Finding IT Jobs in Japan: A Guide for Foreigners

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to work as a software developer in Japan, and whether it is worthwhile?
 
For many foreigners, Japan is an exotic country with a very different culture. For many foreigners, this country acts as a magnet. However, visiting a place and living there are altogether different things and completely different experiences. Visiting a country is like merely feeling the place, but living there is knowing and understanding the place.
 
However, if you are a tech person and wish to experience living in Japan, you would like to know what kind of job opportunities are available in Japan and whether those jobs are well-paying and have good career growth potential. Moreover, a job is just a job; a career is just a career. For life, there are many other factors that are equally important as the career.
 
Therefore, this article focuses on types of opportunities for tech people in Japan, pros and cons, and how to find an IT jobs in Japan, specifically in the field of software development and other related positions.
 
Most of us have a desire to travel to foreign countries, immerse ourselves in different cultures, and expand our horizons. However, truly understanding a country comes from living there for an extended period of time, typically one or two years or even more.
 
Foreign professionals who work in IT jobs in Japan often have incredible experiences. It is a captivating place to work, live, and explore. For software professionals seeking a perfect balance between career growth, job security, remuneration, and personal life, Japan offers excellent prospects. IT jobs can be highly rewarding in Japan, taking into consideration the aforementioned aspects.
 
While salaries in Japan may be lower than US standards in certain areas, foreign individuals with valuable skills can find jobs with decent salaries and promising future prospects. So, if you are contemplating working as an IT professional in Japan, let's delve into how to find a software engineering job in Japan.

Is Japan a Good Option to Work and Live?

Well, “good” and “bad” are relative. What makes perfect sense for one may be senseless to someone else. It all depends on personal choices, preferences, objectives (both for career and life), risk appetite, and other factors. All these can not be discussed because every individual has their own set of choices and situations. So, instead, let’s try to see what all Japan offers:

Safety and Security (Personal)

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Male or female, you can venture out of your home at any point in time without being afraid of any risks. So, if a safe society ranks higher in what you prefer, then Japan is a great option to live and work.

Convenience

You can also rate Japan as one of the most convenient countries. Unless you are living in a very remote place, in cities, you can walk a few minutes to buy food or socks, withdraw cash, or get almost anything that falls under the “essential” category, any time of the day, that is, 24 hours.
 
The above is just one example; you can write a complete article on the convenience aspects of Japan.

Social Equality

Social equality does not rank high on the scale of preferences for many. However, an environment where people do not keep comparing the statuses, brand or size or the cars and houses, and keep having superiority or inferiority complexes, certainly makes the life less stressful.
 
For many, this aspect of life is something that they might not have even thought of, but if you think that this can be something interesting to experience, then Japan is the place for you.

Salaries Vs. Job security

If you compare IT salaries in North America, or even many other developed countries, and Japan, you will find salaries in Japan are respectable but are comparatively on the lower side. But so are your chances of getting a pink slip and losing the job. Yes, in Japan the job security is very high, and a person does not have to live with that stress of losing the job suddenly if some situations make the company to think southward.

Growth prospect

Career growth prospects, like almost everything in life, depend on the demand-supply gap. Here, demand translates into opportunities, and supply means the availability of talent. And which developed economy can beat Japan in this huge demand-supply gap that Japan has because of the aging and fast declining population? More jobs, less people available to do those, do your math.

Opportunity to Add Career Diversity

If diversity helps companies, it also adds more dimension to employees. Experiencing different working culture, processes, high standards, different mindsets are not only mentally fulfilling experiences, they equip us to be more competitive professionally.

Information Technology Job Opportunities in Japan

If you're curious about the salary range for IT professionals in Japan, you may find this article on average IT salaries in Japan very helpful.
 
Naturally, if your native language is not Japanese, you might be wondering whether you can find a job in Japan without knowing the language. The good news is that modern tech companies in Japan place a strong emphasis on increasing workforce diversity and are highly open to English-speaking talent.
 
Another positive aspect is that Japan boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates among developed countries. As per the Japanese government's statistics for May 2022, job vacancies in Tokyo outnumbered job seekers by a staggering 44%! This is due to the country's low birth rates, declining population, and the increasing demand for people, especially in young, tech-focused industries.

In Tokyo, the job-openings-to-applicants ratio was 1.44, while in Osaka, it was 1.18 and 1.24 nationwide. To explore the differences between these two major cities in Japan, you can refer to this article on the differences between Osaka vs. Tokyo.
 
Employers often find it challenging to hire bilingual candidates proficient in both Japanese and English. Therefore, if you possess bilingual skills, particularly in Japanese and English, you are in high demand. There are numerous job opportunities for individuals who can communicate in both languages.
 
Even if you haven't yet learned Japanese, landing a job in Japan without Japanese language proficiency is not overly difficult. Many Japanese companies are now open to hiring foreigners who do not speak Japanese. Additionally, there are recruitment agencies specifically focused on English-speaking candidates, which greatly assist in finding the right job for you.

Finding an IT Job in Japan

While most IT jobs in Japan require Japanese language skills, this obstacle can be overcome by having niche IT skills such as Cloud Computing, Data Science, Data Engineering, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning.
 
Moreover, many of the new-age high growth startups of Japan welcome foreign tech talent without Japanese skills. These companies value diversity in their workforce to be competitive internationally.

What if My IT Skills Are Not Specialized?

If you possess broad IT skills, you still have the opportunity to secure a job in Japan for several compelling reasons.
 
Many progressive medium-scale companies and startups in Japan are actively seeking English-speaking candidates to enhance and compete on a global scale, aligning with their expansion goals beyond Japan.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes, both positive and negative. One positive outcome is that companies have become more flexible, with some even offering remote job positions.

Can I Find an IT Job In Japan while Abroad?

Yes, it is possible to find an IT job in Japan even if you are not currently residing there. However, there are certain challenges associated with this endeavor:

1. Preference for Face-to-Face Interviews:

Face-to-face meetings hold great importance in Japanese work culture, even for brief discussions that could be handled via phone calls. While the COVID-19 situation has prompted some changes, traditional values still hold strong. Job interviews also follow this trend, as Japanese companies prefer to meet candidates in person before making employment decisions.
 
The preference for face-to-face interviews is deep-rooted in the traditional lifetime employment system of Japanese business culture. Even though in this modern age, only some of the largest corporations may still aim for such a system, modern companies and the younger generation of candidates do not prefer that system. However, the preference to know a candidate very well before employing him or her and an effort to have a personal connection by having a face-to-face interview is still there.

2. Language Differences

Communication is generally easier when conducted face-to-face, especially for bilingual Japanese individuals who find it more convenient to interact with English speakers in person due to accent variations.
 
You will find that many fluent English-speaking native Japanese may also find it difficult to understand different accents. Unlike many countries, English teaching in Japan is heavily tied up with the accent. You will frequently hear people say, "I am learning British English" or "I am learning American English." In such cases, sometimes physical meetings make it easier to understand each other.

3. Preference for Candidates in Japan

Japanese companies prefer hiring candidates who are already in Japan. Large corporations in Japan have historically employed the Shūkatsu system, recruiting students from universities before their graduation. These companies would train and retain these employees until retirement. While this system has evolved in recent years, it still influences hiring practices in major corporations.
 
Nonetheless, Japanese companies, including foreign multinationals operating in Japan, rely on recruitment agencies to source potential employees.
 
But despite all the above, do not lose heart because things have changed a lot in recent times. A number of companies hire talent from outside Japan, and the number is continuously increasing.

How Do I Find an IT Job In Japan Before I Arrive?

1. Recruitment Agencies

To secure an IT job in Japan while abroad, recruitment agencies are one viable option. Larger agencies boast an extensive client base, offering a broader approach, while mid-sized agencies may provide more personalized attention to your profile.
Some notable recruitment companies specializing in English-speaking candidates or bilingual English-Japanese talent, with a significant focus on IT recruitment, include:
● Michael Page
● Robert Walters
● Robert Half
● Hays
● En World
Mid-sized, fast-growing, and IT recruitment-focused companies include:
● ReachExt K.K.
● Skill House
● Specialized Consulting
● Vision Consulting

2. Job Boards

Additionally, job boards such as Daijob, CareerCross, and Jobs in Japan cater to a wider audience but do not specifically target IT positions. Alternatively, EJable.com features job boards focusing on tech recruitment in Japan, including bilingual and English-speaking roles. Other valuable resources for IT-focused job listings in Japan include Tokyo Dev, HN Tokyo on Slack, etc.

3. LinkedIn

With 2.6 million registered users in Japan, LinkedIn provides opportunities to explore companies in Japan seeking English-speaking talent. However, applying directly to hiring companies on LinkedIn may yield limited results due to the high number of applicants, potentially leading to your applications being overlooked.
 
Compared to many other countries, the LinkedIn user base in Japan is smaller; however, in recent years, LinkedIn Japan has been continuously growing. What is most important is that any company looking for bilingual talent or even only English-speaking candidates targets LinkedIn as the foremost resourcing platform. This makes LinkedIn an unavoidable platform for job seekers to have their profiles. However, merely having a profile created on LinkedIn is never enough. Treating LinkedIn seriously is crucial to landing good job opportunities. Creating your detailed and well-thought-of profile is the first step, but continuously reviewing and updating it is even more important.
 
Moreover, you should increase your connection base with targeted profiles and periodically post to create a personal brand. It is also highly recommended that you avoid making non-serious or political posts.
 
To maximize your chances of success, learning effective strategies for utilizing LinkedIn is important.

3. Wantedly

Wantedly is a leader in social recruiting. If you are looking for a job in Japan, it is highly recommended to create a profile on Wantedly.
 
Unlike many other career platforms, Wantedly not only connects with prospective employers but also makes it easy for you to understand a company's culture before you decide to join it.

Can I Secure Another Job in Japan before Finding an IT Position?

Embarking on an unrelated job in Japan and subsequently transitioning into an IT role is a viable approach to fulfill your dream of living and working in Japan. Pursuing jobs that do not require extensive Japanese language skills enables you to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and potentially learn the language before switching to an IT position.
English teaching is a common option for non-Japanese speakers, particularly at international schools. The increasing number of international schools in Japan, coupled with the demand for English-medium education, creates opportunities for native or near-native English speakers.
 
The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) recruits Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) for elementary and high schools, while various English conversation (Eikaiwa) teaching positions are available across Japan.

Finding An IT Job After Arriving in Japan

Expanding your network and connections is crucial if you are already in Japan and searching for IT job opportunities. Networking plays a vital role in discovering and accessing various career prospects. To explore networking opportunities specifically focused on Information Technology, consider the following IT-focused communities:
1.     Meetup Tokyo list - Developers
2.     Meetup Dev Japan
3.     Meetup - Tokyo Tech
4.     Doorkeeper
5.     Hacker's News on Doorkeeper
6.     Additionally, you can find more meetups and tech communities by exploring further resources on tokyotech.com.

Conclusion

In summary, Japan is an exceptionally modern country that deeply values its culture and traditions, making it a truly unique place. With one of the highest standards of living globally, it offers a safe environment for both living and working.
 
The future of Japan holds numerous transformative dynamics in terms of society, economy, and outlook, creating plentiful opportunities for those interested in exploring Japanese social and work culture, as well as personal and career growth.
 
Moreover, Japan is experiencing a significant decline in its population, primarily due to aging, resulting in a substantial gap between the demand and supply of tech job opportunities and available talent. This situation makes Japan an ideal destination for individuals seeking to advance their IT careers. If you aspire to reach new heights in your IT profession, consider coming to Japan.