Many international students ask:
“How good does my Japanese need to be to get a job in Japan?”
“If I have N1, that’s enough, right?”
Here’s the honest answer:
👉 N1 does NOT guarantee a job.
👉 And some students without N1 still get offers.
Why?
◆ Japanese companies don’t hire “test scores”
What companies really care about is:
Can you say “I don’t understand” clearly?
Can you explain a mistake and suggest a solution?
Can you share your opinion, even with simple words?
👉 Can you work in Japanese?
That’s the key.
◆ Real case 1: N1 but rejected
Student A had N1 and perfect grammar.
But the company said: “The Japanese was correct, but we couldn’t see his thinking.”
He was focused on not making mistakes, instead of communicating his ideas.
◆ Real case 2: N2 and got the offer
Student B had N2 and imperfect Japanese.
But he could:
Ask questions
Explain problems
Share his thoughts clearly
The company said: “His Japanese will improve. We can work with him.”
◆ So, what level do you really need?
Business / Humanities jobs
👉 N1-level + communication skills
Engineering / IT / Research jobs
👉 N2 + willingness to communicate
Common point?
👉 Communication beats perfection.
◆ Final message
Japanese is not for exams. It’s a tool to build trust.
Making mistakes is OK
Staying silent is risky
Asking questions = positive evaluation
Don’t aim for “perfect Japanese.”
Aim for “working Japanese.”
