【Breaking Into Japan’s Job Market】
By Chris Frost, Cogs Agency
At Cogs, we speak to many talented professionals outside Japan who are interested in relocating. Most come from backgrounds in marketing, e-commerce, design, creative, and digital — areas we know well.
The challenge? Nearly all the roles we hire for require Japanese language skills and local experience. That’s not a preference — it’s what the market demands.
Chris Frost, our founder, has lived and worked in Japan for the past seven years. His insights come from both personal experience and years of supporting clients and candidates across APAC. If you’re serious about breaking into the Japan market, here’s what he’s learned:
Language Is the Gatekeeper
The vast majority of roles in Japan require Japanese. Chris estimates that only about 1 in 20 roles are open to non-Japanese speakers — usually in startups with international founders or global teams inside large companies.
Everything else? You’ll need at least high conversational or low business-level fluency. With business-level Japanese, an entirely new world of opportunities opens up. But if you’re not even trying to learn the language, it’s going to be a steep climb.
Chris focused early on speaking and listening. Reading and writing came later, supported by translation tools (including ChatGPT). One lesson a week, plenty of mistakes — but steady progress. That’s how you learn. Even in central Tokyo, life without Japanese is limiting. Outside of it, it gets a lot harder — professionally and personally.
Culture: Know Enough to Respect It
Japan runs on unspoken rules — in daily life, in business, and especially in communication. You’re not expected to know everything, but understanding the basics around etiquette and interaction goes a long way.
Chris learned quickly that listening matters. Interrupting or jumping in, which might feel normal elsewhere, often reads as rude here. When speaking English with Japanese colleagues, slowing down, avoiding slang, and keeping it clear makes a big difference.
And just because Japanese business culture feels different doesn’t mean it’s behind. Some areas — like digital transformation — may be more advanced elsewhere, but Japanese companies are highly effective in their own way. Coming in with humility instead of trying to “fix” things is key. If you come in preaching, people may smile politely — but you probably won’t hear from them again.
Not All “Foreign” Companies Have International Cultures
A surprising truth: some foreign companies in Japan operate more like traditional Japanese firms than actual Japanese companies.
Many global brands have had local offices here for decades, staffed and run by Japanese teams. In these cases, the culture can be highly hierarchical and risk-averse — sometimes more so than local startups.
On the other hand, some Japanese companies — especially younger ones or those with global leadership — can feel progressive, flexible, and open to new ideas. You can’t judge a company’s culture by its headquarters. Ask how decisions are made, who leads the team, and how they operate locally — that’s what will shape your day-to-day experience.
Being Here Matters
Unless you’re an expert in a niche field, getting hired from abroad is tough. Being in Japan makes a massive difference. You need to be visible, meet people, and understand how to position yourself locally.
Technical roles — engineers, developers, data specialists — tend to have a smoother path. But for marketing, creative, and strategy roles, employers expect a deep understanding of the Japanese market, language, and consumer.
One example Chris gives: a marketing manager from an FMCG brand abroad may struggle here if they don’t understand the local landscape. But if they bring scarce expertise — like digital strategy or data-driven thinking — that can shift the balance. The key is showing how your experience adds value in Japan.
Find the Story That Translates
You won’t succeed in Japan by trying to “become Japanese.” You’ll only get so far with that. What works is figuring out how your unique experience connects to what’s needed here.
Chris regularly attends meetings in Japanese and understands most of what’s discussed. But he doesn’t pretend to be an expert in Japanese business culture. Instead, he positions himself as a bridge — someone with global experience and a real effort to understand Japan.
That approach — of translating your story into something relevant and useful — is often what makes the difference.
Network, Network, Network
Networking in Japan takes time. You’ll start by meeting other foreigners, which is fine. These communities help you get settled. But longer term, you need to connect with local and bilingual professionals in your industry.
The bilingual talent pool is small but in high demand. Building trust here takes longer, but it leads to deeper, more lasting professional relationships. Chris tends to keep business and personal networks separate, which works well in a culture where boundaries are often respected. Either way, you need both kinds of connections to thrive.
Say Yes to Everything (At First)
When you’re new to Japan, say yes to everything. Go to that dinner. Join that club. Hike that mountain with someone’s cousin. You can filter later. But early on, momentum matters — personally and professionally.
Let people surprise you.
Get Practical, Get Proactive
Japan isn’t the easiest place to get set up. Compared to Hong Kong or Singapore, it’s slower and more bureaucratic. Setting up a phone, registering an address, opening a bank account — it all takes time.
Job hunting is the same. Many listings say “bilingual required,” but if your skills are rare and relevant, apply anyway. Or go direct. Use LinkedIn. Reach out to mutual connections. Build a target list. Find common ground — same university, same company, same hometown — and start a conversation.
When we launched Cogs Japan, the biggest difference came from working with the right partners. Not the cheapest, but the most knowledgeable. Legal, accounting, consulting — good advice is worth the investment.
Final Thought: It’s a Long Game — But It’s Worth It
Japan doesn’t make it easy. But it rewards people who are consistent, humble, and invested in the long term.
Once you build credibility, relationships, and a track record, things get easier. In Japan, careers are more stable and long-term than in many other markets. If you show up, do good work, and stick around, you can build a strong, lasting future here.
Cogsは、クリエイティブマインドセットを身につけた人材と、グローバルなキャリア成長の機会をつなげるエグゼクティブ・サーチと人材紹介を専門とするエージェンシーです。
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