Career & Employment
From Campus to Career: Your Guide to Internships in Japan
In Japan’s fast‑moving graduate job market, internships have evolved from optional résumé boosters into near‑essential stepping‑stones. Whether you plan to join a multinational in Tokyo or a regional tech start‑up, an internship offers the low‑risk, high‑learning environment where you can test your skills, build a professional network, and gather real‑world stories that resonate with recruiters. […]
Japan’s New-Graduate Job Hunt: From Job-Hunting to tentative job offers
Japan’s “new‑graduate” hiring system is unlike any other. Each spring, tens of thousands of students in matching suits flood company seminars, determined to secure a naitei—a formal job offer—before they even finish senior year. From meticulously crafted Entry Sheets to the notorious SPI aptitude test, the process balances tradition and modern corporate needs. Understanding this […]
Job-Based Employment in Japan: A Practical Guide for International Students Navigating the New Career Landscape
Japan’s traditional “membership‑type” employment once promised lifetime security, slow but steady salary increases and company‑led career rotation. Yet as globalization, digitalization and labor shortages converge, many firms now advertise job‑based positions that reward skills over seniority. For international students planning to study—and eventually work—in Japan, understanding this historic shift is essential. The good news? It opens clearer, […]
Gaishikei Advantage: How International Students Can Secure High-Impact Careers at Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Japan
For many international students in Japan, the typical image of “shūshoku katsudō” (job‑hunting) revolves around rows of identical black suits, strictly scheduled spring interviews, and heaps of handwritten entry sheets aimed at domestic conglomerates. Yet a parallel universe exists just beyond that well‑trodden path: more than 7,300 foreign‑affiliated companies—known locally as “gaishikei” firms—operate in the […]
Navigating Japan’s Domestic Companies: Job-Hunting Calendar, Culture, and Skills for International Students
Japan’s white-collar employers value long-term commitment, advance planning, and polished communication. International students therefore need a strategy that blends cultural awareness with proven job-search tactics. Designed especially for new graduates and soon-to-be graduates, the following guide walks you through every critical step—from understanding Japan’s unique recruiting calendar to securing the correct work visa—so you can […]
Landing Your First White-Collar Job in Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Graduates
As you prepare to launch your career in Japan, choosing where to apply can feel overwhelming. Beyond the sleek high‑rises of well‑known foreign affiliates like Google or Goldman Sachs lies a broad landscape of Japanese domestic companies—firms founded in Japan, headquartered here, and largely run on Japanese capital. They range from century‑old conglomerates (sōgō shōsha) to […]
From Campus to Career: Fast-Tracking Your Future with Japan’s Advanced Graduate Visas
Japan’s doors have never been more open to global talent. Over the past decade the national government has eased immigration rules so that international students can glide from lecture hall to paycheck with less red‑tape, more autonomy, and a faster route to permanent residency. Officials openly say why: foreign graduates can plug labor shortages and […]
Beyond Tokyo: How Japan’s Local Governments Invest in International Graduates
Japan’s regions are rolling out the red carpet for international graduates. From renovated apartments at student‑friendly rents to start‑up money that helps you launch a business without a Tokyo address, local officials see you as the future engine of their towns. This article unpacks what municipalities expect from you—and what you can expect in return—under […]
Visa Guide for International Graduates: Working in Japan After University
Graduating from a Japanese university is a milestone worth celebrating, but your next hurdle is turning student status into permission to work. Japan’s immigration system can look intimidating, yet once you match your future duties with the right Status of Residence, the process becomes a paperwork exercise you can pass on the first try. This […]
Beyond Graduation: Japan's Global University Alumni Networks
Japan’s higher‑education landscape is known for its deep traditions, but it is the vitality of alumni and 校友 (kōyū) networks that keeps campuses intellectually young and globally connected. Whether you graduate beneath the cherry blossoms of Tokyo or the maple‑lined avenues of Kyoto, your relationship with your alma mater does not end on commencement day. Instead, it […]
