Reading Japanese Job Postings: What the Requirements Usually Mean
Japan Work, Labeled · No. 07 — Reading Japanese Job Postings: What the Requirements Usually Mean
A posting says "monthly salary ¥300,000, overtime included." Included how — and what else is it not saying?
Read a posting section by section: what the law requires, what the phrases mean, what to ask before applying.
What's inside
- The 11 legally required items, and where each hides
- 5 employment-type labels
- Required vs. welcome skills: filter vs. ranking
- Salary unbundled: base pay, fixed overtime, 3 required disclosures
- Transfer wording since April 2024; overtime signals from 4 places
- 1 complete invented posting, decoded line by line
- 10 questions to ask before applying
Format
PDF, 11 pages. Last checked: November 2026.
Who this is for
People reading job postings in Japan.
Not for: People who need visa eligibility advice.
What this guide does not cover
Visa eligibility; salary negotiation; interview preparation.
How the labels work
Claims are labeled Known (checked against official sources), My read (the author's interpretation), or Don't know (it varies — the guide says how to check).
By One View From Japan — a Japanese data professional based in Japan. Japan from the inside, with the guesses labeled.
Drafted with AI assistance; every claim and figure reviewed by the author.
Questions: riku-muse@muse.ai
FAQ
Q: A posting says overtime is "included," with no hours. Normal?
A: No — MHLW requires base salary, covered hours and amount, and an excess-payment statement.
Q: The posting and my offer differ. Which counts?
A: The written notice of working conditions at contract time.
