Want to work as a writer in Japan? There are many types of writer jobs in Japan. There are jobs where you can write in your own native language, in Japanese, or both. Learn what it takes to become a writer in Japan.
First Published: 2021-10-07
Updated: 2024-06-14
Table of Contents
- A Look at Available Writing Jobs in Japan
- 5 Famous Japanese Writers to Know
- Requirements for Writing Jobs in Japan
- Writer Salary in Japan
- Other English Language Jobs in Japan
- Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
A Look at Available Writing Jobs in Japan
What comes to mind when you think of the word “writer”? It does not necessarily mean becoming an author and publishing books and novels, unless that interests you of course. Writing jobs in Japan can be diverse and cater to different interests and expertise. Here are some common types of writing jobs you can find in Japan:
Content Writer
Content writers, such as what our WeXpats members are tasked with, have become more in need especially with the rise of social media and websites. A growing number of Japanese businesses need engaging content written in English and other foreign languages as they want to target an international audience. It’s very important for content writers to know exactly who their target audience is. Foreign residents in Japan have very different needs from people coming from abroad.
Content writer jobs can range from producing articles, blog posts, and web content for various industries, including travel, lifestyle, and technology. Some content writing jobs may include creative content writer, digital or web content writer, content development specialist, marketing content writer, etc.
Copywriter
Copywriters are tasked with writing advertising content for the purpose of creating sales. The main goal for copywriters is to create content that calls on the audience to take a specific action, such as making a purchase, or signing-up for a newsletter, or clicking an ad.
Types of content written by copywriters include advertisements, sales page, product description, email marketing campaigns, landing pages, etc.
Technical Writer
Technical writer jobs are characterised by, as the name goes, technical writing of documentation that help users understand and effectively use a product, service, or technology. Their work is crucial to bridge the gap between complex technical concepts and end-users who do not have a technical background. As such, expertise knowledge of the industry is often required as well as the ability to convert such technical knowledge to layman understanding levels. Unlike copywriters, technical writers focus on clarity and useability.
Type of content written by technical writers include user manuals and guides, online help and FAQ pages, standard operating procedures (SOPs), installation and configuration guides, as well as technical reports and API documentation.
Creative Writer
Creative writers craft imaginative and original contents across various genres for the sake of entertainment. They are commonly hired by video game developers, radio stations and podcasts, film and television production, literary magazines and journals, as well as online publishing platforms. Strong imagination and creativity is required for this job.
Type of content written by creative writers include novels, short stories, poems, flash fiction, scripts, scenarios, etc.
Freelance Writer
Freelance writers are independent contractors who write content for various clients and industries. They have the freedom and flexibility to choose their own projects, set their own schedules, and work from anywhere. Whether its technical writing, creative writing, copywriting, or content writing, freelance writers have their pick.
Translator
Another option for writing jobs is doing translation work. Instead of creating original content, you would be translating existing content into English. This could be any form of writing, such as technical (manuals and guides), legal (contracts), creative (novels and short stories), or even web pages. Depending on your experience, you might even end up translating for famous Japanese authors!
Apart from the above mentioned, other types of writing jobs include academic writing, business writing, ghostwriting, and blog writing.
Writer's Pick
5 Famous Japanese Writers to Know
Understanding the works and impact of notable Japanese writers can provide inspiration and context for your own writing career in Japan. While it’s not a requirement to have read works by Japanese authors to be a writer in Japan, it’s a good way to connect to writers who came before as well as to see the cultural influence they have left in Japanese society. And for those interested in translation work, it’s also important to look at good examples of translated works as compared to the original.
There are countless writers that have left their mark on the Japanese literary world. This includes Murasaki Shikibu, whose work The Tale of Genji is one of if not the first novel in history. A more recent world-renowned author with a Japanese background is Kazuo Ishiguro, whose works have won many prestigious awards.
1. Yasunari Kawabata (1924-1972)
Kawabata made his mark as the first Japanese laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968. The works mentioned by the Nobel Committee in the Award ceremony speech include Snow Country, Thousand Cranes and The Old Capital, notable not only for his writing style of course, but also his incorporation of traditional Japanese cultures such as geisha and tea ceremony.
2. Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927)
Another renowned writer in Japan and a household name, Akutagawa is considered the "father of the Japanese short story". The Akutagawa Prize, one of the highest literary honors one can earn in Japan, is named after him. Some of his famous works are Rashomon and Kappa. His works inspired the famed Kurosawa Akira film “Rashomon”.
3. Natsume Soseki (1867-1916)
Natsume is considered such an influential figure in modern Japanese literature that he was on the 1000 yen bill for a while in the late 90s. Some of his famous works are Botchan, Wagahai wa Neko Dearu (I Am a Cat), Kokoro, etc. People often visit Matsuyama in Ehime where Natsume is based and wrote Botchan. The Botchan train in Matsuyama city center is a particularly famous tourist attraction.
4. Yuko Tsushima (1947-2016)
Tsushima Yuko is the daughter of another famed writer Dazai Osamu. She is known for writing about real-life experiences, especially about family and her work has won many rewards. One of the common descriptions of her work is that there is often no correct interpretation, message or conclusion to her work. They are simply stories about people living their lives.
5. Miyuki Miyabe (1960- Present)
Miyabe is known for her award-winning works in a vast variety of genres. She doesn’t only influence the literary world with her thoughtful and deep looks at life and relationships in Japan, but also for the adaptations of her works in various forms of media. These include Kasha, Riyu, Namonaki Doku, and Solomon no Gisho among others. Her works tackle the intricacies of the problems within Japanese society.
And of course, there are countless others to explore - from Tanizaki to Dazai to Yoshimoto and so on. The options are endless.
Requirements for Writing Jobs in Japan
Like any other creative job, for writing jobs, you need to have an online portfolio of yourself with the list of previous work done. Writing jobs will often ask for a sample of your work. If you don’t have experience, creating a simple free web page or blog and writing about a few topics (or translating some articles) related to the type of writing job you are applying for may be helpful to show your skills.
Searching for English writing jobs online is the easiest way. You could send your resume and profile to already established English magazines in Japan, or look on English or bilingual job sites for work.
And if you’re going the creative route, it may be hard to find an English publisher in Japan. Therefore self-publishing is a route that many English writers take. Building interest in the book itself is also important, so your social media game has to be strong as well. Like we mentioned at the start, a person has to have very high motivation to become a writer, and definitely so in Japan.
Educational Background and Portfolio
Some companies may look for candidates with an educational background in English, English Literature, Translation, or similar. For technical writers, a background in the specific field may also be necessary. But for the most part, a portfolio showing your best works is sufficient to proof your suitability for the job. S
Language Requirements
Whether you require Japanese proficiency or not greatly depends on your position. For example, freelance writers do not need Japanese abilities provided they use English resources to find jobs. However, translators would definitely require a minimum of N2 level Japanese, often N1 for technical translations.
Your writing job will be done in English, but for practical purposes such as smooth communication with your boss and colleagues, having Japanese abilities is highly recommended.
For job candidates that come from non-English speaking countries, an English proficiency qualification may be required to prove your English proficiency.
Work Experience
Although there are entry level jobs, most job vacancies for writers require at least 2 years experience in the field. For bigger writing projects, the conditions may even require up to 5 years of experience.
Visa Requirements for Writers in Japan
What visa category you fall under depends on your position.
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Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services : Translators, content writers, copy writers, technical writers, freelance writers would fall under this category. For freelancers, there is a requirement to prove steady income which may be difficult. If you plan to write as a side job, make sure your current status of residence allows it.
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Artist : Novelists would qualify for this category. However, an established career in writing is required when applying for this visa, as well as proof that you can financially support yourself doing the same job in Japan.
Other types of visa categories that allow you to work as a writer in Japan include Working Holiday and International Student (part time job).
Writer Salary in Japan
How much can you earn as a writer in Japan? It is hard to say considering the wide range of writer jobs and different working and employment styles. But here is the average salary for some writer jobs to give you an idea.
The average salary for writers in general is around 4.4 million yen a year, with a starting salary of around 2.3 million yen. For dispatch writers, the average hourly wage is 1,697 yen, and for part-time writers, the average is 1,187 yen an hour.
Among writers, the average salary for Web content writers and copywriters in Japan is around 3.2 to 4 million yen a year.
Keep in mind that these numbers include Japanese writers, but they still make for a good reference.
Other English Language Jobs in Japan
What other jobs apart from writing and translating are available to English-speakers? There are several career options available, and even more job opportunities if you have Japanese language proficiency. Here are some English-speaking jobs you can find in Japan.
- Interpreter Jobs
- Localisation Jobs
- English Teaching Jobs
- University Jobs
- Call Center Jobs
- Recruitment Jobs
- Tourism Jobs
- Hotel Jobs
and more.
Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
WeXpats operates a service for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries. There are 2 services available on WeXpats - WeXpats Agent for full time jobs and WeXpats Jobs for part time jobs.
Looking for a Full Time Position? Leave it to WeXpats Agent!
WeXpats Agent is a career support service that specialises in employment for foreign nationals living in Japan.
Recruitment agencies in Japan are a service where dedicated career advisors will assist you with your job hunt for free. In addition to introducing open positions, we also provide support to help you create your Japanese resume and practice for interviews. Worried about job hunting in Japanese? We are here for you.
Features of WeXpats Agent
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We have many job openings that are a good fit for foreign nationals to work in, such as translation, interpretation, inbound, etc. jobs that make use of your language skills, as well as engineering etc. jobs that do not require Japanese skills.
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Our career advisors support and help you prepare your resume and practice job interviews with you. Clearly communicate your strengths to the hiring company.
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We will handle communication with companies on your behalf, such as arranging interview dates and negotiating conditions. And thereby reducing your stress and time spent.
Finding a Part Time Job? Browse on WeXpats Jobs!
WeXpats Jobs is a part time job site for foreign nationals living in Japan. You can search for jobs in 11 languages (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese), including Japanese. Find jobs that suit you by specifying your Japanese language level, occupation, location, and etc.
※ You can register from outside Japan, but only those living in Japan can apply for jobs.
