Studying in Japan for a long period of time, such as for study abroad, working holiday, and job hunting, can be a pleasure, but at the same time, you may be worried about illness and injury.In this article, we would like to explain the conditions for taking out a medical insurance in Japan, the types of medical insurance, insurance premiums, and procedures for foreigners who are planning to stay in Japan for a long period of time.Is it Absolutely Necessary to have government medical insurance?If you are covered by the government’s medical insurance, the co-payment of medical expenses to hospitals is basically 30% for people between the ages of 6 and 70. For example, when a medical cost is 10,000 yen, you can only pay 3,000 yen if you show your health insurance card to the hospital. This is the advantage of medical insurance in Japan.In other countries, it is generally up to the individual to purchase medical insurance, but in Japan, all citizens (regardless of nationality) are required to have some type of medical insurance. In other words, all foreigners who are staying in Japan for a long period of time other than a short stay (3 months) are required to take out a medical insurance policy.What kind of Medical Insurances are available in Japan?In Japan, there are two types of medical insurance in general.1.Social health insurance (Shakai-hoken) The health insurance is for company employees in Japan.2.National health insurance (Kokumin-kenko-hoken) The health insurance is for housewife, freelancer, students with more than 20 years old and so on. In case of foreigners, it’s foreign students and foreigners who came to Japan on a working holiday and so on.From now on, we would like to explain these two types of medical insurance briefly.What is Social Health Insurance for Companies Employees?Social insurance (shakai-hoken) consists of five components: health insurance, employees’ pension insurance, long-term care insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and unemployment insurance, health insurance is included in this social insurance (shakai-hoken).In Japan, full-time, contract, and part-time employees who meet the following requirements are eligible for social insurance: employees who work 20 hours a week, earn at least 88,000 yen a month and have been working for at least one year. Whenever a company hires an employee who meets certain requirements, it is obligated to have he or she joins the social insurance system.How much is the Insurance Fee for Social Insurance (shakai-hoken) ?The amount of social insurance fee varies depending on the area you live in, your income, and which health association you belong to. Therefore, the fees paid by a person working in Tokyo and Osaka are different.And the payment of social insurance premiums is usually made by the company. The company deducts the monthly social insurance fee from the employee’s monthly salary, so the employee does not have to go through the payment process.In case of employees and family members working for small and medium-sized companies who joined “Association Health Insurance” (Kyokai-kenpo), the health insurance premium rate in Tokyo from April 2020 will be 9.87% of their monthly salary as a monthly health insurance fee.However, instead of paying the entire amount individually, the company and the individual will pay half of the insurance premiums. Therefore, half of the 9.87% of your monthly salary will be deducted from your salary as health insurance premiums.In addition to the health insurance premiums, there are other social insurance fees such as employee pension insurance, which are generally deducted from your monthly salary.※The following links are for information about health insurance.What is a Health Insurance Society?Table of health insurance and employees’ pension insurance premiums since April 2020/ Association Health InsuranceWhat is National Health Insurance (kokumin-kennko-hoken) ?It is a health insurance program run by local governments and is available to those who are listed on the Basic Resident Register and are not covered by the company’s health insurance. You are obliged to purchase this insurance if you are staying in Japan for more than three months for purposes other than tourism. For example, foreign students who are studying in Japan or foreigners who are coming to Japan on a working holiday are required to join the National Health Insurance.If you want to know more about National Health Insurance, please take a look at the links that explain National Health Insurance in English, Spanish, Chinese, and other languages. National Health Insurance in English, Spanish, Chinese and other languages. ((About National Health Insurance / Multilingual))How much is the National Health Insurance Premiums?Insurance premiums vary greatly depending on the city, town, or village you live in, your income, and other factors. The following website provides a simulation of the national health insurance fees. However, please note that fees vary from city to city and town to town, so please use it as a guide only.National Health Insurance Premium Simulation (Japanese)Procedures and the Time Frame Required to Obtain Medical InsuranceProcedures for Health Insurance (social insurance) for full-time, contract, and part-time employeesHealth insurance (social insurance) is medical insurance that foreigners who come to Japan to work. He or She can enroll in when they join a company. Therefore, the first condition for enrollment is that the foreigner must have a labor visa.The application for social insurance (health insurance) is not to be completed by the foreigner him/herself, but together with the company where he/she joins the company. The company and the employee will fill out the documents prepared by the company and submit them to the health insurance association with necessary documents such as the validated residence card, passport, and my-number card.How long it takes for health insurance (social security) to become available?Using the “Association Health Insurance” (Kyoukai-kenpo) as an example, you will receive your insurance card in about 7 to 10 days from the date the company submits the documents. However, it tends to arrive later during the busy season in April and other months when people enter and leave the company. Since this is only an example, the period of time may vary depending on the health insurance association you join.National Health Insurance ProceduresIf you want to apply for National Health Insurance, you must apply for it within 14 days from the date of entry into Japan, the date of your move to another city or prefecture in japan, or the date you lost your social insurance membership (e.g., the date you resigned). Even if you resign from your current employer, you do not need to apply for National Health Insurance as long as you start working at your new employer within 14 days of the date you resigned.In Japan, it is compulsory to enroll in health insurance, so if there is a delay in the application process, you will be billed for the delayed amount at a later date, so please be careful. If you visit a hospital or other medical facility while you are not covered by the insurance, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost of the visit.We would like to introduce what you need in order to enroll in the National Health Insurance.Foreign Students (Ryuugakusei) PassportResident card (Zairyu-card)Student ID cardWorking HolidaysResident cardPassportWhen you lose eligibility for social insurance (when you leave a company)Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident CertificateOne of the following: certificate of disqualification (health insurance), release form, retirement certificate, or tax withholding certificate (with the date of retirement entered)How long it takes for National Health Insurance to become Available?Unlike health insurance (social insurance), you can apply for National Health Insurance at the city hall. The National Health Insurance card is issued on the same day as the application and can be used at hospitals and other facilities from the same dayConclusionIn Japan, it is compulsory to purchase medical insurance so that all citizens can easily go to the hospital even for minor symptoms such as “slightly feverish” or “feeling sick”. Because of this, the amount of money that an individual actually pays at the hospital is about 30% of the total cost.In addition, there is a system called the high-cost medical care benefits system, which sets an upper limit for monthly medical expenses based on income, so if you have a surgery or hospitalization that results in high medical expenses, you can receive a refund for any medical expenses that exceed the upper limit of your copayment.

In recent years, the number of foreign students studying in Japan continues increasing. In this article, We would like to explain the reasons and merits of studying at a Japanese university, and which universities in Japan have numerous international students for foreign students who are currently thinking of studying at a Japanese university.Why study in Japan?Why choose Japan as a study abroad destination in many countries? First, We would like to give you some reasons why Japan is chosen as a study abroad destination.High educational standardCareer development at Japanese companiesFinancial support for studentsHigh educational standardEvery country is focusing on education, but according to a survey on international learning achievement called PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) conducted by the OECD, Japan keeps in the top 10 Except for some countries, it can be said that it has a high level of education worldwide. In other words, besides the Japanese language, studying in Japan has great merit.Reference:National Institute for Educational Policy Research/Survey resultsCareer development at Japanese companiesDue to the globalization of Japanese companies, many Japanese companies have bases around the world, and in particular, many companies have subsidiaries in Greater China and other Asian countries such as Southeast Asia. By making the most of the Japanese skills acquired in Japan by foreign students, when they join a Japanese company in their home country, they can expect to receive higher positions and treatment than students who do not have language skills.Also, if you stay in Japan as it is and work for a Japanese company, you may be able to acquire advanced technology and get higher salaries than in your home country.Financial support for studentsIn the first place, the tuition fees of universities are not cheap in every country. Moreover, studying at a Japanese university means studying abroad, and many people think that it is more expensive than going to a university in their home country.Currently, the Japanese government and Japanese universities are actively accepting international students, and therefore have various scholarships. The details of the scholarship are detailed on the website of the Japan Student Services Organization, so if you are interested, please refer to it.（Japan Student Services Organization / Scholarships）Perhaps by getting a scholarship, you may be able to get to college more cheaply than in your home country. The contents of the scholarship may differ depending on the university, so we recommend that you check the website of the university you are interested in.National universities with more international studentsAccording to the Japan Student Services Organization data as of May 1, 2018, the universities with the most international students are listed below. School NameNumber of International StudentsUniversity of Tokyo3,853 studentsOsaka University2,480 studentsUniversity of Tsukuba2,457 studentsKyoto University2,387 studentsKyushu University2,313 studentsHokkaido University2,101 studentsTohoku University2,087 studentsNagoya University1,981 studentsTokyo Institute of Technology1,689 studentsHiroshima University1,659 studentsReference： Japan Student Services Organization / The Major Universities in terms of Accepting Highest Number of International StudentPrivate universities with more international studentsCurrent as of May 1, 2018, the universities with the most international students are as follows. School NameNumber of International StudentsWaseda University5,412 studentsTokyo University of Social Welfare5,133 studentsJapan University of Economics3,348 studentsRitsumeikan Asia Pacific University2,867 studentsRitsumeikan University2,446 studentsKeio University1,908 studentsMeiji University1,506 studentsDoshisha University1,397 studentsSophia University1,395 studentsToyo University1,375 studentsNihon University1,277 studentsNihon Wellness sports University1,275 studentsJosai International University1,210 studentsTakushoku University1,067 studentsKansai Univerity1,060 studentsReference： Japan Student Services Organization / The Major Universities in terms of Accepting Highest Number of International StudentConclusionIf you are considering studying in Japan, please refer to this article and do some research yourself to find a university that accommodates you. We sincerely hope that studying abroad in Japan will help you build the career you desire.Furthermore, if you want to study abroad in Japan and want to get a job related to IT in Japan, please register with GTalent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

“Interested in Japanese culture”, “Want to work for a Japanese company to improve my career”, “I don’t have any problems with everyday conversational Japanese, but I’m not confident in business Japanese”, etc. There are various reasons why people want to study Japanese.In this article, We would like to introduce the advantages and disadvantages of the online Japanese learning service that has recently increased, and some recommended online Japanese services.Advantages and Disadvantages of the Online Japanese Learning ServiceWith the increasing number of foreigners and international students working in Japan in recent years, the number of companies offering online learning services is constantly increasing.First of all, I would like to introduce various advantages and disadvantages of learning online.AdvantagesBelow, We would like to explain the four main advantages of online learning services.Lessons fee are cheaperOne-on-one lessonsThe instructor can be selected by yourselfFlexible hoursLessons fee are cheaperSince there is no physical school, the cost of administration is low and students can be provided with learning services at a low tuition fee. Language schools in Japan have high lesson fees, so it is recommended for those who want to study at a low tuition fee.One-on-one lessonsIt is quite important to “talk” as a method to learn a new language.In the case of studying in a group, depending on the lesson time and the number of people in the group, the case where you can speak is greatly different from the one-on-one case.one-on-one lessons is an advantage with you can improve your level more efficiently in a shorter time than group lessons by monopolizing the instructor during the lesson and speaking a lot.The instructor can be selected by yourselfJapanese schools generally assign teachers based on their language level. Even though it is level-based, it doesn’t mean good chemistry with the teacher. This can be one of the reasons why you may not be able to attend a language school or your motivation to study may decrease.One-on-one learning can eliminate this “trouble”.In online language service, the teacher’s profile, personality, career, learning method, etc, are included in the teacher’s profile.Students can take lessons with instructors who are interested, and in the unlikely situation that they do not match, it is also attractive that the online service is able to choose another instructor for the next lesson.Flexible hoursThere are many other reasons why you can’t attend a language school, such as wanting to study Japanese but not having time to go to a language school or wanting to practice the Japanese you’ve learned because of your work.By studying Japanese online, you can book even during the hours from early morning to late at night. In other words, you can take Japanese lessons before going to school or even after work.DisadvantagesOn the other hand, We would like to explain the three main disadvantages of online learning services.Quality of the InstructorIt is not a Face-to-Face conversationDifficult to keep motivationQuality of the InstructorAmong companies that offer online learning services, we appeal to the low recruitment rate, but some instructors teach with a professional attitude, but unfortunately, many do not.Of course, the service provider should improve so that this kind of phenomenon does not occur, but because it is online, it is ok to book another instructor in case of such an instructor.It is not a Face-to-Face conversationIt is said that the concern about learning Japanese online is “different from a face-to-face conversation.” The atmosphere you can enjoy by having the other person in front of you is different from when you talk with the instructor who is watching the screen.We think it’s ideal to absorb a lot of information through online learning, where you can input information and practice how to express so that you can communicate things as you think during a face-to-face conversation.Difficult to keep motivationThere are positive aspects such as making reservations at any time you like, but this is one of the reasons why students are not motivated to continue. In a physical language school, the days and times generally are fixed, so it is possible for those who cannot actively learn by themselves, can continue forcibly. Because of the flexibility of online services, you need to be motivated and self-learning.Guidelines for choosing an online Japanese learning serviceContent enrichmentBe sure to check not only the teacher and the lesson method, but also what other content is providing.For example, in addition to learning Japanese, Zipan/Online Business Japanese Lessons, which is described below, also provides services such as interview preparation for businessmen, business communication, and checking Japanese emails and documents.Number of teachersTo study online, you have to reserve your own time and its teachers. Although it is time-consuming, there are many other cases where the teacher’s reservations are full and it is not possible to make reservations. Therefore, when choosing an online Japanese learning service, make sure that the number of teachers who can easily make a reservation is not too small.Recommended online Japanese learning serviceWe would like to introduce some recommended online Japanese learning services. Feel free to refer to it.Zipan  ONLINE BUSINESS JAPANESE LESSONS | ZipanONLINE BUSINESS JAPANESE LESSONS | Zipanhttps://www.zipan.jp/en/Zipan is an online business Japanese language service dedicated to helping business people from around the world SUCCEED IN JAPAN by teaching effective communication strategies and Japanese business culture.  This is an online Japanese learning service provided by Bizmates, the No.1 online English conversation company specialized in business English. All trainers have the characteristic of being business people, following the slogan of “high quality” Japanese learned online. An online Japanese conversation school that you can learn from polite Japanese spoken in the Japanese workplace to business etiquette, effective communication, Japanese business processes, and culture.Classes are prepared according to the Japanese level of each person, and it is a recommended service when learning Japanese that can be used for business.J-OS  new-hpLearn Japanese Online | Japan Online School | Top Page for Corporationhttps://www.jos-corp.com/top-enOnline Japanese School, Japan Online School, offers Japanese language programs such as trainings for non-Japanese and prospective employees and business Japanes  It is an online Japanese conversation school that offers online Japanese learning services for foreigners, but also services such as Japanese training for companies. It is also used by many Japanese companies for foreign employees, and some courses can also support Japanese qualification tests such as JLPT.Japaneasy  jpnsy.comLearn Japanese online | Japaneasy（ジャパニージー）https://jpnsy.com/index.htmlJapaneasy is an Online Japanese school for those people who don't have a Japanese school nearby, don't have a teacher to teach them Japanese, are not able to attend a Japanese class with high fees. Japaneasy offers a practical learning service where anyone can easily learn one on one with native Japanese teachers. Please feel free to take a free trial lesson!!  Online Japanese conversation school with contents for kids and adults. Besides, it will be a service that provides substantial Japanese language support for job hunting and business.ConclusionApart from the online Japanese language learning service introduced here, there are many other schools, including face-to-face Japanese schools. There are advantages and disadvantages to learning Japanese online, but the important thing is to make the most of these advantages.We sincerely hope that you will come up with a suitable Japanese conversation school, thinking again about the level of Japanese that you’re aiming for and how you want to influence the Japanese language in your career.Also, if you are looking for an opportunity to work in IT-related work because you want to use Japanese for business, please register with G Talent a recruitment agency specializing in IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

In recent years, Japanese companies have come to see a lot of agile development including scrum development when developing web applications.Even in GTalent, which is a Japanese recruitment agency for foreign IT engineers, the requirements for people who have experience in Scrum development are increasing for job offers requested by our client’s companies.In this article, “How much agile development is prevalent in Japan? and “Which method is mainly used compared to overseas?”. We would like to explain the prevalence of Japanese agile development compared to overseas.If you are an IT engineer thinking about changing jobs and want to check the trends of Japanese company development methods or, if you want to know the usage situation of Scrum development in Japan, please use it as a reference.WEB Application Development MethodsFirst, We would like to explain the development methods that are used mainly in Japanese system development sites.Waterfall Model DevelopmentWaterfall development is one of the oldest development methods used by engineers. It is a method to proceed to the next process while checking all the functions added to the application step by step according to the following flow.Requirements ⇒　Design　⇒　Implementation ⇒　Verification ⇒　MaintenanceIn this type, all of the processes are divided when making one system, so the biggest feature is that you cannot go back if you need to make corrections. Due to this feature, it is often used when quality is required from the beginning rather than speed.For example, it is used for products whose specifications are completely determined by large-scale system development such as business systems and large-scale services, and which are unlikely to be changed in the middle, or projects which delivery date or fixed budgets.Agile Model DevelopmentUnlike the waterfall type, agile type development is a flexible development method. The objective of this method is to release the product as quickly as possible and then proceed to improve it.Reference image: Medium.com / Agile&Waterfall Model DevelopmentWith the agile model, once the specifications have been decided to a certain extent, the greatest feature is to complete the product by repeating the above process several times in anticipation of subsequent requirement changes and modifications and according to the needs of the business.Scrum type developmentScrum type development is the most famous development method among agile development, and for Japanese companies scrum development = agile development.Scrum development is one framework for agile development that has been proposed to eliminate “waste” in application development.Elements of Scrum-Model DevelopmentThe basic flow of scrum-model development is briefly summarized below.Prioritize products and proceed with development in that orderThe process is done by separating development within a fixed period (1 to 4 weeks, this period is called “Sprint”)The task is managed by the development members daily, and reviews are made to stakeholders in sprint units.Repeat steps above 1 to 3, and make confirmations and corrections to the stakes holder each time.Deliver the productAs mentioned earlier, this is a development method used to reduce the “waste” of the process of application development, so it is difficult to read the end period of the product.Status of Development Methods in Japan and OverseasMany people could think that the same method is used in IT-related system development all over the world. There are some cases where the development methods used in Japan are different overseas, and of course, they’re cases the overseas methods are slow than Japan.From now on, We would like to talk about what is a mainstream in application development methods in Japan and overseas.Japanese Development MethodsAccording to a survey conducted by Gartner Japan, 43% of Japanese companies use a waterfall type development method for application development.One of the reasons for this is that Japanese companies focus not only on the results but also on the process, another one is they think that the waterfall type is easier to grasp the period and budget than the agile type. However, to secure a large number of engineers to carry out the work, in Japan, where IT engineers are currently in short supply, big companies are reconsidering the waterfall type development method.Translation from Japanese to English at above graph.ウォーターフォール型開発手法 → Waterfall Developmentアジャイル型開発手法 → Agile Development反復型開発手法 → Iterative and Incremental DevelopmentIT部門関与しないビジネス主導の開発 → Business-led development without IT involvementReference ：Gatner Japan / Application Development SurveyOverseas Development ethodsAccording to Lvivity, which develops custom software for business, the mainstream overseas, unlike Japan, is agile development, which can flexibly satisfy the demands of the business side.The most popular agile framework is Scrum development, which teams up with customers and the business side of the company to get regular feedback. In the US and other countries, there are many cases where in-house development is performed, so it seems that the method that allows easy software changes is selected.Reference：Lvivity / Software Development MethodologiesConclusionThese days the main development methods are different between Japan and overseas, but the number of companies using agile type in Japan is increasing year by year. Given that tendency, it seems important to have experience with Scrum-type development methods to build a career as an engineer.If you are an application engineer or a foreigner who is looking for IT-related jobs in Japan, please register with G Talent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

The spread of coronavirus infection has led several businesses into a temporary halt, and some completely shut down. The work environment has also changed as the government encourages companies to make their employees work remotely.Moreover, businesses in Japan are moving their efforts to online marketing. Industries greatly affected by the pandemic are also creating new business strategies as the country plans to open its doors again for tourists to help kick-start the economy. As such, the number of IT-related projects continues to soar and Japan still needs more IT engineers to cope with the demand for workforce in the industry.Impact of Corona in the IT IndustryAccording to IDC Japan, the ICT market in the country is forecast to decrease by 4.5%. This is due to the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, the sluggish service industry, and the supply-chain disruption. Despite the forecast, IDC believes that it will have less impact in the IT industry due to digital transformation and system updates for businesses which opens up a new market for the IT industry.Companies are expected to lose some revenue due to the pandemic but system support and maintenance are indispensable. They are necessary to stabilize business operations or help them transfer to digital marketing as consumer behaviors are seen to rise during the pandemic.Unlike other businesses, IT companies can work remotely which is shaping up to be the new normal. In-house services are also needed recently for digital transformation in businesses.Remote WorkCompanies are recommending a work from home or remote work setup to keep employees safe and businesses afloat. Remote working is not only limited to working at home but it also includes working in satellite offices.Remote work can reduce long travel hours and eliminate the stress from commuting. Transportation costs are also reduced for companies. This type of setting will also improve the work-life balance of IT engineers. However, remote work can also cause delays in confirmations and consultations which can easily be done face-to-face in an office-based setting.RecruitmentThe job market in Japan has seen a downward trend but the hiring of IT engineers has not decreased under these circumstances. IT companies in the country are still looking for new candidates and have adopted online applications into the interview and screening process.IT companies are motivated to continue hiring and training engineers in response to the implementation of system improvements for businesses to grow. Companies are expected to request system replacements and maintenance in 2020 which can potentially continue in the next year.IT Industries and Job Titles Needed in JapanThe IT job market continues to look for IT engineers to fill in available job titles for remote and in-house work during these circumstances. Here are a few IT industries and job titles IT companies are looking for:Internet industryCompanies in this industry deal with various web services and developments on the internet such as server management, site management, and internet advertisement. Most IT engineers working in this industry can work anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection. Web designers and programmers fall under this industry.Telecommunications industryThey deal with maintenance and improvements in mobile phones, landlines, internet, and communication lines. Sales engineers and network engineers work for the telecommunications industry. They also do product planning and development.Software industryCompanies under the software industry develop a wide range of operating systems of basic software and applications. The industry needs systems engineers, application engineers, and programmers.Hardware industryIt is an industry that plans, designs, and develops hardware such as smartphones and PC peripherals. They also handle IoT which is currently included in home appliances. Sales engineers, systems engineers, and hardware engineers fall under this industry.Engineering Work OutlookIT Engineers in Japan are requested to work on various system-related services, contractual development projects, and in-house products and services. Here’s the outlook for the three working styles of IT engineers in Japan.System Engineering Service (SES)Engineers working in this field develop and maintain information systems of companies. An engineer is assigned to a company and stays resident there to get used to the system design of the company. During this period, engineers can work remotely and access the system environment with VPN but communication is less and it may be difficult to provide the service they need. Moving forward, SES contracts may change and will require engineers to learn new skills. Contract Development ProjectsIT companies are responsible for the system development of companies. Multiple engineers are assigned and work together as project members along with the development team in the company office. Engineers working in this field can work remotely, but efficiency is expected to become lower due to work schedules risking the delivery time of the development system. In the future, there is a need for change in the working style of engineers involved in contract development projects.In-house ServicesEngineers belonging to the in-house services develop and maintain operations to improve company products. Development and maintenance are scheduled and contracts are based on the services needed. As engineers need to work remotely, requesting reviews and communication with leaders can be difficult and engineers need to learn skills to work around this.Skills Needed from IT Engineers in the FutureThe coronavirus has eliminated close contact work. As more IT engineers seek jobs in the industry, remote work is expected to continue even when the pandemic is over. Employers are also looking for qualities that will best fit IT talents while doing remote work. Here are two important skills that IT engineers need in the future.Great Time ManagementCompared to working in the office, there is less interruption when working remotely. IT engineers should utilize this opportunity to practice managing their tasks and setting clear goals such as finishing a part of a task within a day or scheduling a review of ongoing work once a week.Employers will be looking for candidates and trainees that are reliable and can balance their work and life while working remotely.Online CommunicationUnlike talking with your teammates in a conference room or meeting room, online meetings right now are moving in a systematic approach. Always listen to the host and write down everything you want to ask and make them simpler so when your turn comes, you can ask questions precisely and promptly to avoid delays in the meeting. For emails and other business communication platforms, explain all the things you need to convey in easy sentences or in precise sentences. Fillers are not needed in business communication as it will only cause problems. This will also give your employer your professionalism and respect for time. ConclusionThe IT job market is continuously looking for IT talents to fill the demand of the workforce in the country. The work-life balance is expected to improve among IT engineers now that companies are transitioning to remote work. With the current technology and problems related to remote work, IT engineers also need to improve their skills moving forward. Sources:https://xtech.nikkei.com/atcl/nxt/column/18/00001/04125/?P=2https://www.java-career.com/column/industry-knowledge/influence-of-coronavirus-to-it-industory/https://arvo.showcase-tv.com/140081/https://www.java-career.com/column/industry-knowledge/engineer-and-telework/

GTalent, a job-hunting and job-changing agent for foreigners, hear from foreigners who come to Japan for work, such as “Can we still only use cash in Japan?” “Is there a place where cashless services can be used in Japan?”From foreigners coming to Japan, it’s very anxious that they don’t know what can be used as a payment method when they buy something.In this article, We would like to introduce how much cashless society is in Japan compared to overseas, and the recommended cashless payments that can be used in Japan.Status of cashless payments in Japan and overseasCashless payment situation in JapanAccording to data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the diffusion rate of cashless payments in Japan was less than 20% as of 2016, which is low compared to other developed countries.Reference：Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry/ Current status and significance of cashlessAlso, according to this Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry material, the reasons why cashless payment is not prevalent in Japan are as follows.Reassurance for the cashMany choices of paymentReassurance for the cashUnlike overseas, there is almost no distribution of counterfeit bills in Japan. Therefore, life is based on the assumption that the received banknotes are genuine.the distribution of counterfeit bills has become a major social issue overseas, and the expanse of cashless payments was essential to reduce the distribution of counterfeit bills. In Japan, the distribution of counterfeit bills is lower than overseas and it is said to be one of the reasons for the slow spread of cashless payments.Many choices of paymentThere are various methods of cashless payments that are mainly used in different countries. For example, in South Korea, credit card is the most commonly used cashless payment method. In China, QR code payments such as “Alipay” and “WeChat Pay” are the mainstream.In Japan, unlike China or other cashless top countries, many companies offer cashless payment methods, and there are various options such as PayPay, Merpay(Mercari), and LINE Pay even in only QR code payments. Nothing of mainstream service causes the slow penetration of cashless payment in Japan.Cashless payment situation at OverseasAs mentioned above, according to the Data of the Ministery of Economy, Trade and Industry , South Korea, the United Kingdom, and China (96.4%, 68.6%, 65.8%) have prevailed the cashless society much more than Japan(19.9%).Overseas, the government has led the promotion of cashless payments, reducing the opportunity of counterfeit bill circulation and the cost of issuing new bills.In Japan, it is difficult for the government to penetrate the people with political force, and because many elderly people have a strong resistance to cashless settlement, the introduction is not progressing well.Advantages and Disadvantages of Cashless Payment in JapanAdvantages of cashless payment in JapanFrom now on, We would like to introduce some of the advantages of using cashless payment in Japan.Reduce the waste of Counting CashAbundant Points and BenefitsAlthough there are similarities with other countries, each company has unique points and benefits, we can say it is a characteristic of Japan.Reduce the waste of counting cashIn Japan, not only bills but also small changes are used, so when cash is used for accounting, it is surprisingly time-consuming to count cash.。Within the case of cashless payments such as credit cards and contactless payments, you do not need to count the cash, so you would be able to omit this little action and perform smooth accounting.Abundant Points and BenefitsAmong companies that provide cashless payment services, points can be provided and campaign benefits can be used according to the amount spent.For example, there are benefits such as discounts on products and travel tickets, payment with possession points, etc.Especially in Japan, each store often has its point system. Its own “point card” is often issued. Therefore, in Japan, point cards often accumulate in the wallet when you notice it.This trend does not change even for cashless payments, each payment company has its points for cashless payments, and each of them has tie-ups with different retail stores, so there are many various points and discounts for consumers in Japan. These often confuse consumers.Disadvantages of Cashless Payment in JapanBelow, We would like to introduce the main disadvantages of cashless payment in Japan.Limited number of stores that we can use cashless paymentLack of seamless links with bank accountsSecurity concernsLimited number of stores that we can use cashless paymentIn recent years, the number of stores handling cashless payments has increased little by little, but according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the diffusion rate in Japan is still below 20%. In other words, there are limited places available.（ Data of the Ministery of Economy, Trade and Industry )Also, the cashless payment service in Japan is assumed to have a higher fee for member stores than other countries, and many stores can only accept cash. Even some major retailers have not yet introduced cashless payments.There are numerous types of cashless payments, so it is necessary to confirm whether you can make cashless payments and what kind of cashless payments you can use before entering the store.Lack of seamless links with bank accountsIn Japan, debit cards are less popular than in other countries, and in most cases, even with electronic payments using smartphones, which are necessary to bother charging from a bank account and linking with a credit card.Also, depending on the electronic payment application on the smartphone, the bank or credit card company that is linked may be different, so even if you set it up, you can rarely use the bank account you own.Therefore, when using the electronic payment service on smartphones, it takes time and effort to set up and link and many people give up during registration.Security concernsNot only cashless payment but also many useful services are emerging with the development of IT, but the most important thing is the “security” when using these services.By using cashless payment, your registration information may be obtained illegally, and “fictitious billing” or “leak of personal information” may occur.Even in Japan, in the cashless payment service started by Seven-Eleven, the largest convenience store, registration information was obtained illegally, and many people were billed that they could not remember.There are few counterfeit bills in Japan, but cashless payment services are behind other countries, and numerous companies have joined the cashless payment service and some companies are still worried about security.Cashless Payments that can generally be used in JapanIn the table below, We would like to introduce some cashless payment services that can be used in Japan.Credit CardsDebit CardsContactless ICQR code Payment                        The most cashless payment method used in Japan still been the credit card payment. Although debit cards have become more popular than before, they are still rarely used, and more recently, contactless ICs and QR payments are increasingly used.ConclusionJapan is still an inconvenient country when it comes to cashless payments, although in 2019, the government also started to promote cashless payments with a strong focus. Thanks to that, the spread of QR codes payments such as PayPay and LINE Pay is accelerating to prevail.For foreigners coming to Japan from now on, please refer to the cashless payment that can be used in Japan in advance through this article.

The number of companies that introduced “Telework” or “Zaitaku-kinmu” increased rapidly due to the coronavirus.Since the state of emergency was lifted, we could observe how some employees were heading to their offices again. However, at the time this article was written(June 2020), the number of people on the streets was not the same as before.Therefore in this article, dedicated to people who continue working at home, we would like to explain some advice to work more comfortably from home or telework.Status of Zaitaku-kinmu and Telework in Japan after lifted the state of emergencySince the state of emergency in Japan was lifted (2020 May 25), the number of workers returning to their offices has been increasing, but actuality, how many people still working from home?According to the results of the research carried out on by Persol Institute from May 29th to June 2nd, the rate of implementation of telework after the state of emergency (2020/04/10th to 12th) was 27.9% and when the state of emergency was lifted, 25.7% of Japanese companies continued working from home.Of course, it depends on the industry and the occupation, but even after things get back to normal, approximately 70% of workers in Japan want to continue working from home. Also, considering the possibility of a second wave of infected, people expect to continue working from home.Reference: Survey conducted by Persol InstituteTips for a comfortable “Zaitaku-kinmu” and “Telework“Now, we would like to share with you some tips for a comfortable Zaitaku-kinmu and Telework.Organization and Management of Working hoursWhen you work from an office, it is easier to maintain the working hours range because the time you spend in the office is the same as your working hours.While working from home, be sure to arrange with the company or you superior regarding overtime and working hours in advance to prevent unnecessary overtime work.For example, if they contact you by email or any other communication tools at a late time and you respond, it should be included in the working hours in terms of labor low. When you work from home, the line between personal life and work becomes difficult to draw and it seems that many people who work at home work longer hours than when they worked from office.Originally the company is responsible to manage working hours, but many companies do not have good management methods for working hours while telework, which can increase your working hours unnecessarily, we recommend that at the end of the shift to shut down the PC to avoid this kind of troubles.This is an article made by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare / How to manage properly working time from home) to companies as a reference on how to manage properly working time from home. We believe this will deepen your understanding of the concept of working from home.※The article above is written in JapaneseFurthermore, it is necessary to manage properly working hours and at the same time design measures that do not reduce labor productivity. Working from home means being in a relaxed environment which can reduce your productivity by losing focus and prolonging your work hours.To prevent this situation, organizing tasks and schedules in advance is important. Recently, task management tools for various businesses can be used for free, so it would be better for you to strictly manage tasks and schedules at this opportunity.Make use of “Ho-Ren-Sou”First of all, do you know what is the meaning of “Ho-Ren-Sou”?. It’s an abbreviation word in Japanese for Houkoku(Report), Renraku(Communicate), Soudan(Consult) which is used in internal communication from long ago in Japan.It’s a so famous word as the most of Japanese have been said in the companies which they have worked for.It is common that when working from home, communication between members and bosses decreases. Due to the lack of understanding, the result of the work may be incorrect or the process of the project in which you have been part off cannot be understood. In the worst case, there is also a possibility that the results of your work will be downgraded.To avoid such “mistakes”, you should periodically report your work progress to your manager, make sure the results are correct, and at the same time make them understand the work process.Turn on the Work modeIntroducing Telework and Zaitaku-kinmu, it is a great advantage to be able to reduce travel time and go to work without getting on a crowded train (Maiin-densha). On the other hand, being at home all day makes it difficult to turn on our “work mode”.How to turn on the Work modeKeep a clean appearancePerhaps some people start working in sleepwear or loungewear for reasons like “no one is going to see me” or “I am not going outside the house”. If you are a person who does this, there is a probability that you will not fully wake up to have a good performance at work. It could be a hassle having to dress up when you are at home, but it is recommended to dress presentably. By dressing differently as you usually wear at home, it will be easier to idealize that you will start working.Separate your workspace from your daily-life spaceThis also makes it easier to switch to work by separating the work space and the living space in order to separate work from private. However, many people living alone have one room in Japan, so it may be difficult to work in a different room. In such a case, since it is good even in the same room, why not decide the work space and the private space by deciding the work space and not sitting in the work space in the private?Make short breaksTaking short breaks regularly could improve your concentration. It is helpful to leave the seat for 5 minutes every time you finish a task to stretch before starting a new one.ConclusionThere are still many companies that continue working from home or using Telework even after the emergency declaration been lifted in Japan. Working from home has many advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. We hope this article helps you work from home with high productivity and comfort.If there is a foreign IT engineer who is interested in IT-related work that can be done at home or is even considering employment or job change at this opportunity, please come and join us! Please register with G Talent. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

The IT industry in Japan is providing several opportunities for foreign IT engineers. Among all the engineers working in the country, 3 percent of those are foreigners. With the country facing a deficit of engineers by 2030, Japanese IT companies are looking for more It professionals offshore.Working as an engineer in the Land of the Rising Sun can be exciting but work-life balance hinders most foreign workers from sending their applications. To shake off this reputation, many companies are easing up on the schedules of IT engineers in an effort to encourage work-life balance.Working HoursAn IT engineer typically starts working at 9:00 or 10:00 and ends the day after 8 hours of work. However, some stay at the office for an hour or two to avoid the rush hour.Flexible Working HoursSome companies still prefer engineers to work on the set working hours but more IT companies and engineering departments are adopting a flexible schedule nowadays. This is part of the efforts to reduce overtime among employees. In addition, the flexible working hours also allow engineers to avoid rush hour stress and crowds, and give them time to attend to other matters and conduct personal transactions like a doctor’s appointment.An Engineer’s Workday9:00~12:30: Start of Work, Work Assembly or updates12:30 ~ 13:00: Lunch13:00 ~ 16:00: Continue working on projects and tasks16:00 ~ 19:00: Going home, after-work partiesThis is the typical schedule of an IT engineer working in an office. For those working from home have flexible schedules, they may have different working hours and some may be shorter compared to the above sample.Day ScheduleCompanies in Japan have morning assemblies called chourei which takes about 15 minutes. The whole team comes together and shares information about work progress and their schedule or goals for the day. Sharing information provides everyone in a team an overview of their tasks to avoid delays and suggest improvements in projects.After the morning assembly, engineers also have to check on emails and answer queries from clients in the morning. This helps them know if new projects are given or if clients request for new details and functions in an ongoing project.Project HandlingIT companies and departments received a handful of projects which are then assigned to different teams. Each member has his/her own responsibilities and those will affect how an IT engineer’s schedule would go.Planning StageOn an event when a new project is given, a team starts to plan, schedule, and research as part of their morning schedule. Members are assigned to handle project management, estimate cost, and plan the working hours needed for each task.Members research about technologies related to their tasks and inform the team. In their regular meetings, the team shares their ideas on how to proceed with their project.Development StageIn the late morning, engineers start working on the actual project after schedules and estimates have been approved. When a team’s already working on a project, this part of the process is usually done first thing after the morning assembly.The team begins designing algorithms and functions in this stage. This also takes days to complete depending on how big the project is. So a workweek of an engineer may comprise project development.Though research has been done in the planning stage, the team also conducts thorough research during the development of the project. This involves solving backlogs and issues in a program as some previously searched technologies and developments might not be compatible with the current project.Project CompletionWhen everyone is done with their respective tasks in a project, team members conduct a series of tests to check for bugs and major issues. This review process can last for half a day or two depending on the size of the project. This stage also requires members to list down suggestions to improve the output.Afternoon ScheduleReviewing does not only happen when the project has been completed. Every step of the process of each member’s tasks is reviewed by themselves or by another engineer assigned.In this part of the day, engineers prepare a list of what they have accomplished within the day to report during the next day’s morning assembly. This also gives them time to organize and keep track of or set their daily, weekly, and even monthly goals.After Working HoursAs mentioned above, people tend to leave work late to avoid the rush hour so some leave the office around 19:00. Some engineers continue working to have a headstart the next day or do overtime work to finish a project within the day. Nonetheless, overtime does not happen as frequently nowadays.Just like other businesses in Japan, IT companies and departments also go for drinks to celebrate a finished project, holidays, promotions, or just hang out with colleagues. In bigger companies, engineers can join club activities such as sports or take this time to study the Japanese language. Days Off, Paid Leaves, and HolidaysA few of the questions asked by IT engineers who don’t really know much about the country are the number of days off, holidays, vacations, and breaks. Employers must give 45 minutes to an hour worth of break in a workday. Companies should also let employees have one or two days off in a week. For vacation leaves, companies should grant a minimum of 10 days paid vacation leaves to new employees after working for six months. Some companies even give additional vacation leaves.Holidays also affect workdays. Japan has 16 national holidays and most of them fall on a workday. That means more time to explore the country and find new hobbies for IT engineers working in Japan.ConclusionAs more foreign IT engineers pursue their careers in the country, the work environment continues to shape to provide more flexibility and promote great work-life balance. Though the rush hours remain, the reform efforts made by companies will relieve the stress coming from commuting and provide more opportunities for IT engineers to learn new skills and go for vacations in the country. Sources: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/working-past-the-timehttps://kimi.wiki/work/workday-japan-engineerhttps://medium.com/devjobs-jp/software-developer-in-japan-myths-work-life-balance-9a7a41315678https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/setting_up/section4/page5.html

GTalent, a recruiting agency for global IT talents, summarized the market size of the Japanese IT industry based on information from various databases. It is a report based on information and data known in 2019 as of June 2020, such as the market size of the Japanese IT industry compared with the world, the number of IT engineers in Japan and the overseas, the IT field that will grow in the next three years, etc. If you are considering looking for a job in the IT industry in Japan, feel free to use it as a reference.IT Industry Market Size in JapanFirst, we would like to explain about the market size of the Japanese IT industry and the fields in which IT investment will expand in the next three years.It is estimated that the market size of the IT industry (including hardware, software, and services) of domestic private companies will increase by 2.8% year on year in 2018 to 12.493.0 billion yen. In 2019, it is calculated that the market size will be 12.918 trillion yen by 3.4% increase year on year. In 2020, it’s estimated that it will be 13.124 trillion yen by 1.6% increase year on year, and it will be 13.320 trillion yen by 1.5% increase year on year in 2021.Because the initiative on the reform of the work style remained firm in 2018, also the large-scale renewal of the system was also notable due to the increasing profitability of privates companies. There is also strong demand for replacement of Windows 10 by the end of support for Windows 7 scheduled in January 2020. These trends are expected to continue in 2019 as well.Reference: IT Investment by Domestic Companies 2019/Yano Research Institute LtdTranslated from Japanese to English by GTalent.As we can see, the market size of Japan IT industry is increasing year by year, and the market size in 2019 will be about 13 trillion yen which is about 122 billion US dollars by exchange rate as of June 2020. It’s one of the largest industry in Japanese economy.Areas where IT Investment will increase in the next 3 years in JapanIn the next 3 years, ERP will become the most invested software in the IT industry for the first time in 8 years.According to the questionnaire survey for corporates survey conducted every year, it asked what will be a software that will increase in IT investment over the next three years. According to the results of the survey released in 2019 (482 respondents, Multiple selections up to 3), “ERP” obtained 41.9%, being the highest for the first time in 8 years, equaling “Security-related software” which held the first for a long time.The background information is update of core system with the same as the change of business environment, the progress of cloud ERP packages, SAP’s ERP maintenance support deadline of 2025 and so on.Reference: IT Investment by Domestic Companies 2019/Yano Research Institute LtdTranslated from Japanese to English by GTalent.Global IT Industry Market Size and Comparison with Japanese IT marketReference: Gartner Says Global IT Spending to Reach $3.8 Trillion in 2019World IT spending forecast increased 3.2% year on year of in 2019, amounting to about 3.8 trillion dollars (about 400 trillion Japanese yen). All fields have grown from the previous years, especially corporate software increased a lot in that. It can be seen that there is a high need for investment in fields that can improve the business efficiency of companies, including changes of work styles.However, since this statistic was released in January 2019, it is thought that the market size estimation from 2020 will be significantly revised due to the spread of coronavirus infection from January 2019. However, the market size is not revised downward in all areas, and it is expected that the promotion of work style revolution will increase the growth rate in some areas.Looking at these market size data, the result is that Japan’s IT industry market size is about 3.3% of the world market. Given that Japan’s GDP share is about 5.7% of the world (2018), the percentage of the Japanese IT industry market share in the world is still lower than GDP’s. It may mean that Japanese IT industry has high growth potential in the future.Reference: Japan’s GDP was estimated the lowest “5.7%” in 2018/The Nihon Keizai ShinbunThe Number of Japanese IT Engineers Compared With the WorldAccording to the results of a survey conducted by Human Resocia in March 2020 about the number of IT engineers around the globe, the first place was the United States (4.77 million), the second was China (2.72 million), the third was India (2.12 million) and the fourth was Japan (1.09 million). Japan is among the top five of the list, but compared with India which is in third, the number of engineers doubled Japanese IT engineers.When comparing the number of engineers, there seems to be a big difference between Japan and other IT advanced countries such as the United States, China, and India. However considering the population of each country, the ratio of the number of IT engineer per population might not be so different.Reference:Human Resocia /Number of IT engineers around the world (North and South America)Human Resocia /Number of IT engineers around the world (Asia and Oceania)ConclusionConsidering that Japan’s IT industry is about 3.3% of the world, it can be said that it’s a very large market size. However, considering the GDP ratio, it can be said that the industry is expected to grow further. The IT industry is one of the few growth fields in the mature Japanese market, so if you are looking for a job in Japan in the future, why not consider the IT industry as one of your options?If you are looking for a job in the IT industry in Japan, please register with G Talent, a professional recruitment agency for global IT talents. Our professional consultants will help you with job changes and job hunting for free.

The phrases “Work from home” and “remote work” has been introduced in many Japanese companies, and the talent acquisition is not always about hiring full-time employees(Seishain). The methods of hiring labor is diversified in each company such as contracting self-employed workers, freelancers in Japan.According to this situation, the number of opportunities to hire foreigners in the form of outsourcing increases progressively. In these days, We ,GTalent, receive many questions about work visas from many self-employed workers, freelancers and the companies hiring them.At this article, We would like to explain in detail about how to apply for a work visa in the case of the outsourcing contracts as a self-employed worker and a freelancer.Work visa application with an outsourcing contractYou need to apply for a working visa even at the time of an outsourcing contract as a self-employed worker and a freelancer as well as the case of full-time employed(Seishain) .However, you should be careful when having several outsourcing contracts with several companies.If you have several outsourcing contracts with multiple companies, you must ask the company which you get the highest salary in the outsourcing contracts to apply for a working visa.Therefore, be sure to check which companies contracting with you pay the highest salary to you.Important Points when applying for a working visa with outsourcing contractIf you execute an outsourcing contract with a Japanese company, the following points are essentials to obtain a working visa.Appropriate outsourcing contract under the Labor Law of JapanLong-term contractDo paying the tax, pension and social security procedures by yourselfThese important points are followings in details.Appropriate outsourcing contract under the Labor Law of JapanTo apply for a working visa, you need to attach the outsourcing contract. If the content is inappropriate under Japan’s labor law, you may not be able to obtain a working visa application permission. Therefore, be sure to specify the appropriate remuneration and terms of the contract in the outsourcing contract.Long-term contractEven when outsourcing, you need to have a long-term contract as well as applying for a working visa under a full-time employment contract.If the contract period is only 1 to 2 months, you may not be able to get permission to apply for a working visa.However, even if the contract period is short, if the contract is automatically renewed unless there is a big problem, it may be possible to obtain a visa application permission.Do paying the tax, pension and social security proceduresIf you are a self-employed worker, you have to pay the tax, pension and social insurance by yourself as well as Japanese self-employed worker. If you don’t understand how to do so, be sure to check the website of National Tax Agency, Ministry of Finance Japan and so on.ConclusionNowadays more and more people are starting to work as freelancers, and the tendency will increase from now on so that companies can hire a various talent through flexible employee tyme.Particularly in the IT/WEB industry, many engineers are increasingly outsourcing their work as freelancers. Also, the number of foreign IT engineers is currently increasing in the IT/WEB industry, and it is thought that not only Japanese IT engineers but also foreign IT engineers will start to work like freelances more and more.IT engineers who are looking for work or change jobs for a Japanese company, please register with G Talent ,a recruitment agency specializing in IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.