Japan’s IT industry is vibrant and growing, with increasing demand for developers, engineers, data specialists, DevOps professionals, QA analysts, IT support, and more. However, one major factor that influences your ability to get hired — and thrive — is Japanese language proficiency. Let’s break down what that means in the real world.
English-only or global companies: Many international firms and tech startups in Japan hire IT professionals who don’t speak Japanese at all, especially for remote or hybrid roles.
Skill first: Your technical experience, portfolio, and certifications often matter more than Japanese in these roles.
💡 Examples: Software engineers, devops specialists, data scientists, full-stack developers at multinational companies often have “No Japanese required” tags in job postings.
Even if not mandatory, basic Japanese (JLPT N3 or equivalent) helps in:
Daily communication with teammates
Understanding internal tools, SoP (standard operating procedures), and documentation
Interacting with non-English-speaking departments
👉 Some companies accept N3 if the technical skills are strong, but this remains less common.
Mainstream Japanese companies: Many traditional Japanese firms require N2 or higher — especially if the role involves internal meetings, client communication, or management responsibilities.
Client-facing roles: QA engineers, project leads, and technical consultants often list JLPT N2 or above as a requirement.
💡 JLPT is not legally required, but many companies use it as a standard shorthand to define language expectations in job listings.
Japanese working culture places a high value on clear, respectful communication — both verbal and written. Even technical discussions may involve Japanese internal documentation or Slack channels.
👉 Without Japanese, you may face barriers in daily syncs, explaining designs to local teams, or understanding stakeholder expectations.
Speaking Japanese helps with team cohesion and adapting to local work styles.
It also shows commitment and respect for the workplace culture — a big plus in Japanese companies.
✔ Roles in multinational corporations
✔ Fully remote engineering positions
✔ Startups with English as the work language
✔ Freelance or contract/backend engineering gigs
👉 These often emphasize experience, frameworks, and coding skills over language.
📍 Local Japanese firms, particularly:
QA & test engineers
Technical support (helpdesk with local users)
Project management
Roles involving non-English documentation
Client interactions and product discussions
👉 Many listings for these roles list JLPT N2 and sometimes N1 as required.
Beginner levels
Enough for basic greetings, reading simple text
Not usually enough for IT job postings
Intermediate
Can support limited conversations
Helps if you’re applying for roles that don’t strictly require business Japanese but benefit from some local ability.
Common requirement for many full-time IT jobs in Japanese companies
Means you can communicate effectively in business situations
Often expected for traditional companies and client-interfacing roles.
Native-level command
Required for leadership roles, cross-department coordination, and client pitches
⭐ CEFR benchmarks like B1/B2 often align with business Japanese expectations & help if you lack JLPT certification.
⭐ Local job sites sometimes show “Conversational” or “Business Level” tags instead of JLPT levels.
Even a basic JLPT N3 boosts your profile
Better job opportunities and salary negotiating power
Convert your portfolio, CV, and resume into both English and Japanese — companies pay attention.
Use job boards that filter by language requirement:
✔ Japan Dev (filter for “No Japanese Required”)
✔ GaijinPot and LinkedIn
✔ Daijob (for bilingual roles)
Many agencies offer post-hire Japanese training up to JLPT N2 — ideal for long-term career growth.
Yes, Japanese language ability still matters for IT jobs in Japan.
But it’s not always mandatory — especially in global or English-centric companies.
If your goal is maximum job options, working with Japanese clients, or rising in a traditional company → aim for JLPT N2 or above.
If you want to start working quickly and focus purely on tech → prioritize technical excellence and target English-friendly employers first.
Learning Japanese remains a powerful career booster — both professionally and socially — and will open doors you might otherwise miss in Japan’s competitive IT market.
