English ／ 日本語で読む
Japanese resume: frequently asked questions
Short answers to the things people get stuck on. For the full walk-through of the form, see how to write a rirekisho.
Do I need a photo on a Japanese resume?
In practice, yes. Nearly every Japanese resume form has a photo box in the top right, and leaving it empty is noticed. The standard size is 40 × 30 mm, taken within the last three months, plain light background, upper body facing the camera. No law requires it, and a small number of companies now ask applicants not to attach one.
Should I write my name in Latin letters, katakana or kanji?
Write it in the 氏名 field the way it appears on your residence card, in the same order. Latin letters are normal and expected. The ふりがな line above it is for the reading, and katakana is the usual choice for a non-Japanese name. Do not create a Japanese name for yourself.
Can I type my resume, or does it have to be handwritten?
Typed is normal for mid-career applications and is easier to read. Handwrite it only when the employer asks for it, which still happens for some part-time and shop-floor roles. If you are asked to handwrite it, use black ink and do not use correction fluid — rewrite the sheet instead.
What is a shokumu keirekisho and do I need one as well?
A 職務経歴書 (shokumu keirekisho) is a second document describing what you actually did in each job, and it is closer to a Western CV. The rirekisho is a short standardised fact sheet; the shokumu keirekisho is free-form, usually one or two A4 pages. For any mid-career application in Japan you are normally expected to send both. New graduates usually send only the rirekisho.
Should I use Japanese era years (令和) or Western years?
Either is accepted. What matters is that you use one of them consistently across the whole sheet, including the date at the top, your date of birth, and every line of the education and work history. Mixing 2020 and 令和2年 on the same form is the mistake to avoid.
Do I have to write my status of residence (visa) on the resume?
There is no field for it on the standard forms. Many applicants add a line such as 在留資格：技術・人文知識・国際業務（2028年3月まで） in the licences section or the requests box, because employers have to confirm it before hiring and it saves a round of questions. Write it if you are asked, or if you expect the question to come up.
What paper size should I use?
A4 is standard. The form is two A4 pages, or one A3 sheet folded in half. Print on plain white paper. If you send it by email, send one PDF containing both pages rather than two separate files.
Do I need a personal seal (hanko)?
Not on the current forms. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare sample form published in 2021 removed the seal box, and most downloadable forms followed. If the form you were given still prints 印, use your registered seal or a name stamp.
How long should the reason for applying be?
Around 200 to 300 Japanese characters, filling the box without overflowing it. Name something specific about that company and connect it to something you have actually done. Reasons that would apply equally to any company in the industry are the most common weakness.
What should I write in the requests box at the bottom?
Usually just 貴社の規定に従います ("I will follow your company's terms"). Use it for genuine constraints only — for example that you can only work certain days, or that you cannot relocate. Salary, holidays and working hours belong in the interview, not here.
How do I name the file when I send my resume by email?
Use the document name and your own name, for example 履歴書_John Smith.pdf. Send PDF rather than Word or Excel so the layout cannot shift, and write a short covering message in the body of the email.
Is Sokureki free, and is the interface in English?
The builder is free and needs no account. The interface itself is in Japanese, because the document it produces is a Japanese-format resume. The field-by-field table on this site gives the English meaning of every label you will see on screen.