How to write a CV for Japan (職務経歴書)
Employers in Japan usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1–3 pages for the career history (shokumu keirekisho), sent with a 2-page rirekisho form. Employers there usually leave out marital status.
Build a CV for JapanYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | 職務経歴書 (usually written in Japanese or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1–3 pages for the career history (shokumu keirekisho), sent with a 2-page rirekisho form |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Tabular, dates in a left column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Numeric (MM/YYYY) |
| Photo | Optional |
| Date of birth | Optional |
| Nationality | Optional |
| Marital status | Usually left out |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | Leave referees off the CV; have a list ready |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- In 2021 Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published a model rirekisho (résumé form) in which the gender field is optional. Source: mhlw.go.jp
- The 2021 Japanese government model rirekisho removed the fields for commuting time, number of dependants and spouse. Source: mhlw.go.jp
- Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare asks employers to base hiring only on an applicant's aptitude and ability, not on family or living circumstances. Source: mhlw.go.jp
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Japan compares with nearby countries
Unlike South Korea, North Korea and China, CVs in Japan may include a photo, may give the date of birth and leave referees off.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 職務経歴書 | Optional | Optional | 1–3 pages | A4 | Japanese |
| South Korea | 이력서 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Korean |
| North Korea | 이력서 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Korean |
| China | 个人简历 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| Taiwan | 履歷表 | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| Singapore | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Japan
- This builder makes the shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書): your work history in detail, usually newest first, with a short career summary at the top.
- Japanese employers also expect a rirekisho (履歴書): a fixed form with a 3 × 4 cm photo, date of birth, and education and work history oldest first. Fill it in on the standard template.
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s 2021 model rirekisho makes gender optional and drops spouse and dependants fields.
- Date both documents at the top (年月日現在).
Japan follows the conventions in the Japan guide.
Section headings in Japanese
If you write the CV in Japanese, these are the usual headings:
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Profile | 職務要約 |
| Experience | 職歴 |
| Education | 学歴 |
| Skills | スキル |
| Languages | 語学力 |
| Licences & certifications | 免許・資格 |
| References | 推薦者 |
Regulated jobs in Japan
For these jobs, put your registration or licence near the top of the CV, or say that your application is in progress.
| Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|
| Doctors | Japanese medical licence (医師免許) |
Guides by job
- Doctor CV for Japan
- Nurse CV for Japan
- Dentist CV for Japan
- Pharmacist CV for Japan
- Allied health CV for Japan
- Teacher CV for Japan
- Engineer CV for Japan
- Lawyer CV for Japan
- Accountant CV for Japan
- Electrician and trades CV for Japan
- Care worker CV for Japan
- Childcare worker CV for Japan
- Social worker CV for Japan
- Software engineer CV for Japan
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a rirekisho?
A rirekisho (履歴書) is the standard Japanese CV form: a fixed two-page layout listing your education and work history oldest first, with a 3 × 4 cm photo, your date of birth and contact details. Most employers also ask for a shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書), a separate career history describing your work in detail. This builder makes the shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書): your work history in detail, usually newest first, with a short career summary at the top.
Do I put a photo on my CV in Japan?
It’s optional. A CV for Japan works with or without a photo, and most employers decide on your experience and qualifications. If you add one, keep it professional: a recent head-and-shoulders picture on a plain, light background. Leave it out if the job advert or application form says not to include one. When in doubt, follow the style of CVs in the employer’s own job adverts or website.
How long should a CV be in Japan?
For a CV in Japan, aim for a rirekisho (a fixed two-page form) plus a shokumu keirekisho of 1–3 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in Japan. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV in Japan?
It’s optional. Many CVs in Japan include a date of birth in the personal details, but plenty leave it out, and employers decide on your experience. Leave out your marital status. If you add personal details, keep them to one short line under your name. Japanese employers also expect a rirekisho (履歴書): a fixed form with a 3 × 4 cm photo, date of birth, and education and work history oldest first. Fill it in on the standard template.
Do I need references on my CV in Japan?
No. Leave referees off a CV for Japan. Employers there ask for references separately, usually late in the process, so the space is better used for your experience. Keep a list of two or three referees with their job title, phone number and email ready to send when asked. Ask your referees in advance so they are ready to respond quickly.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Japan?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Japan usually don’t mention immigration status, so add a short line such as “Requires visa sponsorship” or “Holds a work permit” only if you need sponsorship or the advert asks. Citizens and permanent residents can leave it out entirely. Online application forms often ask about the right to work directly, so you can answer it there.
What language should my CV be in for Japan?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Japan that means Japanese, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Japanese by default. If the advert is in English or the employer works internationally, an English CV is usually accepted; keep one language throughout and have a native speaker check it. You can switch the CV language in CV Atlas at any time; the headings and dates change, but write your own entries in the same language.
What should a CV for Japan include?
A CV for Japan is usually 1–3 pages on A4 paper, written in Japanese unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect a photo only if you want one, date of birth optional, and no referees. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose Japan, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Japan?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Japan, so set your CV to A4 before you export it. US Letter is slightly shorter and wider, and a Letter-sized PDF printed on A4 leaves an uneven gap at the bottom of each page, which looks careless on paper. CV Atlas sets A4 automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in Japan?
It’s optional. Some CVs in Japan list nationality in the personal details and many leave it out. Add it if it helps, for example if you already hold the right to work there or the job advert asks for it. Otherwise the space is better used for your experience and skills. Online application forms often ask about nationality or the right to work separately.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in Japan?
No. Leave your marital status off a CV for Japan. Family details say nothing about how you do the job, and CVs there normally leave them out. Keep the personal details to your name, contact details and, where it matters, your right to work. The same applies to children and other dependants.
Should I put my gender on my CV in Japan?
It’s optional. Some CVs in Japan include gender in the personal details, usually alongside date of birth and nationality, but many leave it out. Add it only if the job advert or application form asks for it, and keep it to one word in the personal details line. Your experience and qualifications matter far more to employers than personal details.
Do I need my full address on my CV in Japan?
Just your city and country. A CV for Japan needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in Japan?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Japan, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in Japan?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Japan usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Do I sign my CV in Japan?
No. CVs in Japan are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in Japan?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Japan, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.
Start your CV for JapanYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.