Updated Japanese Language Expectations for Working in Japan: What JETs Should Know
- Brett Huestis
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
As of April 2026, updated immigration guidelines for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa (技人国) have officially gone into effect, creating new discussions and concerns among foreign professionals living and working in Japan.
Under the revised guidelines, applicants are generally expected to demonstrate either JLPT N2 certification or equivalent B2-level Japanese proficiency when applying for this visa category.
This is particularly important because the 技人国 visa covers many of the professional roles foreign residents pursue in Japan.
There are some exceptions to this updated guideline, however.
Roles that do not require Japanese communication are generally considered unaffected. International tech companies, foreign-affiliated firms, English-language engineering teams, and startups operating primarily in English have specifically been cited as examples where the new language requirement may not apply.
Naturally, these changes have raised a number of questions among current and former JET Programme participants, as well as other foreign residents considering long-term careers in Japan.
Common concerns include:
Does every professional role now require JLPT N2?
Will companies still hire candidates below that level?
How will visa renewals be affected?
What industries may become more difficult to enter?
At the moment, there are still some gray areas regarding how broadly these standards will be applied in practice. However, it is important to remember that visa decisions are ultimately made by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency rather than by individual employers themselves.
That said, positions involving customer interaction, sales, internal coordination, or communication-heavy responsibilities are generally expected to face stricter scrutiny regarding Japanese language ability.
At the same time, many foreign professionals who have already worked in Japan for several years may recognize that this change did not appear entirely out of nowhere.
In practice, many Japanese employers have informally treated JLPT N2 as a baseline expectation for full-time professional roles for quite some time. The major difference now is that these expectations are becoming more formally reflected within immigration policy itself.
What This Means for Job Seekers
For current and former JET participants hoping to continue their careers in Japan, the biggest takeaway is not necessarily panic — but preparation.
Japanese ability has always significantly influenced:
the range of jobs available,
long-term career mobility,
workplace communication,
and professional independence in Japan.
While there are still opportunities available for candidates below N2 level, stronger Japanese proficiency increasingly opens doors across industries and makes long-term career development much easier.
Rather than viewing this solely as a barrier, it may be more productive to view language ability as a long-term investment in both your professional and personal life in Japan.
Practical Recommendations for Improving Your Japanese
Over the years, I’ve spoken with many foreign residents in Japan about language learning, career growth, and adapting to life and work here. Based on both personal experience and conversations with other long-term residents, these are some approaches that consistently seem to help:
Use Structured Learning Tools
Resources like WaniKani can be extremely effective for systematically building kanji recognition and vocabulary over time. Consistency tends to matter much more than intensity.
Consider Local Tutoring or Conversation Practice
Many 英会話 schools or local cram schools (塾) may offer Japanese tutoring or private lessons. Even occasional speaking practice can significantly improve confidence and conversational ability.
Explore Community Japanese Classes
Some city halls and local municipalities provide free or inexpensive Japanese classes for foreign residents. These are often excellent opportunities to practice conversational Japanese in a low-pressure environment.
Take the JLPT Regularly
Even if you do not feel fully prepared, registering for the JLPT can help create structure and accountability in your studies while giving you a clear benchmark for progress.
Change Your Daily Environment to Japanese
Switching your phone, computer, game consoles, or apps into Japanese can help reinforce vocabulary and reading comprehension naturally through daily exposure.
Consider Enrolling in a Structured Class
JETAA Tokyo community member Marc Anderson is CEO of COMASJAPAN, and they have structured classes and online learning platforms (with discounts) specifically for JETs.
Actively Seek Opportunities to Speak Japanese
One common challenge for foreign residents is unintentionally remaining in primarily English-speaking environments. While this is understandable, actively creating opportunities to communicate in Japanese — even imperfectly — often accelerates improvement significantly.
Many long-term foreign professionals in Japan also eventually realize that reaching JLPT N2 or even N1 is not really the “finish line.” In many ways, it is simply the point where independent professional communication truly begins.
The deeper your Japanese ability becomes, the more you begin to notice nuance, industry-specific terminology, cultural context, and communication styles that continue developing throughout your career.
Final Thoughts
For foreign professionals building long-term careers in Japan, there is probably no skill that creates more opportunities than Japanese fluency.
Improving your language ability not only expands professional possibilities, but also makes daily life, workplace communication, and relationship-building significantly easier and more rewarding.
Progress takes time, and nobody improves overnight. However, consistent effort genuinely compounds over the long term.
Interested in Discussing Your Future in Japan?
Nisshin Global Corporation regularly supports current and former JET Programme participants navigating career development and job opportunities in Japan.
Readers interested in learning more about career support, Japanese hiring culture, or opportunities in Japan are welcome to reach out directly.
About the Author
Brett Huestis (Hyogo, 2017–2023)
Brett Huestis works in international recruitment, cross-cultural career support, and organizational development at Nisshin Global Corporation in Tokyo.
In addition to supporting foreign professionals navigating Japanese hiring culture and long-term career development, he is also involved in facilitation, collaborative leadership training, diversity management workshops, and cross-cultural communication initiatives that help Japanese organizations build more globally collaborative and inclusive workplaces.
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