For foreign nationals including international students

This is the executive secretariat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Support project for small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) accepting international workers.
What impression do you have of “Japanese companies”?
Today, we would like to help you understand some of the characteristics of Japanese companies.

①Job types

Have you ever heard the Japanese word “Sogoshoku”?
Sogoshoku refers to a “generalist.”
Most new graduates are unable to handle specialized jobs immediately after joining a company.
Japanese companies allow employees who are hired to work at various jobs in order to develop long-term human resources.
On the other hand, employees at foreign-owned enterprises are often given specialized jobs as soon as they join a company.

②Payment

Japanese companies have long used a seniority-based system.
In this system, salary increases as you get older. However, because of this, the starting salary you receive when you first join a company as a new graduate is often about 200,000 yen a month.
It is rare to receive a high salary in the first year, but as you work at the company longer, your salary will increase.

③Stability

In addition to the seniority system, Japanese companies still implement a “lifetime employment system.”
The lifetime employment system is a system where employees are expected to remain with the company until retirement.
Therefore, if you join the company as a full-time employee, it is unlikely that you will be fired unless there is some serious issue.
On the other hand, foreign-owned enterprises have a performance-based system, and employees may be dismissed if they do not produce results.

■The contents provided in these articles are for informational purposes only.
Therefore, the reader must use discretion and take responsibility when using the information in these articles.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the administrator, and the management office shall not be responsible for the results of applying the contents of the articles.
■ The information in these articles is current as of January 2020. Keep in mind that there may be changes at the time it is used.