Translating a Job Ad for Japanese Candidates: Format, Tone and What to Include
To hire in Japan, a job ad needs more than a translation: Japanese candidates expect a detailed, structured listing (募集要項) that spells out the employment type, salary, working hours, holidays, benefits, location and requirements, in headings they recognise. A short, punchy English ad translated word for word looks vague and can put good candidates off. Rewrite it in the Japanese format, in natural Japanese, and be specific.
What Japanese candidates look for
| Section | Japanese | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Job title and duties | 職種 / 仕事内容 | What the person will actually do, day to day. |
| Employment type | 雇用形態 | Permanent (正社員), contract (契約社員), part-time and so on. |
| Salary | 給与 | Monthly or annual pay, bonuses (賞与), how overtime is paid. |
| Hours | 勤務時間 | Start and end times, flexible or remote work. |
| Holidays | 休日・休暇 | Days off per year (年間休日), paid leave. |
| Benefits | 福利厚生 | Social insurance, commuting allowance, training. |
| Requirements | 応募資格 / 歓迎スキル | Must-have and nice-to-have skills, separately. |
| Location | 勤務地 | Office address or remote policy. |
| Selection process | 選考プロセス | Number of interviews, tests, timeline. |
Tone: specific, steady and honest
- Swap slogans like “rockstar” or “work hard, play hard” for concrete descriptions. They don’t translate well and can sound unserious.
- Describe the team, the company’s stability and how the person will grow. Japanese candidates often weigh these heavily.
- Say clearly what level of English and Japanese is needed. See Japanese levels for jobs.
- Give a contact person and explain how to apply, including which documents to send, such as a rirekisho and shokumu keirekisho.
Foreign companies hiring in Japan
Many candidates are cautious about foreign companies they don’t know. A clear company introduction in Japanese, Japanese-speaking contacts and a Japanese careers page help a lot. If you’re still building your presence, see entering the Japanese market and building a website for Japanese customers.
Legal points to check
Japan has rules about what job ads and offers must state, and about stating working conditions in writing when you hire. Check them with a local labour adviser (社会保険労務士) or lawyer; we translate, but we don’t give legal advice. See also translating HR documents.
Beyond the ad
- Replies to applicants and interview invitations in polite Japanese.
- An interpreter for interviews if your hiring manager doesn’t speak Japanese. See an interpreter for hiring interviews.
- Offer letters and onboarding documents.
How Hanabuddies can help
Send us your English job description and tell us about the role. We’ll rewrite it as a natural Japanese job listing in the format candidates expect, and can translate your replies, offer letters and onboarding documents. We’re a language service, not a recruitment agency, so we don’t source candidates; see working with recruiters in Japan.