Many foreigners who work in Japan must this question: “Do foreigners need to join the Japanese pension service?”. Well, let me get straight to the point, in Japan people from 20 years old to under 60 years old are obliged to join the pension system. Therefore, if insurance premiums are not paid there is a risk of having problems or losses in the future.In this article, we will explain the outline of the Japanese pension system, so please use it if you are a foreigner working in Japan.About the Japanese Pension SystemWhen you talk about “pension”, many of you may think that is “the insurance premium you paid that will return to you in the future”, but strictly speaking, this is a mistake. The Japanese pension system is a system in which the premium paid by the working generation is paid to the current elderly. In other words, it can be said to be based on mutual support between generations.And all people in Japan who are between 20 and under 60 are obliged to join the pension system.Types of Japanese pensionThere are two types of Japanese pensions: “National Pension” and “Employees’ Pension”.National pensionThe national pension is a pension that all people in Japan who are 20 years old or older and under 60 years old must join. National pension insured people are divided into the following three types, but all foreigners are also eligible.・ 1st type of insured person: self-employed person, student, unemployed person, etc.・ 2nd type of insured person: company employee, civil servant, etc.・ 3rd type of insured person: spouse of 2nd insured personEmployees’ PensionThe Employees’ Pension is a pension that the second type of insured joins in addition to the national pension. This means that foreigners who work at Japanese companies (*mandatory applied) must pay “national pension premium + employee pension premium”. The company pays half of the premium for Employees’ Pension.※ Mandatory business establishments: Business establishments that are obligated to join the Employees’ Pension and Health Insurance by law. A privately-managed establishment with 5 or more corporations or employees is a mandatory establishment.Types of pension you are eligibleThe role of the Japanese pension system is not only for retirement. A pension is paid when you are old, and a pension is also paid when an affiliate becomes disabled, and a pension is also paid to the bereaved when the member dies. In other words, it also functions as disability insurance and death insurance. There are three types of pensions you can get when you meet the conditions.Old-age pensionIf you are over 65, you will receive a certain amount every month. However, insurance premiums must be paid for at least 10 years (120 months).Disability pensionA certain amount will be paid if the subscriber is in a disability state that exceeds the disability certification criteria.Survivor’s pensionWhen the person dies, a certain amount is paid to the bereaved family such as children and spouses.Foreigners are also obligated to join the employees’ pension and the national pension!As mentioned above, all persons with an address in Japan who are 20 years old or older and under 60 years old are required to join the pension system. The same applies to foreigners regardless of nationality.If a foreigner living in Japan works at a company (mandatory company), it is necessary to join the employees’ pension in addition to the national pension. In this case, insurance premiums are deducted from the salary, and it seems that there are few foreigners who have not joined or haven’t paid yet.On the other hand, if a foreigner residing in Japan works at an establishment other than a mandatory company, it will be only enrolled to the national pension. The national pension must be paid by yourself and pay monthly insurance premiums, so be careful not to inadvertently overdue payments or become uninsured.Social security agreements and withdrawal lump sums to overcome the disadvantages of being a foreignerIt is natural that foreigners feel anxiety when joining the Japanese pension system. Some may be thinking “Even if join a Japanese pension, I cannot receive it when I return to my home country in the future …” or “The financial burden of insurance premiums is huge if I join it in Japan because I am enrolled in the pension of my home country, …”.In order to avoid the disadvantages of foreigners regarding pension receipts and insurance premiums, the “Social Security Agreement” and “Lump-sum Withdrawal” systems can be provided.What is a social security agreement?For foreigners who have a pension in their home country, the insurance premium will be doubled by joining the pension in Japan. In Japan, it is necessary to pay an insurance premium of 10 years or more in order to obtain an old-age pension. For example, foreigners who return to Japan in 7 years are not eligible, and the insurance premium for 7 years is withdrawn. The “Social Security Agreement” is established to avoid such disadvantages for foreigners.The social security agreement is a system that allows foreigners from countries that have signed a social security agreement with Japan to join the pension in either Japan or their home country, depending on how long they work in Japan. There are differences depending on the country, but basically a social security agreement is concluded with the following contents.Prevent double charges of insurance premiumsIf you are staying in Japan for less than 5 years, you only need to join the pension in your home country.If you have stayed in Japan for more than 5 years, you only need to join a Japanese pension.These are provisions to prevent double charges of insurance premiums.Total pension membership periodPension enrollment period in your home country can be combined with pension enrollment period in Japan.Pension enrollment period in Japan can be combined with the pension enrollment period in your home country.These are provisions that allow you to receive pensions in Japan or in your home country by adding up the pension enrollment period in Japan and the pension enrollment period in your home country so that insurance premiums are not discarded. For example, even if the pension enrollment period in Japan is less than 10 years, you can get a Japanese old-age pension if the total pension period in your home country is more than 10 years.Of course, in order to be eligible for social security agreements, the foreigner home country must have a social security agreement with Japan. As of July 2019, Japan has signed agreements with 22 different countries, 19 of which are in effect. Please check the following for the status of social security agreements with each country.> Social Security Agreement | Japan Pension ServiceWhat is withdrawal lump sum?From a different perspective than social security agreements, the “lump-sum withdrawal” is a system prepared to avoid the disadvantages for foreigners regarding pensions.Withdrawal lump-sum payment is a system that allows a foreigner who participated in the Japanese Employees’ Pension and National Pension to receive a certain amount of money when returning to their home country before receiving the pension. Foreigners who are not from social security agreement countries should consider whether to receive a lump sum withdrawal when returning home. However, the amount of lump-sum withdrawal payment is usually less than the premium paid during your stay.Foreigners in social security agreement countries can also receive a lump-sum withdrawal payment if the conditions are met. However, if you receive the lump-sum withdrawal payment, you are not participating in the Japanese pension, and it is not possible to add up the total pension period during that period.Conditions for foreigners to get withdrawal lump sumThe lump-sum withdrawal fee must be claimed within two years from the date on which the insured status of the Employees’ Pension / National Pension is lost and has no longer an address in Japan. You can claim a lump sum when all of the following conditions are met:When you not possess a Japanese nationalityThe number of months equivalent to three-quarters of the number of months of premium payment period as the first insured person of the national pension and the number of months of premium exemption period, the number of months equivalent to one half of the number of months of premium exemption period, the total number of months equal to one-fourth of the number of months in the three-quarter exemption period, or the insured period of Employees’ Pension Insurance is more than 6 months.When there is no address in JapanWhen you do not have the right to receive a disability pension or other pensionFor example, in the case of a welfare pension, if a foreigner who has an enrollment period of 6 months or more and does not have the right to receive a disability pension returns to Japan, he or she can claim a lump sum payment according to the enrollment period.How to request a lump sumIf you want to request a lump-sum withdrawal fee, submit the necessary documents to the Japan Pension Service. Please check the following for invoices and attached documents for withdrawal lump sums.>> Withdrawal lump-sum for short-term foreigners | Japan Pension ServiceConclusionIn Japan’s pension system, a system to prevent foreigners from paying double payments or to be discarded from insurance premiums is provided. Foreigners working in Japan should be fully aware of social security agreements and lump-sum withdrawal payments, so that they do not lose their insurance premiums or future pension benefits.

There are plenty of manners for job interviews in Japan that even make Japanese nervous. Now you’ve finally received a job interview proposition, so it is essential to learn the Japanese etiquette for your interview. In this section, we will explain in detail some of the most important interview manners, like courtesy and etiquette which are a symbol of Japanese culture. This will come in hand to those foreign engineers who are planning to change jobs soon.Tips for a Successful Job InterviewIn Japan, companies hiring foreigners are increasing year by year, and the number of foreign workers has reached the highest record with 1,460,463 foreigners in 2019. (Source: * Ministry of Health,Labor and Welfare “Summary of Status of Employment Status of Foreigners”). However, there are still few achievements in Japan. The interviewer might be worried about if you can adapt to Japanese culture and their corporate culture, so be sure to tell him why you applied for the company.Also, in Japanese job interviews, you need to be careful about your clothes. The point is whether there is a sense of “cleanliness”. Basically, wearing a suit is seen as the rule. Be careful not to add too much perfume. Also, being prepared is an important first step to a successful interview, so make sure to bring your ID, seal (inkan), emergency contact information, and to previously investigate how to get to the interview location.Step 1: Reception and Waiting RoomThe first important thing on the day of the interview is to give yourself plenty of time. Ensuring sufficient time to arrive at the interview venue will not only prevent late arrivals, but also will allow you to make practice what you are going to say, like your motivation, self-appeal, and application guidelines. Besides, it is possible to avoid train delays and to react in case you forget to bring something.In Japan, being 5 minutes before a job interview is part of the etiquetteJapanese people are very strict about time. Even if you arrive a little after the meeting time, you will leave a bad impression of being a loose person. Therefore, you should arrive at the interview venue at least 5 minutes in advance. At this time, it is safe to check your final appearance.As well is important to note that, even that it is important to have enough time, arriving too early it is also a violation of manners. If you have a lot of spare time before the interview, wait in the vicinity before entering the venue.Don’t be late! In case you are, contact them immediatelyAs a major premise, late arrival is strictly prohibited. If you are inevitably late because you are not feeling well, be sure to call the emergency contact information and recruiter. Even if there is a delay in transportation, it is a good idea to contact immediately and obtain a delay certificate from the station staff just in case. It is also very important as a member of society to be able to be flexible and react to any of this kind of situations.Manners at the Reception room and InterviewWhen you arrive at the job interview venue, take off your coat at the entrance. Don’t forget to turn off the power of devices that emit sound, such as smartphones. At the reception desk, communicate the appointed time, the reason for visiting the company, your name and the name of the person in charge, then wait until the person in charge comes. If your company does not have a receptionist or has a telephone (extension) to call the person in charge, you can tell to a nearby employee “I’m sorry to interrupt your work ” and ask them to let the person in charge know that you have come to the job interview. There are cases where even before the interview, you are being evaluated by your answers and posture at the time of reception, so it is important to be ready and to think as the job interview has already begun.In the Waiting room, wait quietly until you are calledAlthough it is not in all Japanese companies, you may be passed to a waiting room or to a chair in an aisle before the job interview. Sometimes, it is possible that they are also interviewing other candidates, so don’t touch the smartphone, eat or drink while you wait quietly to be called.Step 2: When Entering the Interview RoomWhen you are guided from the reception desk or waiting room to the interview room, try to enter the room slowly without being rushed. At this time, if you are not calm, you will leave a negative image, so take a deep breath and be calm.Knock the door before entering the roomWhen your name is called by the interviewer, lightly knock the door three times (note that if you do it 2 times, this is the number of knocks when checking the toilet). As well, depending on the company, there are cases where the interviewer enters the room first, and there are cases where the interviewer enters after the candidate. In the latter case, attendant will tell you that the person in charge will come later, so don’t miss it.。Enter the room after the interviewer says “Douzo (please)”Do not open the door immediately after knocking. Slowly open the door after you hear the word “please”. If there is no response from the interview room at the first knock, knock again and wait for their reaction. If you still don’t get a response, say “I’m sorry” and open the door.Close the door quietly after entering the roomWhen entering the interview room, instead of going straight to the seat, turn your body toward the door as soon as you enter, and close it gently while holding the inner door knob. Be careful not to close the door with your hands behind because that would be a breach of manners.Seat close to the doorwayIn the Japanese business scene, there are seat positions called upper and lower seats which are very important. The upper seat refers to the backmost seat from the doorway, and the lower seat refers to the seat closest to the doorway. The same applies for the interview scene. If the interviewer enters in advance, you can sit in the seat you were instructed, but if the interviewer enters the room later, stand next to the lower seat and wait. If you are assigned a seat from the information desk or have been instructed to sit and wait, follow their instructions.Don’t forget to greet and bowWhen you enter the room, stand next to the chair and give your name looking to the front, and say “Thank you for your time today”, then in the case of men, they should bow with their hands on the sides and women with their hands in the front. If the interviewer enters the room later, get up and greet in the same way.Step 3: During the Job InterviewDo not sit down immediately after the greeting. Sit down on the chair after the interviewer tells you to do so. If you are given a business card during the greeting, pick it up with both hands, carefully read the content, and place it carefully on the left If there are multiple interviewers, the rule is to place business cards in the order in which they are sitting. Also, if you want to take notes during the interview, it is a good idea to store your notebook and writing utensils in a convenient location in your bag. If you are told to bring application documents, you will be asked to submit them, so prepare them in advance.Keep your back straight and correct your postureYou can also see your posture during the interview. If you keep your back straight and place your hands lightly on your lap, you will get a good impression. There are many people who tend to look down when they are nervous, and they often turn their eyes away, so be sure to keep your eyes on the interviewer and answer.Answer clearly with a cheerful expressionIdeally, you should relax your shoulders and smile gently. Let’s be careful not to become too expressionless. Of course, it is strictly forbidden to laugh out loud with familiar words and laughter. When responding to questions from interviewers, it is important to listen to the other person’s story to the end and answer in a clear tone. If you don’t understand or can’t hear something, be sure to tell it.Step 4: When Leaving the RoomIf the interviewer tells you that the interview is over, thank with a “Thank you for your time today,” while bowing sitting in the chair. After that, you can stand up with your writing utensils and documents in your bag. If you have received a business card, you can say “I’ll keep your business card”.Always bow when leavingWhen you’re ready to go home, stand next to the chair and make a bow. After moving to the front of the door, turn your head to the interviewer, say “Excuse me” and open the door again. Make sure to close the door quietly until the end without rushing to leave early.Interview is finished until you can’t see the venue anymoreDo not lose composure after leaving the interview hall, so avoid touching your smartphone or taking off your jacket until you leave the building. Also, depending on the company, there are cases where the interviewer or the information desk sees you off to the exit of the interview room or to the elevator hall, so when you arrive at the exit or elevator, you should say “excuse me” once more. In the case of an elevator, a very polite impression will be given if you keep your head down until the door closes.ConclusionA job interview that normally makes people nervous, above that if you do it in a foreign country, it’s difficult to avoid feeling uneasy. Even after telling you some of the interview manners that are unique to Japan so far, not many people reading this article are 100% Japanese, so it’s okay if you can’t do everything perfectly. We hope you can use the Japanese interview manner guide introduced here as a safeguard. The important thing is whether you can make preparations and show that you are a valuable person for the company you are interviewing. If that effort and sincerity reach the interviewer, you will surely get a good result.

An Internet society in where most companies all around the world have their own websites, Japan is no exception, and it is natural in Japan too for companies to have their own websites. Under such circumstances, the number of Japanese companies that hire engineers and create full-time Web pages is increasing.Until now, web designers have typically been responsible for designing and constructing HTML. However, in recent years in Japan, high-quality Web pages can lead to an improvement in the image of the company, so a system that divides which person is in charge of each process, has become quite normal.One position in the website creation structure is “front-end engineer”, who is in charge of building web pages based on designs created by web designers. In this article, we will explain the skills and work content required for front-end engineers, who are needed more and more by Japanese companies.Front-end Engineers in JapanFront engineer refers to the engineer involved in the front-end development of websites and apps that users see and touch directly. The content of the work is diverse, but based on the design mainly handled by the web designer, for coding normally is used HTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery), PHP, etc., and then to build and customize WordPress.There is profession similar to a front engineer, which is a code, but in Japan it is said that there are many engineers who draw a career plan aiming to be a front engineer after experiencing coding first and then being able to reproduce the image of the web designer on the web. There is great expectation from Japanese companies for front engineers, those who can take into account the viewpoints of clients and users and design and configure easy-to-use sites.Differences in environments between Japan and overseasIn the United States, you can start your career as an engineer by studying specialized knowledge at universities and graduate schools and earning a degree. However, in Japan there are many engineers who can start from no knowledge and skills and learn while working. Therefore, compared to the United States, which has a high social status and average annual income, the status and annual income are not so high in Japan.In recent years, the importance of IT technology has also been understood in Japan, and an increasing number of Japanese companies highly value engineers in general, including front engineers. The background is that the IT industry is becoming more active every year, and the needs of IT engineers are increasing.Required Skills and Annual Income for Front-end EngineersSince front-end engineers are required to create web pages, many people may think that knowledge and skills in languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS are indispensable. Of course, the more languages you can use, the wider the range of representation and the more you will be able to respond to client requests. In addition to that, “framework”, “communication skills”, and “UI (user interface) comprehension” are also required.FrameworkTo be active as a front engineer, mastering the framework is an important point. In particular, if frameworks such as Vue.js, Angular, and React.js can be used, not only will work be made more efficient, but it will be easier to manage because it allows you to write unified code. It also leads to prevention of problems, so those who feel that their knowledge is still insufficient need to learn them soon.Communication abilityCommunication skills are the essential skills of front engineers. The reason is that it is difficult for clients to give instructions when creating Web pages that are easy for users to use. For this reason, front-end engineers are required to communicate with clients, in addition to listening to requests, sometimes engineers will need to make proposals from themselves. Also, the client is not the only person with whom they communicate. In-house communication is also important, such as web designers in charge of design and engineers in charge of system construction. Rather than concentrating only on your own work, you need the ability to proceed with the creation of Web pages while looking at the whole picture and to actively communicating.UI (User Interface) comprehensionAs I mentioned earlier, in recent years, in Japan the idea that a high-quality Web page can lead to an image of a company is expanding. However, while the design is attractive, some users may find it complicated to operate. Therefore, what is needed is UI (user interface) design skills from the user’s point of view in order to build Web pages that are easy for users to use. Recently, not only personal computers but also users accessing web pages from smartphones are increasing. In other words, you need the ability to understand the interface for your device.Annual income for front-end engineersAlthough there are variations in age and years of experience, it is said that the annual income of front-end engineers is about 3.8 million yen. Although it is a relatively low amount in the IT industry, the needs in Japan are increasing year by year, so as you gain experience and gain skills, revenue will increase steadily.Differences Between Major Companies and Venture CompaniesThe career path for front-end engineers can be either the management side, such as a development manager, or the on-site side, as engineer.If you are aiming for management, you will need management skills and knowledge, and the progress management of team members. And if you’re aiming for the field side, it’s a good idea to collect the latest information every day and make efforts to learn as new languages appear.In addition, front-end engineers often have careers while changing jobs. Let’s compare the differences in environments when changing jobs to a major company or a venture company.Changing jobs to a major companyIf the company size is large, the scope of work is divided into departments and occupations. For this reason, it is not uncommon for the number of people involved to be large and the meetings to be repeated. Therefore, people who are slow to make decisions and want to work with speed will find it difficult to work.However, because the work to be done is clearly divided by the division of labor, the time is not restrained more than necessary. You will have time after work, so you can cultivate your skills and knowledge through reference books and programming schools.Many large companies have already established work methods and tools to use based on their experience in various scale projects. On the other hand, because of the large scale of the company, it may not progress. For example, there are many cases where it takes time to approve the upper management even when trying to introduce new tools to improve operational efficiency. In such environment, the wide range of projects allows you to increase your experience and learn how to deal with problems.Changing jobs to a venture companyVenture companies are inferior to major companies in terms of funding and resources, but they are more flexible. In most environments it is easy to let people know your opinions, like introducing new tools because there are few resources, and using a new tool will increase business efficiency. Perfect for people who want to speak more and more to improve their work.In addition, major Japanese companies have long-standing Japanese philosophy, and there are still companies based on seniority. In such a case, if you have little experience, it may be difficult to improve your career abruptly. However, in ventures there are many relatively young members, including representatives, and it is possible to be promoted if your abilities are high.Venture companies can also actively challenge what they want to do. For those who are greedy to gain experience, we recommend a career change. Even those who are considering to start a business in the future, will later have the experience of a venture company where they can learn all about corporate management.People who wants to study a little more as an engineer should change jobs to major companies, and those who want to improve their career based on their skills should change jobs to a venture company.There is future for Front-end EngineersRegardless of the industry or scale, Japanese companies that focus on their websites will definitely produce many web pages in the future. And because the design and tool updates are repeated, of course, the web page needs to be fine-tuned each time. It is important to keep updating yourself so that any company can work without problems while meeting the growing needs of front-end engineers. Aiming to become an high skilled front engineer, why not start by identifying your career plan?

In the future, when IT will become more and more common, back-end engineers are attracting attention as highly promising occupations. Now that most Japanese companies have websites, there is a growing need for back-end engineers who can manage systems and servers, from servers and databases, to building websites and web services.Therefore, this time, I will explain the job description and required skills that are expected from back-end engineers.Back-end Engineers in JapanCurrently, an increasing number of Japanese companies are improving their corporate image by improving the quality of their websites. Therefore, the needs of front-end engineers who develop UIs (user interfaces) including designs that are visible to users are rising. However, even if only the surface looks good, the user will leave. Therefore, there is also a growing need for back-end engineers from companies that feel the need to develop parts that are not visible to users.The specific work of a back-end engineer is to build a server that receives and processes information input by the user from the front-end. When a client requests to create a website, is important to understand the request and then select the optimal hardware and OS, build a server, and develop a system that runs on it. At the same time, security on the server side is also required. The back-end engineer’s work extends to system construction. Especially when new software or version upgrades are made, the environment of the system is adjusted and constructed.Differences between Japan and overseasThe need for IT technology at an early stage had been understood in foreign countries, but Japan has finally understood the need of IT technology. Due to such changes in the times, more and more Japanese companies are employing back-end engineers.However, compared to overseas countries, in Japan is still not seen as high social status and high income is not yet been established. However, as Japanese companies are accelerating the adoption of general engineers, including back-end engineers, we look forward to improving their status and raising their salary base.Skills Required for Back-end EngineersBecause the back-end supports the foundation of the system, back-end engineers are required to have various skills. Languages are a must, so let’s aim to acquire skills related to project management.1.Language skillsAs long as you are an engineer, you naturally need language skills. For example, many companies have employed interpreter languages such as Ruby, PHP, Python, etc. that not only save time and effort of compiling by converting source code sequentially but also fast program execution speed. At the same time, it is also effective to learn Struts, Spring, Rails, Laravel, etc. as framework languages that frame frequently used processing parts.It’s also a good idea to keep the basic language of web page creation, such as HTML / CSS and JavaScript. Although these languages are in the field of front-end engineers, it is not uncommon to work with front-end engineers in the field, so it is useful to learn them.In recent years, Go language has become a trend because it enables efficient and speedy development. It is useful to learn the Go language because it can be used for general purposes based on requests.Furthermore, there is a tendency for talent who can use Java in companies related to smartphone payment services, which have been in increasing demand in recent years. Based on the trend of cashless payment, if you master Java, you may be able to work in any company.2.Listening Comprehension SkillsOne of the skills required for back-end engineers is the ability to listen to client requests.Some clients may only have a vague image and would only want to create a web page. Even if you start the project in such situation, it is obvious that trouble will occur. That’s why you have to listen carefully to what they want to make a web page for and what goals they want to achieve with the web page.In addition, there are limits to the specifications that can be made depending on the delivery date and cost, but running the project without a proper understanding of each other can be a major problem. Sometimes you may need skills to explain in plain language to someone who does not have enough engineering knowledge.3.Progress Management AbilityBack-end engineers are also required to manage the progress of the entire project and prevent delays.In particular, engineers tend to misunderstand their work speed and tend to put out a schedule that cannot be realized without a little effort. It may not be impossible if you increase overtime, but if such a situation continues, you will wreck your health and be forced to leave. As a result, the project itself can get stuck.First, before starting development, identify the tasks that each person should perform and assemble a specific schedule. At the same time, it is important to encourage people to report progress frequently and create an atmosphere where they can immediately consult if there are any concerns.Annual Income and Future Potential of Back-end EngineersAs demand for websites and web services continues to increase, the work of engineers as a whole will not disappear. In particular, work such as service improvement and maintenance will continue semi-permanently, including the occurrence of deficiencies and prevention of security problems.Also, back-end work tends to be more difficult than front-end languages, and because it has a wide range of work, there is a lot of knowledge to remember, and there is a widespread impression that there are high barriers to entry for those who want to learn it from completely inexperience. This means that if you look at it differently, you have fewer rivals. Given the small number of back-end engineers in the market, it will certainly be an advantage if you accumulate skills and experience.However, many companies are now moving from servers to the cloud, and it is also true that automation is progressing through technological innovation in programming languages. Against this backdrop, it is expected that back-end engineers in the future, might want to only make things according to specifications or conveying their point of view and ideas. In order not to be so, it is essential to become a back-end engineer with added value of plus alpha as well as chasing the latest technology every day.The average annual income of back-end engineers is about 4 million yen, which is relatively high among engineers. The reason for this is that, as mentioned above, the skills and knowledge required in addition to programming are diverse in order to prevent the occurrence of defects.Let’s Aim to Become a Back-end Engineer with Added ValueBackend engineers are responsible for supporting critical parts of systems and websites. Although it is expected to play an active role in various companies in the future, now with cloud computing and program automation it is difficult to affirm that there is an absolute future in this field.However, that is because the value of a back-end engineers who can only do what they are told declines. The future of back-end engineers who can actively look for service improvements and move forward to find and fulfill requests from clients will be bright. For that reason, it is also effective to gain the knowledge and skills of the front end to increase the added value. So, why don’t you improve your skills to raise your value so that you can be in great demand to any Japanese company?

When foreign workers start working in Japan, they will pay “Japanese taxes”. If you don’t have knowledge about Japanese taxes, you may pay extra even when you can reduce them, or you may forget to pay them and get a high bill for late tax payment. First of all, let’s know the basics of Japanese taxes and Japanese taxes on foreigners to avoid losing money.Types of Japanese TaxesNot only foreign workers living in Japan must pay taxes, but also foreigners who came to Japan to work for a short period of time and earn an income. Japanese taxes are divided into “national taxes” paid to the country and “local taxes” paid to prefectures and municipalities. The table below lists the main taxes in Japan.As you can see, there are many taxes in Japan, but you don’t need to understand everything. For example, “consumption taxes” such as consumption tax and liquor tax are included in the money you pay when you shop, so you won’t forget to pay or overpay. In addition, “taxes on property” such as automobile tax and property tax are simply paid by people who have property such as cars and land.There are three things that foreign workers living in Japan should understand: “income tax”, “resident tax” and “inheritance tax”.Income Tax for Foreign WorkersWhat kind of tax is income tax?Income tax is the tax you pay when you earn money. In Japan, people with income are obliged to pay income tax, and as a general rule, they are taxed on the income earned in the year from January 1st.Foreign workers should check their classification!Japan’s income tax law divides individuals according to their “style of residence”, and the taxable range varies depending on the classification. Foreign workers need to know which of the following categories they belong to:Standards and ranges for foreign workers to pay income taxThe taxable income tax that needs to be paid by foreign workers living in Japan depends on the following three categories.What is “Income Tax Deduction” and how it allows foreign workers to reduce taxes?The formula for calculating the income tax amount is as follows.Income tax amount = Income amount × Tax rateThis formula works as a base only and does not consider other deductions (a system that reduces taxes). There are various deductions for Japanese income tax. The deduction methods are divided into “income deduction” and “tax deduction”. Income deduction subtracts a certain amount from the income amount, and tax deduction subtracts a certain amount from the income tax amount. If both deductions apply, modify the formula as follows:Income tax amount = (Income Amount － -Income Deduction Amount） × Tax Rate – Tax Deduction AmountAlso, there are different types of income deductions and tax deductions.Resident foreign workers can receive all deductions in the same way as Japanese if they meet the requirements for each deduction. Non-residents, on the other hand, can only receive three deductions: miscellaneous loss deduction, donation deduction, and basic deduction.Among the many deductions, the deduction that foreign workers living in Japan should know is the “foreign tax deduction”.What is foreign tax reduction?There is a problem of “double tax payment”, which is whether foreign workers (residents) who have income tax on overseas income must pay taxes to both their home country and Japan. In order to prevent this double tax payment, the “Tax Treaty” was established between the countries.Let’s suppose you have a foreign worker from a country that has a tax treaty with Japan. If the person paid income tax in his / her home country for income earned in his / her home country, if he / she reports to Japan, the income tax paid in his / her home country will be deducted from the Japanese income tax. This deduction is called “foreign tax deduction”.However, foreigners from countries that do not have a tax treaty with Japan, must pay double tax. In addition, even if you have a tax treaty, you should be aware that the scope of foreign tax credits may vary depending on the signing country.>> Check here for countries that have signed tax treaties (Check out Japan’s tax treaty network)Resident Tax for Foreign WorkersWhat kind of tax is resident tax?Resident tax is a tax paid to the municipality where you live. It consists of two types, prefectural and municipal taxes.The formula for calculating the residence tax is as follows.Municipal Tax Amount = Income Rate+ Per Capita Rate※ What is income rate?The amount to be paid according to the amount of income. Basically, the income amount of the previous year × 10% (6% municipal tax + 4% prefectural tax).※ What is per capita rate?Amount paid by people living in the same local government regardless of their income. There are regional differences, but is around 5,000 yen.Standards and ranges for foreign workers to pay municipal taxResident tax applies to individuals with addresses in local governments regardless of nationality. Whether there is an address is determined based on January 1 of that year. For example, foreign workers who have been working in Japan since February 1, 2019 but did not have an address in Japan as of January 1, 2019 will not be subject to 2019 residence tax.In addition, the income rate for municipal tax is applied on all income earned in the year from January 1 of the previous year. In other words, foreign workers who have no previous year’s income, it won’t apply.Inheritance Tax for Foreign WorkersWhat kind of tax is inheritance tax?Inheritance tax is tax that may be paid when you inherit the property of a deceased person (real estate, securities, savings, etc.).The formula for calculating the inheritance tax is as follows.Inheritance Tax = Inheritance-Standard Deduction x Tax Rate-DeductionThere are various deductions for inheritance tax. The tax rate varies from 10% to 55% depending on the amount of inherited property.Standards and ranges for foreign workers to pay inheritance taxWhether foreign workers bear the inheritance tax depends on whether the address of the heir (inheritor) or bequeather (the person who died) is in the country or outside the country, and if the inherited property is in the country or abroad.Inheritance tax may occur in Japan when inheriting overseas property, but in this case, double payment will occur. However, as with inheritance tax, “foreign tax credits” are applied in the same way as income tax, so foreign workers from countries with tax treaties can avoid double payments.ConclusionYou will receive a reminder when you are behind with taxes in Japan. If you do not pay even if you receive a reminder, the arrears tax will increase, and eventually you will be subject to administrative sanctions and your salary and property will be seized.If a foreign worker works in Japan as a company employee, income tax and resident tax will be deducted from the salary, so you do not have to pay it yourself, but if you work as a business owner or a freelancer you must pay them yourself . Get basic knowledge to avoid forgetting to pay or overpaying.Japanese inheritance tax is very complex and has a deadline of 10 months. In the unlikely event that inheritance occurs, it is better to consult an expert promptly.

Due to the development of information technology, companies around the world are steadily placing importance on information. It is because they’ve realized that identifying valuable information from a vast amount of information and utilizing it in business situations will lead to growth.Along with this, the demand for “Data Scientists” who analyze a large amount of data and collect useful information is increasing rapidly. Also, it has been selected as United States’ best job for the third consecutive year, so from now on there will be great expectations on data scientists.This time, we will introduce the job description and necessary skills for data scientists, which has attracted attention both in Japan and overseas.Japan’s Data ScientistsData scientists work in a wide variety of industries. But what they have in common is that it is a profession to solve business problems with advanced data analysis technology.Big data analyzed by data scientists is held and collected by companies. With the evolution of technology, it has become possible to collect information that could not be learned before, and to manage a large amount of data that had been abandoned, so it became possible for each company to collect a huge amount of data.Data scientists who gather these vast amounts of inconsistent data and gain insights into company performance have become an important occupation in today’s world where data is being valued.For example, based on the purchase history of consumers, analyzing data that summarizes age, gender, and what kind of product was purchased and at what time can provide useful information for marketing.A beverage manufacturer installed an eye tracker, a device that can track an individual’s line of sight in a vending machine, and after analyzing the purchaser’s line of sight they found out that the looks gathered in the lower part of it. Up until now, it was believed that the products should be placed following the “Z-law” on the shelves of the vending machines, but data overturned the “Z-law” of moving the line of sight of the beverages from the upper left place to the bottom of the vending machine to increase sales. It can be said that this is also an example of how big data has led to corporate performance.While the needs of data scientists are increasing year by year, according to the “Survey Report on Latest Trends and Future Estimates of IT Human Resources” published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, it is predicted that there will be a shortage of human resources related to “big data” or “IoT intelligence” of about 48,000 people.Against this background, there are data science programs at universities in the United States. Although the average annual income of a person working as a data scientist in the United States is 10 million yen, it seems that the number of data scientists cannot be secured unless efforts are made to create a place for development.In Japan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications opened an online course called “Data Science Exercises for Working People” in May 2019, and started creating opportunities to learn practical data analysis methods. As it can be seen from these efforts, there is an urgent need to develop data scientists in many countries.Required skills and IncomeWhen you hear about the skills required for data scientists, many people may imagine that is about “IT skills to collect and analyze data”. Of course, skills to handle data are indispensable, but in addition to that, business skills to make use of data in business and statistical analysis skills to make predictions from analysis results are also required.◆IT skillsFor data scientists, SQL, the language for manipulating data is an essential skill. The ability to use SQL means that you can do everything from data extraction to analysis yourself, saving you the trouble of asking engineers. And knowledge of R, Ruby, Python, etc. is also important in order to process the data in a form that can actually be used.◆Statistical Analysis SkillsIn order to collect and analyze appropriate data, knowledge and skills related to statistics are required. There is an “Statistics official certification” that tests your ability for statistics, making it ideal for acquiring knowledge and skills for performing statistics.◆Business skillsEven if you analyze data and perform statistics, there is no point if we don’t lead business issues to solutions. You need to be able to understand the challenges faced by companies businessmen, in areas like marketing, sales, and finance, and to think about ways to logically solve them.Furthermore, when sharing the results of data analysis obtained internally, there is a possibility that the other party may not understand even if you try to explain it using specialized knowledge and words. In that case, presentation skills and writing skills that make it easy to understand are essential.Many data scientists read specialized books and study to acquire qualifications every day to learn in a wide range of fields. By constantly learning the latest technologies and knowledge, it will lead to hints for solutions.The average annual income of data scientists is said to be at least about 6 million yean a year or more, depending on the size of the company, the length of the service, and the type of work. Compared to other occupations, it is expensive, and as the number of companies that value data increases, the annual income is expected to increase further.Let’s Follow Your Ideal CareerLarge companies and venture companies differ in their work content and environment when working as data scientists. Some say, “I joined the company as a data scientist, but what I was actually entrusted with was to check the operation of the program and work without being a data scientist.” By knowing the characteristics of each, let’s be aware of it to avoid differences with your career map.◆Large companiesLarge corporations tend to have an “environment to nurture people”. This is a characteristic of a large company that has a large number of employees and can provide careful feedback about the work you do. Also, being involved in large-scale operations because it is a large company is a privilege.◆Venture companiesVenture companies involved in AI solutions are experiencing a rapid increase in the needs of data scientists. The adoption of data scientists is aggressive and the difficulty is low.Venture companies do not have as many opportunities to engage in large projects as large companies. Also, if you are a new graduate who has no work experience as a data scientist, or if you change jobs from another industry, there is a possibility that the training environment is not prepared.However, venture companies are characterized by a great deal of discretion given to them. Ventures are suitable for those who want to have great responsibility and also think that they want to do various operations on their own.Some have said that “the rise of AI will eliminate the need for data scientists in the future”. Although there is a possibility that data collection will be left to AI, there is no change in the concern about the shortage of data scientists. With the development of IT technology, the importance of data will increase further in the future.That is why there is a future where information gathering will coexist with AI and analysis of the obtained data will coexist with human beings by dividing the field of expertise. Data scientists will continue to be active throughout the world.Let’s Realize How Bright the Future is a Data Scientist!A data scientist with great expectations both in Japan and overseas. It is no exaggeration to say that it is an advanced profession because of the wide variety of skills and knowledge required.One of the things that makes attractive to data scientists is that they can solve all the challenges and lead many companies to a better direction. Why don’t you consider changing jobs based on future possibilities?

In recent years, Japan has been suffering from a shortage of IT engineers, and not only large companies but also small and medium-sized companies have been hiring foreign engineers. Also, an increasing number of companies are focusing on international students in Japan and prospective university graduates from overseas when hiring new graduates.In this way, fields where foreign engineers can play an active role, are expanding in Japan, but the “language barrier” is something that must be cleared when foreign engineers work in Japanese companies. If you want to work under favorable conditions and aim for a high income, you will need not only development skills and experience but also Japanese language skills.In this article, we will explain the background for Japanese companies to seek foreign engineers and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), which is a way to measure foreigner’s Japanese ability.An increasing number of Japanese companies want to hire foreign engineers!In recent years, the recruitment of foreign engineers is progressing at a rapid pace in Japanese companies. In the past, it was a noticeable trend for large companies, but recently, small and medium-sized companies have also begun to acquire foreign engineers.Why are foreign engineers getting more attention now than Japanese engineers? There are various factors, but I think it can be summarized into the following two points: Human resource shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging population and as a response to globalization.Human resource shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging populationJapan’s declining birthrate and aging population are entering a very serious phase. In the future, there is a concern that IT engineers will become more scarce than ever because of the declining birthrate, the aging population, and declining of the working population. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced a forecast that “it will be short for about 410,000 (optimistic) to 790,000 (pessimistic) IT human resources in 2030”. The lack of IT engineers in all industries cannot be made up only by Japanese human resources, so the hiring rate of foreign engineers is progressing.Response to globalizationIn recent years, Japanese companies have expanded into overseas markets, but recruiting activities that are particular to Japanese people cannot keep up with the trend of globalization and slow down corporate growth. Japanese companies that felt a sense of crisis were actively recruiting foreign personnel. As for IT engineers, can not only complement the workforce by recruiting outstanding foreigners but also lead to the development of the company by fusing multinational human resources.The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) should be preferably N2 or higher!For foreign engineers who want to work in Japan, it can be said that the current situation is favorable, but the language problem is unavoidable when working in a foreign country. If a foreign engineer wants to work in Japan, not only skills as an IT engineer but also “Japanese language skills” are required. A common standard for measuring the Japanese language skills of foreigners is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.What is the “Japanese Language Proficiency Test” that measures Japanese language ability?The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a test for measuring Japanese language proficiency for people whose native language is not Japanese. Tests are held twice a year in July and December.* There is a similar name test called “Japanese Proficiency Test”, but this test is for people whose first language is Japanese.In the first year of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (1984), there were approximately 7,000 people worldwide, but in 2019 it was held in 47 prefectures in Japan, 239 cities in 86 countries, and approximately 900,000 people. Is taking the exam.There are 5 levels of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is an exam that mainly asks you to read and listen to Japanese. Levels are divided into five levels, N1 to N5, and the test questions are different for each level. N1 has the highest level of difficulty and N5 has the lowest level of difficulty, so you can take the test according to your Japanese language ability.The level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is an important indicator for measuring the Japanese language ability of foreigners. N1 to N5 levels are used in various situations such as employment/change of employment, salary increase/promotion, study abroad, entrance examination, etc.Japanese language skills required for foreign engineers are N1 and N2.In the recruitment information for foreigners, you may see a statement such as “Required skill: Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 (N2)” or “Preferred Skill: Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1 (N1)”.The level of Japanese language skills required of foreign engineers varies from company to company, but generally level “N1” or “N2” is required. Recently, some companies are recruiting even at the N3 level because of the growing shortage of engineers, but the N1 and N2 levels are desirable for finding and changing jobs under favorable conditions.N1 is very difficult, and it is said that the number of kanji required to pass is about 2,000 characters and the number of words is about 10,000. This level is for foreigners who use Japanese on a daily basis. The number of kanji required to pass N2 is about 1,000 characters, and the number of words is about 6,000, which is much more difficult than N3.Below is the official website for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in which it sets the standards for N1 and N2 certification.>>Click here for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test guidelineIncreasing your Japanese language skills will increase your value as an engineer!There are cases where Japanese companies do not have English-speaking employees …One reason why foreign engineers are required to speak Japanese is that few Japanese employees can speak English.As long as the IT engineer can communicate in English, there will be no major problems in project management. However, there are few Japanese who can speak English, and there are cases where it is difficult to communicate in English depending on the company. From the recruiting companies who are not good at English, foreign engineers need to be able to speak Japanese; it is best if their Japanese ability is high.In the future, it will also serve as a bridge for foreign engineers!Foreign engineers who can speak Japanese can work while communicating with Japanese engineers. If you can work well, you can improve your project efficiency and minimize the risk of trouble.Definitely, it makes it easier to work with a Japanese speaker engineer rather than with an engineer who can only speak his native language or English. Also, it is helpful when thinking about career advancement. In the future, it can also be used to work as a project manager or as a bridge SE for foreign engineers.Show your speaking skills at the interview!People who have acquired the N1 or N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, tend to be from China and Taiwan, because of the common use of Chinese characters in their language. On the other hand, it seems difficult to read and write kanji for people from non-Kanji culture countries, so the score on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test might be low.However, since the Japanese Language Proficiency Test does not ask “speaking ability”, the level of the exam may not be proportional to the ability to speak. For example, even if the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is N3, there may be people who do not have a problem with communication. Such people may try to appeal to the recruiter at the interview.If it is a Japanese company rather than a foreign company, hiring interviews will usually be conducted in Japanese, and if you can communicate well, it may open the way for you to be hired.ConclusionIt seems that the current situation is that foreign engineers with a high level of Japanese seem to have a low set of development skills and experience. The opposite situation also happens when experienced foreign engineers with rich development skills and experience have a low Japanese level.In any case, Japanese language skills are a major point in order to be active as an IT engineer in Japan. Increasing your Japanese language skills will increase your rarity as a human resource, which should lead to a higher annual income and career advancement. Above all, if you can improve your Japanese, your life in Japan, including your private life, will become more fulfilling.

I believe foreign engineers are good at many different programming languages. It is said that there are over 200 programming languages that are changing rapidly and attracting attention as new languages appear one after another. If you work as an IT engineer in Japan, you’ll be less likely to get the job you want to do if you don’t master the programming languages that are often used in Japan.This article summarizes the rankings and trends of popular programming languages in Japan for foreign engineers who want to work in Japan, as well as languages that can be targeted for high income.Ranking of programming languages in Japan“Programming Language Survey 2018 (Nikkei xTECH)” presents the survey results of programming languages that are actually used in Japanese system software development sites. The survey was conducted in a way that allowed IT engineers to answer up to three programming languages. The results are as follows.Popularity ranking 1st place, C/C ++! What is attractive?C is a programming language developed in the United States in 1972. Many programming languages in use today have been developed under the influence of the C language and can be said to be the source of programming languages. It is characterized by excellent versatility and is widely used in everything, from OS development to systems that control machines, desktop applications, and embedded systems.C / C ++ is an object-oriented programming language developed in 1993 as an extension of the C language. Like C, it is highly versatile and widely used in familiar systems such as OS, games, browsers, and robots. Because it can effectuate high-speed processing, it is a language useful for system development that requires image analysis.Popularity ranking 2nd place, JavaScript! What is attractive?JavaScript is a script-type programming language developed in the United States in the mid-90s. It is an indispensable language for web system development and is widely used from website creation to web application development. The feature is that it runs on the browser without depending on the OS, and it is possible to express more interactivity by incorporating it into the web page.Popularity ranking 3rd place, C #! What is attractive?C # is a programming language developed by Microsoft and runs on Microsoft’s own .NET Framework. It is widely adopted in Windows system application development, and it is also used for game programming. Using Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) provided by Microsoft, enables a more powerful and efficient development.Popularity ranking 4th place, Java! What is attractive?Java is an object-oriented programming language developed in the United States in the early 90s. Java, which has the concept of “Write once, run anywhere”, can run on a virtual machine called “JVM”. It runs on any computer. Besides being good at developing enterprise systems and embedded systems, it is widely used for Web application and Android application development.Popularity ranking 5th place, Python! What is attractive?Python is a programming language born in the Netherlands in 1991. It has been a popular language overseas, but in recent years it has become increasingly popular in Japan. The main features of Python are that it has a simple grammar, is easy to write and read, and has an extensive library. Although it is a language used for web application development, it is increasingly used in fields such as AI, big data, and IoT.Japanese programming language trends by Industry!Trending languages in the game development industry are C++ and C #As mentioned above, C ++ is a programming language that has been extended to further enhance the C language. C ++ has a high processing speed because it is easy to understand for computers, is suitable for game programming, and has abundant libraries for developing games.C # is also a programming language suitable for game development and can be used to create games efficiently. The game application development environment “Unity” that can use C # has spread worldwide, and there are a lot of game engineers who program in C #.The trend language of the Android application development industry is from “Java” to “Kotlin”As mentioned above, Java is a programming language that has been adopted in a wide range of development sites because of its excellent versatility. Suitable for Android app development, but also used for web app and desktop app development. Kotlin, which will be described later, is also gaining popularity, but Java still accounts for the largest number of projects and jobs.Kotlin is a programming language developed in 2011 and became a hot topic as Google added it to the official language for Android application development. Some advantages include the ability to write simpler code than Java and the ease of ensuring safety in development, and an increasing number of companies are adopting Kotlin for Android application development.Trend language of iOS application development industry is from “Objective-C” to “Swift”Objective-C is a programming language developed by Apple and is known as the iOS application development language. An object-oriented language based on the C language. There are many iOS apps written in Objective-C, but in recent years, the role of Swift, which will be described later, is being transferred to the main role.Swift is a programming language announced by Apple in 2014. More and more companies are moving iOS app development to Swift because of the benefits of easy-to-read and write code.Annual income ranking by programming language in Japan“Annual Income Ranking by Programming Language 2018” is a ranking announced by “Standby”, a job search site operated by Bizreach. This ranking is based on job postings for full-time employees posted on standby. This is the total of the median annual salary of job information that includes each programming language name. The results are as follows.Source: Annual Income Ranking 2018 by Programming Language [Research on Job Search Engine “Standby”]Best 3 programming languages ranking with high salary1st place “Go”Go is a programming language for open source projects developed by Google in 2009. All major operating systems such as Linux, Windows, MacOS X, Android, and iOS are supported, and the number of companies that use Go as their development language is increasing due to their simple specifications.In Japan, companies like LINE, Mercari, Hatena and Gunosy have introduced Go, and in the last few years, the attention has been rising rapidly. If you want to learn a new programming language for high income, Go will be your best choice.2nd place “Scala”Scala is a programming language published in 2003 that combines the characteristics of object-oriented and functional languages. It is highly compatible with Java and can write code that is shorter and smarter than Java.Worldwide, Scala is used on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., and in Japan, it is also used on Chatwork and Bizreach. While more and more companies are using Scala, there are not enough engineers to handle Scala, so it’s a programming language worth learning in the future.3rd place “Python”Python is a programming language that has been used in recent years in fields such as AI, big data, and IoT. Python has a rich library for machine learning and deep learning.Famously, Youtube, Dropbox, Instagram, etc. are also built with Python. Analysis and transactions using AI and big data continue to increase, and companies seeking Python engineers are increasing.ConclusionJapanese language skills are important for foreign engineers to work in Japan, but programming skills and development achievements are indispensable. Those who are highly motivated to grow as IT engineers, such as improving the programming language skills that Japanese companies need, or acquiring new programming languages, should be able to find a favorable job in Japan.

While the IT market is expanding globally with the emergence of new technologies such as AI and IoT, the shortage of IT engineers has become a serious issue in Japan. To solve this shortage of IT engineers, the Japanese government and companies are considering using foreign engineers’ abilities. In this article, we will explain the reasons of why foreign engineers are needed in Japan and the advantages and disadvantages of working in Japan.Why foreign engineers are needed in JapanIn recent years, many innovative IT technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain and robots have appeared. Meanwhile, the demand for IT engineers is expanding as a business leader in response to the so-called “4th Industrial Revolution”. Despite this, the current situation is the lack of IT engineers in Japan.Japan’s shortage of IT engineers has become serious.Japan is aging with a declining birthrate and declining population at a much faster rate than other developed countries. While the demand for IT engineers is increasing, the number of new employees is decreasing, and the shortage of IT engineers will become more serious as the labor force decreases.According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, there is about 170,000 shortage of IT personnel (*) in 2015, compared to about 900,000. In the future, the gap between supply and demand will continue to widen, and by 2030 it is predicted that there will be a shortage of about 410,000 (optimistic) to about 790,000 (pessimistic) IT human resources. In particular, the information security field will have a shortage of 193,000 in 2020, and the AI, IoT, and big data fields will have a shortage of 48,000 people in 2020.Source：Ministry of Economy, Trade, Industry “Survey results on latest trends and future estimates of IT human resources”※“IT human resources” refers to “human resources belonging to the information system department of IT companies and user companies”The acquisition of foreign engineers is progressing.A simple way to solve the shortage of IT engineers in Japan is to increase the supply. For this reason, there is an active movement toward the acquisition of new engineers. Acquisition of female engineers and senior engineers are also progressing, but as mentioned above, there is a limit to increasing the supply of IT engineers only in Japan, where population decline is inevitable. Now, the acquisition of foreign engineers is progressing.More companies are actively hiring foreign engineers!Japan’s leading IT company “Rakuten” uses English as its official language and actively recruiting foreign engineers. Most of the members of the freeware app for instant communication “LINE” are foreign engineers; the company is established in Kyoto where the development base (LINE KYOTO) is located. It was reported that nearly 80% of the approximately 1,000 applicants were foreigners. In the e-commerce company app “Mercari”, nearly 90% of the 50 newly hired engineers were foreigners.In addition to these large companies, more and more companies are hiring foreign engineers in SMEs and venture companies.“Points-based System for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals ” to receive preferential treatment for immigrationIn Japan, the “Points-based System for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals” has started in 2012. The purpose of this system is to bring in talented people from overseas and revitalize Japan. By satisfying certain requirements, you can receive preferential treatment for immigration; IT talent like engineers are also eligible. The advanced human resource point system makes it easy for talented foreign engineers to work in Japan, and the number of given certifications is increasing year by year.>> Click here for details of the advanced human resources point systemNumber of foreign engineers working in JapanSource：Graph created based on the notification of foreign employment status (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of foreign workers working in the information and communications industry in Japan is increasing year by year. In 2018, it was 57,620, an increase of about 5,000 compared to the previous year (52,038). Compared to 2008 (18,030 people), it has increased over three times.In terms of nationality, China has the largest number, followed by Korea, Vietnam, the United States, and the Philippines.Pros of working in Japan for foreign engineersAdvantage 01: Employment is stable.Although it is said that Japan’s particular employment practice of “lifetime employment” has collapsed, long-term employment practices remain in Japanese companies. Besides, there are few cases in which employees are dismissed at Japanese companies; unless there are serious violations of laws or contracts. The fact that employment is stable can be said to be a great advantage for foreign engineers who want to commit to the company for a long time.Advantage 02: Education system is in order.Many Japanese companies conduct extensive employee training on the premise of long-term employment. The contents of work and work processes are made into manuals, and Japanese companies are characterized by extensive training and OJT. For foreign engineers who want to utilize the learned skills and know-how acquired in Japan in their home countries, Japanese companies with a well-developed educational system are attractive.Advantage 03: Earn more money than in your home country.Many foreign engineers work in Japan to send money back to their home countries. Engineers’ salary levels vary from country to country, so it’s hard to say, but if Japanese salary levels are higher than your home country, working for a Japanese company should be a good choice.Advantage 04: Public medical insurance is fulfilling.As a general rule, foreigners working in Japan must pay insurance premiums and take out public medical insurance in the same way as Japanese. As a result, you can receive the same medical services as Japanese. Japan’s public health insurance system (universal public healthcare) is at the top level in the world. There are many countries where there is no system for public medical insurance or in many countries where the system has not yet matured, so there are many foreigners who feel that it is easy to use the full public medical insurance.Advantage 05: There are many attractive things: Culture, Security, and Infrastructure.In recent years, an increasing number of foreigners are interested in Japanese culture, manga, anime, Japanese food and traditional crafts. Many foreigners have the perception of “safety”, “good infrastructure”, “clean cities”, “friendly people” about Japan. Many foreign engineers choose to work in Japan to live in their favorite country.Cons of working in Japan for foreign engineersDisadvantage 01: Possible long working hours.For many years, long working hours have become normal in many Japanese companies, especially in the IT industry. While recent work style reforms have made working hours more appropriate, there are companies unable to reduce working hours. Foreign engineers may feel dissatisfied with overtime, low salaries or not having enough private time.Disadvantage 02: Some companies lack cross-cultural understanding.In Japan, the phrase “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is used. This is one way of thinking, but if you go too far, both workers and employers may not be able to respect the differences between their cultures and lifestyles and may become a problem. When working in Japan, the point is whether you choose a company with a system that can accept different cultures.ConclusionJapanese companies, mainly in the IT industry, are working to hire foreign engineers to increase their competitiveness. Increasing numbers of companies are promoting the internationalization of the internal environment to accept foreign engineers. In the future, the environment where foreign engineers can work easily will improve, and the field where foreign engineers can play an active role will expand more and more.Big events in Japan like the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2025 Osaka World Expo, are continuing to be held, and now Japan is attracting worldwide attention. Now that the whole country is showing great excitement, it is the best time for foreigners to work in Japan. If you like Japan and have aspirations to expand your career as an engineer, why don’t you try challenging to find a job or change your job in Japan?

If you would like to learn how to write a Japanese CV in Japanese, please click Here!In this page, our firm G Talent, specialized in foreign IT engineer’s recruitment, prepared a Japanese CV sample that can be downloaded for foreign IT engineers who are thinking of changing jobs and we will explain how to create it.Two Documents Required for Job-hunting: Japanese Resume “Rirekisho” & Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho”When applying for a job in Japan, you will generally need two documents: a Japanese Resume “Rirekisho” and a Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho”.Japanese Resume (Rirekisho) – Document that conveys your background (education, work experience) and basic information (name, date of birth, contact information, etc.)Japanese CV (Shokumu-keirekisho) – Document that appeals to the past work experience (company you worked at, job description, skills you used, etc.)On this page, we will guide you to download the Japanese CV sample and how to create your own. The first thing you need to clear before you start job hunting is to create a Japanese CV.Your CV will determine whether you can pass the documents screening and get an interview. Therefore, it has to be easy to understand and the content should promote your skills.It may seem a little difficult, but if you understand how to write it, you can easily create it, so let’s look back on your experience and skills you have learned!※Please click on the following page to see how to make a Japanese resume.How to Write a Japanese Resume (Download Template)Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho” Sample for DownloadFirst, download the sample of the Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho” from the button below.Download Template職務経歴書(Template with English guidance).docx※ Available in Microsoft Excel format.When the download is complete, open the file.From now on, we will guide you through on how to write your CV according to the sample.How to Write the Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho” for IT EngineersThe purpose of submitting your Japanese CV is to get the company interested in your work experience and to get the chance of an interview.To achieve that goal, let’s first understand the four key points to create a great Japanese CV.< Key Points >Fill in with the specific job description. (Avoid abstract content)Specify your achievements (Appeal with your strengths)Choose an easy-to-understand layout (Make it easy for companies to read it)Make sure there are no mistakes when filling it (especially make sure there are no mistakes on the period of employment!)And, if you want to create your CV based on the sample you have downloaded this time, it will be divided in the following eight key elements.< 8 Key Elements of a Japanese CV >Name and Submission dateProfessional SummarySummary of work experienceSummary of experience and knowledgeTechnical skillsProfessional background (work experience)Certifications/LicensesPersonal summary (self-PR)Next, we will describe these eight elements in detail.1～5 (from Name to Technical skills)First, we will explain the following 1~5 points.1.Name and submission DateEnter your name and the creation date in the upper right corner.Please fill in the date in which you will submit your Japanese CV.※Always be careful to update every time to a new date.Companies want the most up-to-date information, so if the date is more than three months old, please correct it to a new date.2.Professional summaryPlease fill out your previous work experience with simple sentences.The first thing that the company’s HR looks at is the professional summary, this part will help them to visualize your past work experience.3.Summary of work experienceFill in all the companies you have worked for, from the newest company (the company you were last enrolled) and in order, enter the employment dates and the official company name.※In case of Japanese Resume, the companies are listed in order from the oldest company. However, in the Japanese CV, since the experience and skills are the ones that should be appealing, it’s important to write them in a different order, which should be from the most recent job description.If there is a period during which you were not enrolled in a company, due to studying abroad, please also indicate this. If you have not been with a company for a long period, it can give a bad impression to the company’s HR.So, if there is a blank period, be sure to enter it here.4.Summary of experience and knowledgeBe sure to enter what you want to make an impact with, like the experience and knowledge you have gained from your previous work experience.For example, if you have an experience that you want to make stand out, be specific not only in the type of job that you experienced, but also by including the number of years. Furthermore, by including the programming languages that you are good at in your development experience, it will make clear on what kind of languages you are good at developing.5.Technical SkillsIf you are an IT engineer, you need to clearly communicate how much practical work experience you have, such as operating systems, languages, frameworks, middleware, and tools. As well, enter the working level to properly convey your skills to the companies that you will apply to.Languages and frameworks that you have no experience with and learned on your own should be labeled as “self-learning.”6.Professional background (work experience)We will continue to explain the element 6.6.Professional background (work experience)The work experience is the most important part. We will describe each entry and all the important points to write it below.#1. Please fill in each company you have worked atFill in the following items, so when the company you applied for reads your Work History, they can understand the past company’s business, size, what department you belong to, and how long you have been working.Additionally, same as in the “Summary of work experience”, fill in all the companies you have worked for, from the newest company (the company you were last enrolled) to the oldest.Company name (Official name)Employment Period (Date of joining- Date of retirement)Company’s Business and number of employeesDepartment#2. Enter the job description and projects you were involved at the companyFill out the following items so when the company you applied looks at your Job History, they can understand what kind of system development, role, and the results you have been achieved at the company.Then, please enter separated each project. If it is not a project-based job, please enter and separate each role or product you were involved with.Project period (Period in each role)Project overview (Easy to understand)Description of the work within the project (Easy to understand with bullet points, etc.)The results you have achieved in the projectDevelopment phase of the project that you were in charge (design, development, testing, etc.)Environment used in the project (programming language, framework, OS, DB, etc.)Project size and your roleRegarding the achievements, please indicate your contributions to the project.Please try to enter not only big accomplishments, but also small achievements, like, whether the project was completed without any problems, if the system’s performance or efficiency was improved or if the efficiency of the surrounding members was improved.By entering your achievements, you will also be able to show the company that you are applying, a high level of commitment to the results.7.Certifications/Licenses & 8.Personal Summary (self-PR)Finally, we will explain the following points.7.CertificationsEnter the qualifications that can be appealing to the company.IT related certificates and language certificates will be appealing from a practical perspective.8.Personal Summary (self-PR)At this point, since the self-promotion has already been done with the previous elements, there is no problem in filling it with simple contents. Write down how your skills, experience, and abilities can contribute to the company you are applying to.If you are highly motivated to join the company you are applying for, it may be a good idea to fill in the reason to join the company and your motivation, rather than your own self-summary.ConclusionWe presented above an effective method for creating a Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho” for foreign IT engineers in Japan. Be sure to be prepared when you start job hunting, since the chances of going to an interview will increase when submitting a Japanese CV.If you are a foreign IT engineer working in Japan and need advice on your Japanese Resume or Japanese CV, please use G Talent, a recruitment agent specialized in foreign IT engineers.