If you follow headlines about Japan, you will often hear two things at the same time.

Japan needs workers.
Japan is becoming stricter about who can stay long term.

Both are true.

This week’s edition looks at that tension. Where the real job opportunities are, how companies evaluate risk when hiring foreigners, why mid-career hiring is rising, what the government is signaling about long-term residency, and a company that reflects how Japan is balancing global hiring with long-term stability.

Japan’s labor shortage is real, but it does not mean every open job is willing or able to sponsor a visa.

The roles that sponsor most consistently tend to share a few traits.

They are usually:

In practice, this means visa sponsorship is most common in areas like:

Even though Japan’s job-to-applicant ratio is above 1.1, companies still weigh sponsorship carefully. Immigration paperwork, onboarding costs, and retention risk all factor into the decision.

This is why some postings that look perfect on paper never sponsor, while others that seem conservative do so regularly.

What if you woke up tomorrow with all your expenses covered for an entire year? No rent. No bills. What would you dream up? What would you build?

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That’s why we’re awarding $100,000 to one person who shows up as their authentic self and tells us how their dream can make a real difference in their communities.

We’ve got five runner-up prizes each worth $10,000, too. So get out your phone, hit record, and dream the dream only you can dream up.

Today is your day.

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In Japan, “Why Japan?” is rarely about passion. It is about probability.

Interviewers are subtley asking:
Will this person still be here in three years?

Answers that work well tend to emphasize:

Answers that raise concern often focus too much on:

A strong answer usually connects Japan to your work history and future path, not just to personal interest. Calm, practical framing reassures employers in a risk-averse hiring culture.

This free newsletter is for understanding how hiring and work in Japan actually function. The paid editions are for people who want to act on that information.

If you’re actively applying to jobs in Japan right now:
Each week I send a paid edition called Japan Job List with a short list of English-friendly roles you can realistically apply to, including language requirements and visa notes.
It’s designed for people who don’t want to hunt across dozens of job boards.

For decades, Japan relied heavily on new graduate hiring. That model is no longer enough.

Today, roughly eight out of ten Japanese companies hire mid-career professionals, a major shift from the past. This change is driven by:

For foreign professionals, this changes expectations.

Mid-career hiring prioritizes:

It also reduces emphasis on:

This is one reason foreigners with focused experience often perform better than generalists. Companies want people who can slot into existing teams and stabilize operations.

Japan’s foreign resident population has reached nearly 4 million, the highest on record. About 900,000 of those residents hold permanent residency.

As that number grows, the government is reconsidering what long-term integration should look like.

Recent policy discussions suggest that permanent residency requirements may change around 2027, including:

Currently, permanent residency does not require a formal language test. That may not remain the case.

At the same time, Japan is restructuring its foreign worker system toward skill development and longer retention rather than short-term rotation.

The direction is consistent. Japan wants foreign workers who stay, contribute, and integrate more deeply over time.

NTT Data is one of Japan’s largest IT services and consulting firms, operating across Japan, Europe, North America, and Asia. Its work includes large-scale systems, public infrastructure, and long-term enterprise projects.

What makes NTT Data notable for foreign professionals is the balance it strikes between global exposure and Japanese stability.

Inside the company, this shows up as:

Because NTT Data handles long-running projects, retention matters. Knowledge transfer, continuity, and reliability are valued more than rapid turnover.

For foreigners looking to build a sustainable career in Japan rather than a short stay, companies like NTT Data reflect where the market is heading. Slower progression, but clearer expectations and longer horizons.

If your goal is to actually start applying (or apply more efficiently), Japan Job List is the most practical next step.

It’s a weekly list of roles that are already filtered for international candidates, so you’re not guessing which jobs are realistic.

You can join here

If you prefer market context and longer-term strategy, Japan Work Report is the analysis-focused edition I write alongside it.

Some readers prefer starting with a one-time resource instead of a subscription. If that’s you, the Japan Job Search Toolkit is a $10 reference covering resumes, applications, interviews, and visas in one place.