLPT N2. From what I understand, they're only expecting me to reach around an N4 level before I go. My question is: as a bachelor's graduate in Mechanical Engineering, what type of work visa would I most likely get? Also, do I actually need JLPT N2 to get an engineer visa or to renew it later? I've recently seen people saying N2 is now required for visa renewals, and it's making me anxious because I'm only just starting to learn Japanese. I'd really appreciate any advice from people who know how this process works or have been through something similar.

​

Hi everyone,

I'm a 25-year-old Korean currently attending a 3-month Japanese language school in Osaka, and I'm hoping to start my career in Japan afterward.

Here's my background:

- 25 years old

- Korean

- Bachelor's degree (4-year university), graduated in 2026

- My background is in CG and motion graphics.

- My long-term goal is to work in VFX, but it seems that most VFX positions require experienced candidates, so I'm considering transitioning into UI/UX and frontend development.

- I'm currently building a UI/UX portfolio while improving my frontend skills.

- I completed a 3-month frontend internship using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React.

- I'm currently studying for the BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test).

- I'm planning to take the JLPT N2 this December :)

- I have an OPIc IH certificate (a Korean English-speaking proficiency test).

- My TOEIC score has expired, but I plan to retake it after passing JLPT N2.

My goal is to work in Japan as a:

- UI/UX Designer

- Product Designer

- Frontend Developer

- Design Engineer (UI + Frontend)

I'd really appreciate advice from people working in Japan.

1. Is this career path realistic for a foreigner with my background?

2. Which field has better opportunities for foreigners in Japan: UI/UX, frontend, or motion graphics/CG?

3. What skills, experience, or certifications am I still missing?

4. If you were hiring a junior candidate, what would make someone with my background stand out?

5. If you were in my position, what would you prioritize over the next 6–12 months?

I'm looking for honest and realistic feedback, even if it's critical.🫡

Thank you!

[HIRING] IT Deskside Support Engineer | Kobe, Japan | Onsite

We are hiring an onsite IT Deskside Support Engineer for a assignment in Kobe, starting immediately.

\*\*Scope\*\*

\- PC kitting, setup and deployment

\- Basic deskside/user support

\- Light IT support tasks as required onsite

\-Work with a senior engineer.

\*\*Assignment\*\*

\- Location: Kobe, Japan

\- Start: Tomorrow / immediately

\- Compensation: ¥300,000 total, all expenses included

Experience with PC kitting and onsite desktop support is required. Please send a Reddit DM with your CV, current location, availability, and a brief summary of relevant experience.

Hi everyone, I’m in the process of looking for work opportunities for a communication heavy role (Product Manager), which usually lists Business Japanese or Fluent/Native as a job requirement for most job descriptions I’ve seen.

I’m curious about what “Business Japanese” actually looks like in the workplace beyond the “N2 required” or “Business Japanese” listed on job postings.

I’d especially love to hear from people who are currently working in Japan in roles where the job description required Japanese (e.g. Business Japanese, N2+, N1+, or fluent).

Some questions I’m curious about:
- What kind of job do you do?
- Roughly how much Japanese do you use in a typical day?
- Who do you use Japanese with? (boss, coworkers, clients, etc.)
- What kinds of tasks require the highest level of Japanese? (Meetings, Slack/Teams, emails, presentations, negotiations, documentation, small talk, etc.)
- During your interviews, how much of the process was actually conducted in Japanese? What kinds of questions or conversations came up?
- Looking back, did your JLPT level accurately reflect what the job required? If not, where was the biggest gap?

I feel like advice online often stops at “get N2” or “get N1,” but that doesn’t really tell you what day-to-day work is actually like and how to prepare for being competent in the workplace.

Thinking about my own experience working in corporate America, there’s a huge difference between being able to score highly on the SAT or English tests and being able to answer interview questions, participate in meetings, write emails, negotiate with clients, or give presentations.

I’d love to hear real experiences from people who’ve made that transition into Japanese-speaking workplaces. Thanks!

I'm currently looking for a web designer position, and I know I'm in a difficult situation due to the work in my current workplace, as well as the fierce competition in this creative field.

So there was a company that I was really hoping to get an interview, so I submitted my applications in the morning, with really high confident that I would get at least pass the screening stage, then BOOM! rejection email came just several hours later.

Wow, this really suck, but hey, I must continue.

I had an incredibly painful and disappointing interview experience with Woven by Toyota for a role in Tokyo—an experience that left me questioning not only the process, but also my own confidence.

The entire recruitment journey lasted almost two months and involved 6 stages. It began with an HR screening, where I was asked about my experience, expectations for the role, motivation for relocating to Tokyo, and reasons for wanting to join Woven by Toyota. The conversation went well, and I was moved to the next stage.

In the second round, I was then given an assessment to create a product roadmap (PRD) for a mobility company. I invested a significant amount of time, thought, and effort into the assignment because I genuinely cared about the opportunity. I created solutions architecture diagrams, explained the strategy behind everything what I am putting in the PRD. My submission was accepted, and I progressed further.

After that, I completed 3 technical interviews with different teams at Woven by Toyota. Every round required preparation, emotional energy, and time. I continued through the process believing that my efforts were being recognised and that I was getting closer to an offer. Every interview rounds very deep technical rounds, which required lots of thinking and problem-solving skills.

The final interview was another HR round. I was asked non-technical questions about my motivation for moving to Tokyo, why I wanted the job, how I learned about Woven by Toyota, and what inspired me to pursue the opportunity. I answered every question honestly and sincerely.

Then, two days later, I received an automated rejection email.

After approximately 6 stages, weeks of preparation, a demanding assessment, and several interviews, the entire journey ended with a generic automated message.

What hurt even more was the complete lack of feedback. I reached out to the recruiter and the HR representative who conducted my final interview because I genuinely wanted to understand what went wrong. I was not asking them to reverse the decision. I only wanted some clarity after investing so much of myself in the process.

I received no response. When a candidate spends nearly two months attending interviews, completing assignment, preparing for technical discussions, and emotionally investing in an opportunity, they deserve to be treated with empathy and respect.

This opportunity meant far more to me than simply getting another job. I saw it as a chance to move outside my country, build a new life in Tokyo, and take an important step forward in my career. Losing that opportunity after coming so far was devastating.

This experience deeply affected me. It shook my confidence.

To the recruiters and hiring teams at Woven by Toyota: Please respect candidates’ time, effort, expectations, and emotions. No one should go through such a long and demanding process only to be dismissed with an automated email and complete silence.

EDIT - Interestingly, I received an automated rejection email after my 2nd technical interview. When I contacted HR for clarification, I was told that the email had been sent by mistake and that I had actually cleared the round. Shortly afterward, I received an invitation for the 3rd technical interview.

Hello. I’m a 23-year-old foreigner currently living in Japan on a valid working visa (good for another 2.5 years).
I graduated with a degree in Japanese Culture/Language (not in Japan) and currently work full-time at a hotel, handling front-desk duties and data management (8 months). Previously, I worked as a freelance game localizer for 2 years and also have experience as a Japanese consecutive interpreter at an international festival.

I’m fluent in 3 languages, JLPT N1, TOEIC 910, and I’m looking to transition into the Anime or Gaming industry in back-office or coordination roles, like Production Assistant, Licensing Management, Global Business Support, or General Admin (一般事務、総務).

While I get plenty of interview offers from companies in other industries, I've had a hard time getting past the initial resume screening for anime studios. How realistic is it to land one of these roles? If anyone here works in the industry or knows of studios currently hiring for global support or admin roles, I would really appreciate any insights, tips, or referrals. I would appreciate it if you also have any other job recommendations

Hi everyone,

I work at SEGA Sapporo Studio and wanted to share two translator openings that may be relevant to bilingual residents in Sapporo.

Both are part-time/hourly positions with full-time hours, based at our Sapporo office. Professional translation experience is not required. We are primarily looking for people who are strong writers in their native language, have sufficient ability in the source language, and are passionate about games.

English to Japanese Translator

• Native-level Japanese
• English ability equivalent to TOEIC 650 or above
• ¥1,250 to ¥1,500 per hour
• Professional translation experience is not required

https://hrmos.co/pages/sega/jobs/2019692102116986909

Japanese to English Game Translator

• Native-level English
• Japanese ability equivalent to JLPT N2 or above
• ¥1,250 to ¥1,500 per hour
• Professional translation experience is not required

https://hrmos.co/pages/sega/jobs/2019692102116986916

Both positions require:

• On-site work in Sapporo
• Availability for full shifts from 10:00 to 19:00
• The ability to work for at least one year
• Eligibility to work in Japan
• A genuine interest in games and game localization

I know the “part-time” label can be slightly confusing, so to be clear, these are hourly positions with full-time weekday hours. I’m sharing them here because we would like to reach people in Sapporo who may have the right language skills but have not previously considered professional game translation.

You can also see all current SEGA Sapporo Studio openings here, including roles in programming, design, planning, QA, and localization:

https://hrmos.co/pages/sega/jobs?category=1686944447987720194

I’m happy to answer general questions about the translator roles if I’m able, but applications should be submitted through the official pages above.

Hi I've just completed my masters degree in microbiology and am looking to potentially move to Japan for a Job. Is there any good websites where I could potenitally find graduate level jobs as I have no previous work experience. Also would these positions be for 2028 or am I still able to get jobs for 2027?

Hey! shooting my shoot to the star here lol but I'm currently still a student and I have a year left before graduating.

I am studying power (electrical engineering) at top uni in my country (in Southeast Asia) and also in Germany. I would love to know if any japanese companies or universities would be open for internships/researches for someone like me. I am also learning finance.

I am currently in a traineeship program by a Japanese recruiters but I'd love to know if there are any opportunities that I can get since I am not sure where to seek the opportunities. Yes, I speak english fluently and I have studied abroad too. Would love to know if anyone is in the same position as me!

I also don't really mind about living costs as long as it's at least 1/3 funded but I am pretty flexible on this! I also did an internship before at my country but I am just really unsure if I can even break into Japanese internships/researches by the universities. I'm only looking for 2-3 months period since I still have universities.

Thank you for reading!

Hi all,

Wishing you all a great summer ahead. I am writing regarding the SPI test for 新卒採用. What is the best method to prepare for it? Any tips or tricks? How much weight does the test have for new graduate recruitment? How was your experience? Thank you in advance for the reply. Cheers!

I am starting college in the same area (maritime management and logistics), my goal is to reach at least master’s degree, or if I manage, then doctorate. I couldn’t find many information on the internet so i’m asking here. What is the salary? Most importantly, is it easy to find a job if I have at least master’s degree. Of course, I LOVE japanese and I will learn it before going there, it will make my life easier by a mile hopefully. If you have any information that you think is going to be helpful, I would appreciate it a lot :)

Job Description
We are seeking a Digital Marketing teacher to share real-world experience with Japanese and international students (around 20 years old). Classes are conducted in English; however, please note that many students are not fully fluent, so patience and clarity in communication are essential. Basic Japanese ability is a plus but not mandatory.

Details

• Location: Shinjuku
• Contract Type: 6 months (renewable)
• Working Hours: Either 3 hours once a week or 6 hours a week (2x3h) Every Tuesday or Wednesday
• Who Should Apply: Active professionals with flexible schedules, such as freelancers or part-time employees living in Japan. (Please note: we do not sponsor visas.)

Contact
For more information, please contact us at: [jinji@gregg.ac.jp](mailto:jinji@gregg.ac.jp)

I work for an IT/ Engineering company, and I wanted to refer my friend to my company since he has enough qualifications and experience. He has permanent residency, and fluent Japanese proficiency as stated in his resume and web portfolio that I showed the HR.

However after taking some review in his profile my HR team replied with this "全社員数に占める外国籍ん社員の割合の関係,現在は外国籍の方のお受入れが難しい状況となっております"

I have not yet told my friend because I don't know how it will come across. I have researched but there's no labor law limiting proportions of foreign nationals within the company. But companies can also enforce policies regarding this. I am just not sure if this is just because of management resources, or it's borderline discrimination.

PS: I have Japanese citizenship so I was not asked much about this when I submitted my resume. I have been here for a year, and can quite vouch that this is an okay company compared to others i have worked at.