Direct quotes in this story have been translated from Japanese to English.
If you’re considering working in Japan, you might be curious about how Japanese companies truly view foreign workers. Based on our firsthand experience helping individuals find jobs in Japan, and news articles from Japan, we’ve gathered valuable insights directly from employers.
To give you a balanced information, we’ve gathered both the positive and negative feedback from companies that have previously hired foreign talent. These real-world perspectives offer a clearer picture of what to expect when joining a Japanese company.
Japanese Companies See Hiring Foreign Workers As Essential
Senior officials and experts from the Immigration Bureau have reported that the share of the foreign population in Japan may reach 10% sooner than previously expected. [1] The growing number of foreign workers coming to Japan largely drives this increase as part of efforts to address the country’s labor shortage.
These labor shortage countermeasures expanded significantly under the Abe administration, which aimed to stimulate economic growth. [2] In 2018, the government introduced a new residence status called “Specified Skilled Worker” to create broader pathways for foreign workers to live and work in Japan.
Nearly a decade later, Japanese companies now view foreign workers as essential — not only to maintain daily operations but also to drive economic growth. [3] “The active participation of foreigners is now essential in all industries. We believe that accepting foreigners is not just a way to supplement the labor force, but an important initiative that brings new value to companies and society,” said Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu to Nikkei. [4]
Japanese companies welcome foreign workers across a wide range of industries, from IT to healthcare. Experts estimate that by 2028, labor shortages will affect 2.42 million people across 16 sectors, including nursing care, customer service, transportation, and more.[5] This ongoing demand highlights the increasingly vital role of foreign talent in Japan’s future.
Foreign Workers Speak Better Japanese Than Anticipated
It’s no secret that integrating foreign workers into the local workforce comes with its own set of challenges and adjustments. Fortunately, many Japanese companies view this as a natural part of doing business and are willing to provide support and make accommodations to make sure foreign talent on their teams are comfortable.
In a survey we conducted with several companies we work with, some companies raised concerns regarding the hiring of foreign workers. [6]
One of the most common challenges companies face is the language barrier. To address this, some Japanese companies assign English-speaking team members to assist foreign workers or offer Japanese language learning support.
In most cases, language difficulties improve or resolve over time. “They have a strong work ethic and can understand Japanese better than I expected, so the concerns I had before foreign workers joined the company have disappeared.” Another company shared: “I did have some difficulties when I had to communicate in Japanese with them, but that was resolved with time.”
Overall, Japanese companies are increasingly willing to provide help and resources to overcome language barriers. Some even go so far as to translate internal documents into English so that foreign employees can understand them more easily. “We want the foreign employees we accept to perform well, promote their achievements, and have each department in the company understand how excellent they are.”
Companies See Foreign Workers As Hard Workers
From talking with Japanese companies [6], many have commented on the strong work ethic of foreign workers. “People who come from overseas and want to work in Japan are more motivated than Japanese people and have a positive influence on those around them, so I think it would be good to use this to change the mindset of Japanese employees.”
Beyond simply filling roles in the workforce, foreign talent is also valued for their work ethic and competitive skills. In a survey by Nikkei, over 90% of top executives expressed support for expanding the acceptance of foreign workers to keep up with technological innovation and maintain team diversity [7].
Key To Globalizing Japanese Companies
Japanese companies also see foreign workers as a bridge to expanding their organizations on a larger scale. They believe foreign workers bring fresh insights and help revitalize how the company operates. In this way, companies view cultural differences not as obstacles but as opportunities to enrich their internal culture.
“While there are certainly challenges facing the workplaces where these people are accepted, I believe that the development of the Japanese economy and mutual understanding with other countries through personal exchanges are essential for Japanese society,” one company representative told us.
Another shared how the new perspectives brought by foreign talent led to creative solutions [8]. “The presence of foreign talent is stimulating for the entire workplace. Many people are proactive in sharing their opinions, which leads to interesting ideas and quick action, which invigorates the workplace. I think the positive impact of hiring foreign talent is that it gives us new insights into how to improve the company. We often hear from employees that ‘we’ve hired some really great talent.’”
Foreign talents who are able to speak English are also highly valued, as they can easily take on overseas assignments.
Not just about diversity
Moreover, some companies are aiming to fully integrate the hiring of foreign workers into their standard operations. [9] “Currently, foreign talent has become a symbol of diversity, but what we are aiming for is a situation where it is ‘natural for foreign talent to be present’,” an Aoki Asunaro Construction representative said. “Once the phase requiring special care for foreign talent is over, we would like to create a group where foreign talent can choose our company, achieve results, and build their careers just like Japanese talent.”
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