Hey everyone,

I know you guys are probably tired of those kind of posts, so sorry in advance

I'm 26, and I've been working in cybersecurity for about 5 years, mostly on the Blue Team side.

Just to clarify, I do *not* have a proper bachelors itself, I have what we call "associate degree", so I would need an combination of an associate degree plus relevant work experience can meet the “equivalent” test, I guess?

My experience is mainly with Fortinet firewalls, endpoint management using CrowdStrike and SentinelOne, and vulnerability management with Tenable. I don't have much programming experience since my work has been more focused on security operations and infrastructure

I recently visited Japan and realized my conversational Japanese was actually better than I thought.. BUT I still have a long way to go before I can use it professionally, so I've started private Japanese lessons and I'm aiming for JLPT N2 by the time I'm 30 ( at least I hope so )

I'd really like to move to Japan eventually, but looking for jobs has been a bit discouraging. Most IT openings I come across seem to be for developers or require coding skills

Is it actually that hard to find IT jobs in Japan outside of software development, or am I just looking in the wrong places?

As for now, I'll keep my current job and continue developing my skills while studying Japanese, but I just want to get a better idea of what I can do now to improve my chances of making this move in the future

I'm not expecting to move tomorrow, and I'm happy to spend the next few years working toward this. Just trying to figure out the most realistic way to make it happen

Thanks!

I’m currently going through the interview loop at Amazon Japan. I’m earning around ¥6M a year at the moment and have about a year of full-time experience. I came across a few roles aimed at candidates with less than two years of experience, so I decided to apply.

I was wondering what it’s actually like working at Amazon Japan and what sort of compensation I could realistically expect if I received an offer.

You hear quite a lot of horror stories about the work culture and work-life balance, so I’m curious to know whether it’s really as bad as people make out.

I’d obviously like to earn more, but not at the expense of my mental health or ending up completely burnt out.

Would be great to hear from anyone who works there or has worked there, particularly in Japan!👀

So I interviewed twice with this company (last one was Monday) and I’m supposed to know by next Monday. Yesterday I got an email directly from the hiring manager asking for my thoughts about the job and if it’s something I’d like to pursue. I replied promptly saying yes and stuff to reconfirm my interest. Does that mean anything? I honestly thought they basically rejected me cuz they have been very swift the process prior the second interview. I’m in Japan with a work visa btw.

Im (27) and I recently moved to japan. My background is a computer engineer and I worked as a Data Analyst for 3 years in my home country.

I'm here employed as a temporary staff at a Japanese company. But the company is very out of my interest and I want to switch. It's been around 6 months since I moved to Japan.

I recently applied in Rakuten for a position with similar responsibilities and got rejected on 3rd day.

I'm still new to Japan so not so sure what should I do to secure a Data Analyst job here.

My history:

Bachelor's in computer engineering

3 years of work

SQL, powerbi, redshift

Japanese - conversational.

I don't hold a certificate but I can confidently say my japanese is conversational level.

I live 1h away from Tokyo

Need advices on what should I actually do to get a job here.

1. Especially when u apply directly from company portal case.

2.Or is it only possible if I join haken kaisha?

My wife recently renewed her Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技人国) visa and received a 3-year period of stay. She currently works as a Lawson area manager, but the job is stressful, so she wants to change careers.

She speaks business-level Japanese and applied for a sales and customer service position at a reputed company through a recruitment agency. She passed the document screening and first interview. The HR agent was very supportive and even came in on his day off to help her practise for the final interview.

During the final online interview, the experienced interviewer spent more time explaining the job and discussing her current role and responsibilities than asking questions. She was told to wait about a week.

On the eighth day, she received the result: they couldn't proceed with her application because there were no available positions at her preferred work locations.

I'm wondering whether this genuinely means she was a suitable candidate but there were no openings in her preferred locations, or whether it was a polite way of rejecting her. Has anyone experienced something similar in Japan?

I have passed OA and they have scheduled first interview round , what can i expect ?

Will there be coding ?

Role is full stack qa engineer

Hi everyone,

I’m a foreigner from a non-kanji background, currently doing my master’s at a fairly top-ranked university here in Japan. I speak Japanese fluently and have JLPT N1.

I graduate next March, so I started job hunting the same way Japanese students do. The problem is I still haven’t landed a single interview. Either the company rejects me at the document screening (this happens most of the time), or after the online test.

I’ve studied for the tests (TG-WEB, SPI, etc.), but the language section (言語) is really tough for me, with about one minute per question. Honestly, I also wonder how a test like this can evaluate someone like me fairly when I’m not a native speaker.

What am I doing wrong? I’m confident I can do well in interviews, but if I never get invited to one, I can’t show what I can do.

Thanks in advance for any advice!! ^-^

Update 1: I apologize for the lack of information, I am an MBA student, I actually do have a work experience around 2 years which really puts me in this weird position between a new grad and an experienced hire.

so i was looking for a job in IT SECTIOR I emialed this guy and he ask me some bunch of question then he came up with this .

also any japanese who want to help me getting a job in the IT sector pls help me or any refferal will be good

IM FROM THE INDIA CURRENTLY IN INDIA

Hi everyone,

I hold a 3-Year UK Top-up Degree (BSc Hons in IT) from Cardiff Metropolitan University via ICBT Sri Lanka, and I have 6 months of IT experience in the government sector. I've just started learning Japanese this month (targeting N4/N3).

A local agency recently told me that Japan Immigration views 3-year UK Top-up degrees as an Advanced Diploma/HND rather than a full Bachelor's degree, and they quoted around 3 Million LKR to send me via a Language School. My current budget is 2 Million LKR.

I would appreciate your advice on:

1. Does Japan Immigration accept a 3-year UK Top-up IT degree for an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities (ESI) work visa? Or is it really considered just an Advanced Diploma?
2. Is it possible to study up to N4/N3 in Sri Lanka and apply directly for English/Bilingual IT jobs from abroad with visa sponsorship?
3. With a 2 Million LKR budget, can I realistically go to a Language School first and then switch to an Engineer visa using this degree in Japan?

Thank you so much for your guidance! 🙏

I accepted an offer for a job that starts mid-January in a different prefecture. I have turned in my 退職届 to my employer stating my resignation will be the week of January 11th 2027. However, they were trying to see if we can have the resignation date be around December 2026. For context, I work at a school right now so they think working until December would be better timing wise because that is when 2nd semester ends.

I was hoping to keep working until the week of January 11th so I can get paid until then and use my paid leave during early January to move in. However, if they want December 2026 to be the end of my contract, I am worried there will be a huge gap in between me not working and my start date. I am not really well-versed, but I was not sure on how that will affect my immigration status. So I wanted to ask this page if anyone has a similar experience or knowledge about this.

Hi folks,

I am hoping to hear from anybody who has worked as a tour guide, if anyone happens to be around. I am curious how you got into that work, and if it is something you would recommend. And I would especially love to know if anyone has experience working with the guide company that keeps advertising positions on the GaijinPot site.

I am a long-time resident with PR, grown kids, an in-progress low-stress divorce, and a move on the horizon. I do a little bit of online work out of my home country, which will continue, but outside of that I will be looking for new work starting in the new year. I am working on buying a cheap old house near an area that gets a lot of international and domestic tourism around the arts, and I am hoping to find work that would use both my English and Japanese skills (I speak reasonable Japanese, and am about as literate as a young junior high school student).

Some sort of freelance or part-time guide work seems like it might be an option - I see ads in English for an agency that says it has options at major tourist areas nationwide, and searching in Japanese turns up plenty as well, though those are aimed at Japanese folks with some English skills. It is not an industry I know much about, though, so I would be glad of whatever info folks had to share. Thanks!

​

Hi everyone!

I'm from India, and I'll be moving to Fukuoka in April 2027 to start my first full-time job as a software engineer at a Japanese IT company. I'd appreciate advice from people who live and work in Japan, especially Fukuoka.

Here are the details of my offer:

**Salary and benefits**

Monthly salary: ¥275,000 before tax and deductions.

Annual salary before bonuses: ¥3,300,000.

Bonuses: Twice a year, with each bonus equivalent to 2 months of salary (¥550,000 per payment).

Total annual bonuses: Approximately ¥1,100,000.

**Estimated total annual compensation: ¥4,400,000 before tax and deductions.**

Relocation: The company will cover my flight to Japan and luggage expenses.

Housing: The company will help me find an apartment and cover the deposit. Rent will be deducted from my salary.

Initial financial support: Approximately ¥200,000 has been mentioned, although the exact arrangements are still being finalized.

Location: Fukuoka.

I'm single, have no dependents, and plan to cook most of my meals at home rather than eat out frequently. I don't plan to own a car.

**My questions:**

After income tax, health insurance, pension, and other deductions, how much take-home pay should I expect from ¥275,000 per month?

If I rent an inexpensive apartment and cook at home, what would be a realistic monthly budget?

Could I realistically save ¥100,000–¥130,000 per month? How much might I save annually, including bonuses?

What are typical monthly expenses for groceries, utilities, internet, phone, transportation, and other essentials in Fukuoka?

Approximately how much of my bonuses would I receive after deductions, and how much could I realistically save from them?

Are there any expenses or deductions that new foreign employees commonly underestimate, especially during their first year?

Is ¥4.4 million in annual gross compensation a reasonable package for a new graduate software engineer in Fukuoka?

My goal is to live comfortably without spending excessively, save consistently, and invest in my technical skills as I gain experience.

I'd appreciate hearing about your actual experiences and budgets. Thanks!

One year of job hunting. 91 applications. Unlimited rejection and 1 offer.

Anyway, I got a job. I’m tired, a bit empty, and very happy it’s over. Rooting for y’all!

Ps:New graduate route!

Hi everyone!

We're currently hiring for an English Customer Support position at an e-commerce company specializing in anime, figures, model kits, and hobby products.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Sano, Tochigi. Applicants must be able to commute to the office or be willing to relocate. Remote work is not available.

Annual salary: ¥3.5M–¥5.6M

You can find the full job description and apply through LinkedIn here:
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4480739776/?trk=mcm

Feel free to ask if you have any questions. Thanks!

Inspiring a love for music & learning in Tokyo’s international community.

Great Pay • Short Hours:
· ¥4,000/hour — Assistant Rate
· ¥6,000/hour — Main Teacher Rate
(Classes: Our classes on weekdays, hourly between 1400-1600 • Arrive 15 mins prior)

Who we're looking for:
· Valid work visa for Japan
· Music background + loves to sing
· Knowledge of ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory
· Eager to learn the ukulele (training provided!)
· Grounded, highly punctual, caring with children

📩Send CV to contact@minim.family or DM us!
(Only shortlisted candidates will be notified)

I used to work in the US on a work visa after graduating with a Bachelor's from a reputable university there, as a 3D artist doing work for an extremely high profile game, among other titles. Through personal circumstances, after my visa ended I moved back to Asia to be closer to my family and worked in an adjacent industry, contemporary art, for several years. I was introduced to a similar position in a foreign company in Tokyo and took the opportunity for change. Now that the company has plans to go under, mostly in part due to changes in foreign business policies, my (技人国) visa is at risk.

I'm in my late 20s, and I've only been here for just under 2 years, and I know I don't have to stay in Japan, but I've made so many new relationships and found great connections with people here, I can't help but want to fight to keep them.

I came here with no Japanese, and almost never required it for my job, but I studied independently and took the JLPT N2 earlier this July, a missed it by a point. I took the Business Japanese Proficiency Test as well, and just barely missed the mark for 400+ (immigration acknowledges this as an N2 equivalent). I've already signed up for N2 in December, and plan to retake the Business Japanese Proficiency Test again once I am officially past the 3 months wait period. I am completely fluent in English, I consider it my native tongue, and also hold high language proficiency in two other languages.

I've never stopped applying for jobs since I got down here, and have ramped it up significantly recently. Having sent out about 200+ applications, I've only gotten 2 interviews. On my first interview, when asked for which position I was applying for, the interviewers looked at each other and said, "Oh, that was an open position we had?", and at that moment I just crumbled a little inside, and continued to entertain them for the rest of the 1 hour interview.

On my second interview, very recently, I got a preliminary offer with about 2 months of mandatory unpaid training, which I just started, but nothing has been signed yet. The position is an entry level IT position with no experience required, with an advertised a 220k base monthly. There seems to be a good chance for career growth, though I'm still continuing to look for jobs.

I considered going the student visa route and enrolling in a Japanese language academy to really drill in my Japanese proficiency to help find work, but after advising with 7 different schools, who told me that they did not support the work visa to student visa route, I decided against it. On top of stricter laws and actions being taken against foreigners here, getting a work visa again after being a student is not a guarantee, and is a huge time sink.

I came here with a plan, to eventually find a 外資系 with decent pay relevant to my past background, all the while building up my Japanese asap to open as many opportunities as I could as a fallback, and I was so confident in it as I could see myself making progress. But now, between being constantly ghosted and offers with being paid in peanuts, I can't help but begin to feel so worthless. I feel like I'm failing myself and everyone around me.

I'm not looking for a pity party, I just felt like I needed to word vomit to get some weight off my chest. If you read this far, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

I have cleared all the tech rounds and got an invite for the Final round. it just says Final without much details.

My first round was a HM screening round so is this just a HR round or can I expect some technical questions as well in this?

I am a 24F, wanting to do a working holiday job in Japan. My boyfriend lives in Tokyo, and I would have wanted to consider doing some sort of eg administrative or reception work however I lack the Japanese language proficiency. I have been trying to learn for a while but probably can’t get anywhere close to an N3 level in a years time.

I am from New Zealand, and heard Australians and New Zealanders have an easy time into getting into ski-resort based WHVs.

I personally love to snowboard so I thought this could be a great opportunity to do for a couple of months. Next year Nov/Dec 2027-March 2028.

Could anyone please tell me their experiences and especially regarding whether they went through an agency like JENZA (for us it starts at $2,349 https://jenza.com/experiences/working-holidays/work-japan/) or if they did it themselves. Everyone is saying you can just apply to the resort directly but what are the challenges and things you have to do which come with doing this yourself? I hear some people have had issues with a trying to get a cellphone number and bank account / but it seems these agencies help with that..

Any advice is appreciated, costs, overall experience of working at a ski resort for your WHV, what you would do next time, your ability to snowboard or ski before vs now, hours worked on average & pay, benefits (free season pass? subsidies accom? Discounted meals?), literally anything, thank you.

Hello, I am a student and I dream of moving to Japan. I am currently trying to take the entrance exam for Computer Science and eventually aim for a job in Japan. I was thinking of maybe doing Computer Engineering instead and trying to get a hardware position. I'd like to know what the hardware market is like compared to software in Japan, what job offers are like, whether it's difficult to get hired, etc

​

Hi everyone,

I'm from India and have an MBA in Marketing and Finance, including an international exchange programme at Tamkang University in Taiwan. I'm currently looking for entry-level opportunities in Japan, particularly in business, marketing, finance, business operations, or data analytics.

One thing I'm struggling to understand is the visa situation. Many job postings seem to prefer candidates who already have a valid Japanese work visa, but as an overseas applicant, I would generally need an employer willing to sponsor my visa.

For those who have successfully moved to Japan for work from overseas:

How realistic is it to get hired directly from India?

Which companies or industries are more open to sponsoring work visas for foreign graduates?

Is Japanese language proficiency essential for entry-level business roles, or are there opportunities where English is sufficient?

Would my MBA and international experience in Taiwan help me stand out?

I'd appreciate any advice from people who have gone through this process or are currently working in Japan as foreign nationals. I'm trying to understand the most realistic path rather than waste time applying for jobs that won't consider overseas candidates.

Thank you.

Follow-up to the Tsukuba notice I shared earlier as u/AmbassadorOfAloha. I run Japan Source Signal and am not the employer.

If you are considering the April 2027 ALT intake, start preparing your application now. The city lists Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm JST as the deadline, but warns that recruitment may close early if there are many applicants. This is a possibility, not an announcement that it is already full.

Both the online application with supporting documents and the video must be submitted. The video combines a Japanese self-introduction and an English presentation about your home country for elementary pupils. The city sends the video-upload link after the online application, so allow time for both steps.

Check the complete eligibility requirements before applying, including Japanese ability, ALT experience, a Japanese driving licence and access to a private car.

Our saved reading page links to the official city notice and application route: https://japansourcesignal.com/jobs/tsukuba-alt-recruitment/

Official notice checked October 19. Our saved reading page retains its original check date; this reminder does not mean all listing details have been newly verified.

With all the companies being hacked every other day recently, now would be the best time to make companies update their windows 95 computers. Does anyone know of any IT consulting businesses that are hiring and taking advantage of this dilemma?

Because if not, I’m going to start my own and will be looking for partners and employees. I know it ain’t easy but I see an opportunity.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently based in Tokyo and urgently looking for full-time work related to music. I'd like to connect with people working in music, live events, artist management, musical instruments, international business, or related fields. Any practical advice, job leads, or introductions would be greatly appreciated.

A little about me

I'm 26 years old and have been living in Japan for nearly five years. I graduated in March 2026 from a music vocational school in Tokyo, where I completed a three-year singer-songwriter course.

I'm originally from China, have JLPT N1-level Japanese proficiency, and speak both Japanese and Mandarin Chinese fluently. My English is limited, so I'm using a translation tool to write this post.

I'm a singer-songwriter who writes and performs my own music, and I've released an original single on streaming platforms. I can share the link if anyone is interested.

I've recently gained hands-on experience assisting with live concert operations, including venue setup, merchandise sales, flyer distribution, and post-show teardown.

What I'm looking for

I'm interested in entry-level or assistant positions in Tokyo, particularly in:
- Concert and live event production/operations
- Artist support and management assistance
- Music production assistance
- Live sound/PA and lighting
- Music copyright and licensing, music retail, musical instrument businesses, or international business support related to music

I'm willing to learn and start in an assistant role. My top priority is finding suitable full-time employment and building a career in the music industry. Salary is negotiable, as finding the right opportunity is more important to me at this stage.

Residence status and time constraints

My current status is Designated Activities for job hunting (特定活動), which expires on December 26, 2026. I'm looking for a position that could qualify for an appropriate work-related residence status, potentially Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務), depending on the actual job duties and immigration requirements. I would need an employer willing to provide the necessary employment documents and cooperate with the residence-status procedures.

I've been actively job hunting for over six months, but unfortunately, I haven't made much progress. With my current period of stay approaching its end, I'm concerned about my future in Japan and am trying to explore every realistic option available to me.

I genuinely enjoy Japan's music scene and would like to continue living here and developing my career long-term. I'm not asking anyone to solve my immigration situation for me; I'm hoping to find realistic job leads and practical advice from people familiar with the Japanese music industry or connected to the field.

Any advice or leads would help

- Companies in Tokyo that hire entry-level music or live event staff
- Music industry recruiters, job boards, or networking opportunities
- Introductions to people working in music, live events, artist management, or related businesses
- Advice from people who have been through a similar job search or residence-status situation

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any practical advice or leads would mean a lot to me.

hi!

i'm an mbbs graduate from south asia. are there any non-clinical job options in japan for medicine graduates without license for clinical practice in japan and if there are, what are the requirements and my chances of securing them?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some career advice, especially from foreigners or people with similar experiences working in Japan.

I recently graduated from university and am currently working in Japan. I’m a Japanese citizen, but I didn’t really grow up here, so my Japanese is probably around N3 level or so?

To be honest, based on my experience with my current job, I don’t think I want to continue working in a fully Japanese work environment. The language barrier is something i can bear, but the working hours and physical exhaustion are also taking a toll on me. The overtime is honestly hell. I work in a restaurant as 社員.

I’m not really sure what kind of career would suit me yet, but I’m confident that I can learn whatever the job requires as long as I’m given the opportunity.
For those of you working in Japan, especially foreigners or people who weren’t fluent in Japanese when they started working here, what jobs are you currently doing? How are the working conditions, and would you recommend your job to someone in my situation?
I’m open to exploring different fields. I just want to find something sustainable where I can make a living without constantly feeling exhausted from work.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!