What positions are available for you in Japan?
I am on Reddit.
A lot.
It’s a bad habit.
While on Reddit, I saw this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/comments/1kftga9/any_career_paths_for_me/
The user asks about career paths available to Japanese and English speakers in Japan.
The person’s background is in social work, but we are a tech recruitment agency.
So here we are.
Let’s find out what Tech roles are available for bilinguals in Japan.
1. Business Development & Sales
Why you're in demand: Many Japanese companies are expanding overseas—or want to. They need people who can bridge cultures, communicate with global partners, and represent the brand in a way that resonates abroad.
This person needs to speak Japanese internally with co-workers and stakeholders.
Typical roles:
International Sales Representative
Business Development Manager (APAC, North America)
Industries hiring: SaaS, manufacturing, logistics, fintech
2. Customer Success & Account Management
Why you're in demand: Clients outside Japan expect proactive support and smooth onboarding. If you’ve worked in a U.S.-style customer-facing role, your approach can elevate the customer experience in a Japan-based company.
Typical roles:
Client Onboarding Specialist
Industries hiring: Cloud platforms, MarTech, AdTech, enterprise software
Real-life insight: In discussions on Reddit, bilingual professionals highlighted the value of understanding both Japanese and Western customer service expectations to effectively manage diverse client portfolios.
3. Product & UX Roles
Why you're in demand: Products built in Japan are going global—and need to feel global from the start. Bilingual product managers and UX professionals help create products that work seamlessly across cultures.
Typical roles:
Localization Product Manager
Industries hiring: Gaming, mobile apps, consumer tech, ecommerce
Real-life insight: A Redditor discussed their transition into UX design in Japan, noting how bilingual abilities allowed them to better understand user needs across different markets.
4. Marketing & Content
Why you're in demand: Japan-based companies are investing more in global branding and international campaigns. If you can write and think in both English and Japanese, you’re rare—and valuable.
Typical roles:
Content Strategist
Global Marketing Manager
Industries hiring: D2C, tech startups, tourism, education
Real-life insight: An individual shared on Reddit their experience in content creation, emphasizing how bilingual skills enabled them to craft messages that resonate with both Japanese and international audiences.
5. Engineering & Technical Roles
Why you're in demand: Japan needs global-minded engineers. While some engineering teams still work mostly in Japanese, others are becoming bilingual or even English-first. If you bring technical skills plus Japanese ability, you're ahead of the curve.
Typical roles:
Fullstack Developer (with Japanese)
Solutions Engineer / Presales
DevOps or Infrastructure Engineer (with stakeholder comms)
Industries hiring: SaaS, robotics, fintech, MedTech
Real-life insight: A Reddit user discussed the challenges and rewards of working in Japan's tech industry, highlighting how bilingualism opened doors to roles that required cross-cultural communication and collaboration.
6. Translation & Localization
Why you're in demand: This one’s obvious—but it’s not just about translation. Many roles require adapting copy, UX, or strategy for a global audience. It's creative and strategic work.
Typical roles:
Localization Specialist
Bilingual Editor / Copywriter
Language QA for games or apps
Industries hiring: Gaming, entertainment, software
Real-life insight: A Redditor shared their path into localization, noting that their deep understanding of both languages and cultures allowed them to effectively adapt content for diverse audiences.
7. Recruitment & English Teaching – Common Entry Points
Why these roles are common starting points:
If you're a bilingual living in the U.S. and looking for a relatively fast way to start working in Japan, recruitment and English teaching are two of the most accessible paths. They don’t always require advanced technical skills or long-term Japan work experience—and both industries are actively hiring bilingual talent.
Recruitment
Why you're in demand:
Global recruitment agencies (including those with Tokyo offices) love bilinguals who can speak to both international candidates and Japanese clients. If you enjoy working with people and solving business problems, this can be a rewarding path.
Typical roles:
Associate Recruitment Consultant
Candidate Sourcing Specialist
Bilingual Client Services
What to know:
Many firms provide training, so you don’t need prior recruiting experience.
Performance-based pay can lead to high earning potential early in your career.
It’s a great entry point into Japan’s business culture and startup/tech ecosystem.
English Teaching
Why you're in demand:
Japan still has a strong market for English teachers in public schools, private conversation schools (eikaiwa), and international preschools. If you're looking for a foot in the door or a short-term path into Japan, this can work well.
Typical roles:
ALT (Assistant Language Teacher)
English Instructor at eikaiwa
International Kindergarten Teacher
What to know:
Requires a bachelor's degree, but not necessarily a teaching license.
You’ll likely need a valid visa sponsor (which schools often provide).
Many teachers use this as a transition phase while job hunting in other sectors.
8. Skills That Give You an Edge
Speaking Japanese and English is already a major plus—but in a competitive job market, combining language skills with relevant soft skills and hard skills can really set you apart.
Soft Skills Employers in Japan Love
Cross-cultural communication: You’re comfortable navigating Japanese business etiquette and international work styles—an increasingly valuable asset in hybrid teams.
Adaptability: Living and working in Japan means adjusting to new norms. If you've lived abroad before, highlight that.
Empathy & listening skills: Especially important in roles like customer success, marketing, and localization—where understanding the why behind user behavior matters.
Proactive communication: Japanese teams are increasingly looking for people who can speak up, suggest improvements, and take initiative—especially in global-facing roles.
Hard Skills That Open Doors
Digital tools: Familiarity with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Figma, or Notion makes you immediately more hireable—especially at startups.
Marketing & content creation: Skills like SEO, paid ads, analytics (Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager), or bilingual copywriting are highly sought after.
Technical ability: Coding (even basic front-end), data analysis (Excel, SQL), or familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) can give you a huge leg up, even in non-engineering roles.
Project & product management: If you’ve used Agile, Jira, Asana, or have experience managing cross-functional teams, that’s gold—especially in bilingual environments.
Tip: If you're not quite there yet, look into certifications like Google Ads, HubSpot Academy, JLPT (N2 or N1), or even an online PM course. These are small steps that make a big difference in Japan's resume-focused hiring culture.
