Japanese Resume Guide: Rirekisho and Shokumu Keirekisho (2026)
A Japanese job application usually has two documents: the rirekisho (履歴書), a short standard resume form, and the shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書), a free-format summary of your work history and skills. Many English-OK engineering jobs accept an English CV, but knowing both formats helps you understand what Japanese hiring teams look for.
This guide explains each document, how it differs from an English CV, and what you should write as a foreign engineer. It also explains which personal items Japanese fair-hiring guidance says employers should not require. The information is general and based on official sources as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
The rirekisho is a fixed form with basic facts: name, contact details, education, work history, licences and a short motivation section.
The shokumu keirekisho is where you show your real engineering value: projects, tools, results and responsibilities.
For English-OK jobs, a clear English CV is often accepted. Ask before you spend days on a Japanese form.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) published a model rirekisho in 2021 with an optional gender field and without fields for commuting time, spouse or dependants.
Under MHLW fair-hiring guidance, items such as place of birth (honseki), religion, and family details are not related to your ability and should not be used in hiring.
What is a rirekisho and what goes in it?
A rirekisho is a one- or two-page standard form that lists your basic personal facts and career history in a fixed order. Japanese recruiters read many of them, so they expect the same layout every time.
In 2020 the Japanese Standards Association removed its old resume template from the JIS standard. In April 2021, MHLW published a new model rirekisho (厚生労働省履歴書様式例) for employers to use as a reference. You can download it from MHLW or buy similar forms at convenience stores. Many people now type the form in Excel or Word.
Sections of the MHLW model rirekisho
Section (Japanese) | What to write | Tips for foreign engineers |
|---|---|---|
Date (年月日現在) | The date you submit | Use the same date format throughout |
Name (氏名) with furigana | Your full name | Write your name in katakana in the furigana line |
Gender (性別) | Optional | The model form says you may leave it blank |
Date of birth and age | As requested | Western years are usually fine for English-OK roles |
Address and phone | Current address and number | Add a separate contact address only if needed |
Education and work history (学歴・職歴) | In date order, education first, then work | Write degree name, major and university; list each employer |
Licences and qualifications (免許・資格) | Certifications, language tests, driving licence | Add JLPT level, TOEIC/IELTS, safety training if relevant |
Motivation, skills, appeal points (志望の動機、特技…) | Why this job, your strengths | 3–5 short sentences linked to the job |
Personal requests (本人希望記入欄) | Salary, job type, hours, location | Many people write "貴社規定に従います" (I follow your company rules) unless there is a real constraint |
Photo (写真) | Only if required | The model form shows a photo space for cases where a photo is needed |
What changed in the 2021 model
MHLW made two main changes compared with the old JIS template:
Gender is now an optional field. You can write what you wish or leave it empty. MHLW asks employers not to decide hiring based on what you write or do not write there.
Four fields were removed: commuting time, number of dependants (excluding spouse), spouse, and spouse's dependency obligation. MHLW said these are highly private.
Some companies still use their own forms. MHLW asks employers who use other forms to avoid fields that are not appropriate for fair hiring. You can see the model form and MHLW's explanation in this MHLW leaflet on the model rirekisho (Japanese).
What is a shokumu keirekisho?
A shokumu keirekisho is a free-format document, usually two to four pages, that explains what you did in each job and what you can do now. For engineers, it is the most important document. It is close to an English CV, but it focuses on work, not on personal details.
A typical structure:
Summary (職務要約): three to five lines about your field, years of experience and main strength.
Work history (職務経歴): for each employer or project, the period, organisation type, your role, team size, equipment or tools, and results.
Technical skills (活かせる経験・知識・技術): tools, equipment, software, programming languages, analysis methods.
Qualifications and languages.
Self-promotion (自己PR): a short paragraph that connects your experience to the job.
Write results, not only duties
Japanese hiring teams like facts they can check. Instead of "responsible for thin-film deposition", write "operated ALD and sputtering tools; developed a recipe that reduced film thickness variation; wrote standard operating procedures used by the team". Use numbers only if they are true and you can explain them in an interview.
For researchers moving into industry
If you come from a university or public research institute, translate research language into industry language. Hiring teams for production roles often ask whether you have worked in a mass-production environment or only in a research cleanroom. Be honest. Show the parts of your work that are close to production: tool operation, process control, data analysis, defect analysis, documentation, and working to safety rules. See our guide From cleanroom research to a fab job.
English CV vs Japanese format: which should you send?
For English-OK engineering jobs, an English CV is often enough at the first stage. Japanese forms become more important when the job requires Japanese, or when the hiring team includes people who prefer to read Japanese.
Point | English CV | Rirekisho | Shokumu keirekisho |
|---|---|---|---|
Format | Free | Fixed form | Free, but common structure |
Length | 1–3 pages | 1–2 pages | 2–4 pages |
Order | Usually newest first | Oldest first (date order) | Often newest first or by project |
Personal details | Minimal | Name, birth date, contact | Minimal |
Photo | Usually none | Only if required | None |
Focus | Skills and results | Basic facts and history | Work content and results |
Language | English | Japanese | Japanese (English copy sometimes accepted) |
A practical approach
Start with a strong English CV. Keep it clear, factual and easy to scan.
Ask the recruiter or agency which format the employer wants.
If Japanese documents are needed, prepare the rirekisho first (it is short), then a shokumu keirekisho based on your CV.
Have a Japanese speaker check names of degrees, universities and job titles.
What should you not be asked to provide?
Under Japanese fair-hiring guidance, employers should judge you on your aptitude and ability only. MHLW lists matters that may lead to hiring discrimination. These include:
Category | Examples MHLW lists |
|---|---|
Matters you are not responsible for | Registered domicile (honseki) and place of birth; family; housing situation; living or home environment |
Matters of belief that should be free | Religion; political party; outlook on life; respected persons; ideology; labour union membership and social movements; newspapers, magazines and books you read |
Selection methods | Background investigations into your personal life (mimoto chōsa); application forms that include items unrelated to ability; health checks that are not objectively necessary |
MHLW also says employers should not exclude people based on origin, disability, intractable disease, or sexual minority status. The full list is on the MHLW fair hiring page (Japanese).
What this means for you
You do not need to write your religion, caste, place of birth or family details in a resume.
An English CV does not need a photo, marital status, or father's name. These are common in some countries but are not needed for engineering jobs in Japan.
Employers may need to confirm your status of residence and its expiry date, because they must check that you can legally work. This is different from asking about your nationality for discrimination.
Some industries, such as semiconductor and defence-related work, may use a background check for security and compliance. If asked, you can ask what is checked and why.
If you feel a question is unfair, you can ask why it is needed. You can also consult Hello Work or the prefectural labour bureau.
How to write each part well
The best Japanese resumes are short, precise and consistent. Hiring teams notice small mistakes, such as different dates in two documents.
Dates
Japanese forms traditionally use Japanese era years (for example, Reiwa 8 for 2026). For English-OK jobs, Western years are usually accepted. Choose one style and use it everywhere.
Education
List high school graduation (optional for experienced engineers), then university entrance and graduation, then master's and doctoral degrees. Write the thesis topic in one line if it is relevant to the job.
Work history
Write each employment start and end. For a postdoc, write the institute name, your position title, and the research group. Write the end of the list with "以上" (end) on the right side, which is the usual Japanese style.
Motivation
Keep it specific: why this field, why this role, and what you can contribute in the first year. Avoid general phrases like "I love Japan" without a link to the job.
Personal requests
Use this section only for real constraints, such as a start date or a reason you cannot relocate. If you have a visa-related start date (for example, you must wait for a change of status), write it clearly. Honest timing helps everyone plan.
Common mistakes foreign engineers make
Most rejected documents are not "bad". They are unclear or do not match the job.
Mistake | Why it hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
One CV for every job | The match with the job is hard to see | Edit the summary and top skills for each job |
Long lists of tools without context | Readers cannot judge depth | Say what you did with each tool and for how long |
Research language only | Production teams cannot see the fit | Add process, yield, defect, safety and documentation points |
Different dates in CV and rirekisho | Looks careless | Check every date line by line |
Unclear visa status and start date | Hiring teams cannot plan | Add status of residence, expiry and earliest start date |
Personal details not needed | Wastes space; may raise privacy issues | Remove religion, family details, father's name, photo unless asked |
How the documents fit into the hiring process
The documents decide whether you get an interview, and the interview checks whether the documents are true. Expect interviewers to ask about every line in your work history. Prepare a short spoken explanation for each project.
A common flow for an engineering job in Japan is:
Document screening (CV or rirekisho plus shokumu keirekisho)
First interview (often online)
Technical interview or second interview
Sometimes a workplace visit
Offer and written working conditions
For interview preparation, see Job interview tips for engineers in Japan. When you get an offer, check the written conditions with our employment contract checklist.
How AGG can help
AGG (Awaji Global Gateway, a division of Fukuyoshi Inc.) lists English-OK engineering jobs in Japan in semiconductor, construction BIM/CAD, construction management, marine and offshore wind, AI and IT. When you apply through AGG Careers, a CV is optional at the first step, so you can start the conversation before your Japanese documents are ready. Many of our jobs are dispatch roles, where AGG employs you, enrols you in social insurance and supports visa change paperwork. AGG charges no agency fees.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need a Japanese rirekisho to apply for an engineering job in Japan?
Not always. Many English-OK engineering jobs accept an English CV at the first stage, especially in semiconductor, IT and AI roles. A rirekisho becomes more important when the job requires Japanese or when the hiring team prefers Japanese documents. The best approach is to ask the recruiter or company which format they want before you start. If you prepare one, keep the dates and facts exactly the same as in your English CV.
Q. Should I put a photo on my Japanese resume?
Only if the employer asks for one. MHLW's 2021 model rirekisho shows a photo space for cases where a photo is required, so many Japanese employers still expect it on the Japanese form. For English CVs in engineering, a photo is usually not needed. If you add a photo, use a recent, plain passport-style picture with simple clothing and a light background. Do not reuse old or casual photos.
Q. What is the difference between rirekisho and shokumu keirekisho?
The rirekisho is a short standard form with your basic facts: name, contact details, education, work history in date order, licences, and a short motivation section. The shokumu keirekisho is a free-format document, usually two to four pages, that explains what you did in each job, the tools and methods you used, and your results. For engineers, the shokumu keirekisho usually matters more, because it shows your real skills.
Q. Can a Japanese employer ask about my religion or family?
Japanese fair-hiring guidance from MHLW says employers should not use matters such as religion, place of birth, family, political views or union membership in hiring, because they are not related to ability. The MHLW model rirekisho also removed fields for spouse and dependants. An employer may still need to confirm your status of residence, because work permission is a legal requirement. If a question feels unfair, you can politely ask why it is needed.
Q. Is it okay to write my gender as blank on a rirekisho?
Yes. In the MHLW model rirekisho published in 2021, the gender field is optional. The form itself says you may leave it blank. MHLW asks employers not to make hiring decisions based on what is written, or not written, in this field. If an employer has a real legal reason to confirm gender, MHLW asks them to explain the reason and get your agreement.
Q. How do I describe postdoc experience on a Japanese resume?
List the institute, your position title and the research group in the work history section of the rirekisho. In the shokumu keirekisho, describe the tools you operated, the processes you developed, the analysis you did and the documents you wrote. Use industry words such as process control, yield, defects and safety rules where they are true. Be honest about whether your experience was in a research cleanroom or a production line.
Q. Should I write my visa status on my resume?
It is helpful. Write your current status of residence, its expiry date, and your earliest start date. If you need a change of status before you can start, say so. Japanese employers must confirm that you can legally do the job, and clear timing helps them plan. Hiding a long waiting period usually causes problems later in the process. One short line near your contact details is enough.
Summary
A Japanese application often uses two documents: the rirekisho (fixed form) and the shokumu keirekisho (work history).
For English-OK engineering jobs, an English CV is often accepted first. Ask before preparing Japanese forms.
MHLW's 2021 model rirekisho has an optional gender field and no fields for commuting time, spouse or dependants.
Fair-hiring guidance says religion, place of birth, family and similar matters should not be used in hiring.
Show real engineering results, keep every date consistent, and state your visa status and start date clearly.
Ready to apply? See our open engineering jobs and apply here. An English CV is fine, and a CV is optional at the first step. AGG charges no agency fees.
Reviewed by
Naoya Mitani — Head of Business Operations, Awaji Global Gateway (Fukuyoshi Inc.). Supports foreign engineers moving into jobs in Japan, including visa changes and onboarding.
