What programming languages are necessary to work as a backend engineer in Japan? In addition to programming languages, being able to use frameworks will also expand the scope of your work. In this article, we will explain the programming languages and frameworks necessary to work as a backend engineer in Japan, as well as knowledge outside of the language.

If you would like to work as a backend engineer in Japan, please use IT industry global company recruitment agency “G Talent”.

What is a Back-end Engineer?

First of all, let's take a look at what a back-end engineer actually is.

The difference between front-end and back-end engineers

Before explaining what front-end and back-end engineers are, we need to explain what the front-end and back-end of a system are. A system is divided into a front-end for the user and a back-end for the server, and the engineers in charge of each are different.

The screens that users see on websites and web apps are displayed by the front-end system, which is made using HTML/CSS, JavaScript, etc. The front-end system displays screens, sends input information to the server-side system, and achieves other screen transitions.

On the other hand, the system on the server side is called the back-end, and is made using PHP, Java, etc. The program processes the information entered on the front end, accesses the database as necessary, and returns the results to the front end.

Back-end engineers are those who develop the programs on the back end, while front-end engineers develop the programs on the front end.

Reference: フロントエンドとバックエンド：役割とスキルの違いを解説／TECH PLAY

Back-end engineers have a promising future

Back-end engineers have a promising future. The IT market, and web content in particular, is continuing to grow, and back-end engineers are indispensable to web content. For this reason, it is predicted that demand for back-end engineers will continue to grow in the future.

In addition, there are many existing systems, and there is plenty of work to be done, such as adding functions, maintenance, and migration to new systems. In this way, it can be said that back-end engineers have a promising future.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアは今後どうなる？将来性やキャリアパスを解説！／HiPro Tech

What programming languages are in demand for back-end engineer in Japan?

The following eight programming languages are in demand for backend engineers at IT companies in Japan.

• Python
• PHP
• Ruby
• C++
• Perl
• Java
• Go
• SQL

Python

Python is a programming language that is used in fields such as AI, big data, machine learning, and IoT. For this reason, if you are thinking of changing jobs to work in a field that deals with AI or machine learning, we recommend that you learn it. It is a general-purpose language that can also be used to develop web apps, games, desktop apps, etc.

In addition, Python is characterized by its small code and easy-to-understand code. For this reason, it is one of the most popular languages, as it is less likely to cause bugs.

Reference: 【入門】Pythonとは｜活用事例やメリット、できること、学習方法を解説／スキルアップAI Journal

PHP

PHP is one of the languages that is frequently used in web-based development. It can be used for web app development, EC site construction, and other development, so if you want to work as a web-based engineer, we recommend that you learn it.

PHP is a scripting language that is embedded in HTML. It has the characteristics of being simple and easy to understand, and is also easy for beginners to learn.

In addition, WordPress, which is a leading CMS, is developed using PHP. Since you can customize WordPress using PHP, it is a good idea to learn it if you want to find a job or change jobs in a field that uses WordPress frequently.

Reference: PHPとは？基礎知識、できることを初心者にもわかりやすく解説します／カゴヤのサーバー研究室

Ruby

Ruby is a language that is easy for beginners to learn, and is a very good language that is designed so that anyone who writes it will end up with similar code. It is used in the development of many websites, and will continue to play an active role in the future.

One of the major advantages of developing in Ruby is that it produces simple code, so bugs are less likely to occur. And the biggest advantage is that there is an excellent framework called Ruby on Rails.

If you can make use of this framework, you will be able to mass-produce high-quality code efficiently. If you want to work as a back-end engineer in a workplace that uses Ruby, you can say that learning Ruby on Rails is essential.

Reference: プログラミング言語のRubyとは？特徴やできることを解説／発注ラウンジ

C++

C++ is an object-oriented language that extends the C language, and it is used in a wide range of fields, including web apps, embedded systems, AI development, and game development. It is an old language, but it is still in use, so if you learn it, you will be able to get work such as specification changes and maintenance.

Reference: C++とは？今さら聞けない基礎から応用までを解説／発注ラウンジ

Perl

Perl is a programming language that has been used for a long time. It is an easy-to-use language that has been used mainly in the fields of web development and server management. There are still many systems that run on Perl, so there will probably be a lot of work in the future, such as specification changes, adding functions, and maintenance.

Java

Java is an excellent language with a long history that is used in a wide range of fields. It is often used in existing systems, so there will probably be a lot of work in the future, such as adding functions, changing specifications, and maintenance. However, as it is not the latest language, you will also need to learn new technologies and languages in parallel.

Java is a language that is used in a very wide range of fields, and it can be used to develop web apps, PC apps, Android apps, CG development, embedded systems, etc. Java has the advantage of being able to build highly secure and robust systems, and it can reduce bugs and security risks.

It is important to remember that JavaScript is completely different from Java. Java is a general-purpose language for back-end development, while JavaScript is a language used to build dynamic screen controls for web page development. Please be careful, as they are completely different languages, like “as different as melon and melon bread” or “as different as India and Indonesia”.

Reference: 【入門】Javaとは？言語の特徴やプログラミングの流れをわかりやすく解説！／Engineer Labo

Go

Go is a new language that is expected to play an active role in the future, developed by Google in 2009. Go has the advantage of being able to be developed compactly with a small amount of code, and bugs can be kept to a minimum.

For this reason, it is a language that makes it easy to develop high-quality programs efficiently. However, because the grammar is completely different from other languages, there is the disadvantage that it takes time to learn if you are learning it from scratch.

Reference: Go言語とはどんなプログラミング言語？特徴やできることを解説／発注ラウンジ

SQL

SQL is a very old language, but it is a language that is still in active use today and will continue to be used in the future for database construction and operation. It is used in database management systems such as MySQL, MariaDB, and SQLite.

Back-end engineers are almost always involved in database environment construction and processing program development. For this reason, it is a language that must be learned.

What frameworks are required for back-end engineer in Japan?

A framework is a collection of already-written code, and it contains code for frequently-used functions. By using a framework, you can develop efficiently and with high quality. The frameworks used by Japanese companies are as follows.

• CakePHP
• Git/Github
• Ruby on Rails
• Django
• Laravel
• Flask

CakePHP

This is a framework that is often used in PHP, and it has many functions that are useful for developing web pages and web apps. It is a popular framework that is easy to introduce in the workplace.

Reference: CakePHPとは？基礎知識とできることをわかりやすく解説／発注ラウンジ

Git/Github

Git is a source version control system, and Github is a source code management service. It is a tool used by programmers for source management, and it allows you to perform source management, which tends to become complicated when developing as a team, in a smart way.

Ruby on Rails

It is a Ruby framework, and it is essential for Ruby developers to learn. If you learn it, you will be able to proceed with Ruby development efficiently.

Reference: 【超入門】Web開発に用いられるRuby on Railsとは｜特徴やできることを詳しく解説／CMC Japan

Django

A Python web app framework. It is possible to create web content with a small amount of code, and it is possible to increase the work efficiency of website production.

Reference: Django(ジャンゴ)とは？Pythonのフレームワークを活用し、Web開発に役立てよう／Udemyメディア

Laravel

It is a full-stack framework that covers all the functions needed for web development. We recommend that PHP developers learn it as a priority.

Flask

It is a Python web application framework. Its features include a lightweight framework that is easy to learn and highly customizable. We recommend learning it in conjunction with Django.

What knowledge is required for back-end engineer in Japan?

If you want to become a backend engineer in Japan, you will also need knowledge other than programming languages and frameworks. From here, we will explain the knowledge required for a backend engineer.

• Knowledge of how the internet works
• Knowledge of operating systems
• Knowledge of servers and databases
• Knowledge of security

Knowledge of how the internet works

You will need knowledge of how the internet works, how to set up devices, and security. As systems move to the cloud, there is no doubt that engineers who can handle the internet safely and efficiently are in strong demand.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアの学習方法とは？スキルや言語について徹底解説／パーソルクロステクノロジー

Knowledge of operating systems

Backend engineers need to be able to build systems that work with a variety of operating systems and environments. In addition, there are many cases where you will need to adapt to a variety of environments, as there is no guarantee that there will be just one type of development environment or client-side environment. For this reason, knowledge of operating systems is also necessary.

Knowledge of servers and databases

Back-end engineers need to become specialists in servers and databases in order to build servers and databases. For this reason, they will need to have knowledge of various server and database environments. In addition to being able to develop in the environment they are working in, they will also need to have the skills and knowledge to build development environments, change settings, and perform maintenance.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアになるには（身につけるべき重要なスキル）／kinsta

Knowledge of security

The use of the internet is expected to continue to increase in the future, with the cloud using online resources, users using the internet, and remote control of home appliances through IoT. As a result, measures to prevent security risks such as unauthorized access by third parties, identity theft, and information leaks will become increasingly important. When developing a system, you will need knowledge to develop a system that takes security risks into account.

If you are looking for a job as a back-end engineer in Japan, we recommend “G Talent”

In this article, we have explained the programming languages and frameworks you need to work as a backend engineer in Japan, as well as knowledge other than languages. We hope you have gained an understanding of the programming languages and frameworks that will be useful for you to work as a backend engineer at a Japanese company. In addition to programming languages and frameworks, there is also other knowledge you will need.

For those looking for IT engineer jobs for foreigners, we recommend the foreign IT engineer job change agency “G Talent”. It has recruitment support for over 200 companies and a track record of over 70 nationalities of engineers changing jobs, so even those looking for work in Japan for the first time can use it with peace of mind. There are a wealth of IT jobs at companies where you can work in a fair environment regardless of nationality, so you're sure to find a backend engineer job that suits you.