Electrical Engineering Jobs in Japan

What jobs are available for electrical engineers in Japan? What skills are required to get a positions. If you have a background in electrics/electronics and would like to work in Japan, this article gives you answers to the above questions and more.

Electrical Engineering in Japan

Electrical engineering deals with systems that rely on electricity in some shape or form. Depending on their specialization. This enables electrical engineers to work in a wide variety of sectors such as automotive, telecommunication, IT, etc.

Since the end of World War II, Japan has evolved into a country known for its powerful (high-tech) manufacturing industry all across the world. Even today, famous companies like Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Canon, Toyota, Panasonic, Sony, and Fujitsu play a huge role in forming the backbone of Japan’s economy. Since most high-tech appliances make use of some form of electricity, Japan offers many opportunities.

Necessary Skills for Electrical Engineers

Technical Skills

If you’re aiming for an engineer position as a fresh graduate, most Japanese companies are satisfied as long as you have a degree in the relevant field. If you’re a majoring in Electrical Engineering, look for keywords such as 電気工学 (denki kougaku, electrical engineering), 電気 (denki, electricity) and/or 電子 (denshi, electron/electronic…) in the “requirements” section.

Position for mid-career professionals usually not only require experience in engineering but also related tasks (e.g. dealing with suppliers, construction companies, clients, etc.).

Soft Skills

Working with technology means you’ll be part of a team or larger process where you have to check back with your team members and higher-ups. As such, the typical soft skill requirements – being able to work in a team, communicate clearly and frequently, and adapt to schedule changes – all apply.

Language Skills

Dealing with practical technology on a day-to-day basis requires a high knowledge of technical vocabulary in addition to regular business Japanese.

If you’re a fresh graduate and have a solid background and some experience in your field, you may be able to get the job even if you’re not fully fluent yet. Anyway, you should at least be able to pass the N2 level of the JLPT.

For positions that can accommodate English speakers, many companies require some degree of (proven) English proficiency (normally a certain TOEIC score) and prefer candidates with at least basic Japanese skills (N4 level).

Where can you work as Electrical Engineer in Japan?

Most companies are based in one of the main three industrial areas of Japan: the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Osaka, and Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture).

The Nagoya area (the home of Toyota) is well-known for automotive manufacturing. Tokyo-based companies usually have an HQ and other offices inside the city’s 23 districts and operate their production plants in close-by prefectures like Saitama or Tochigi.

A smaller number of companies, such as Kyocera, have their HQs in the old capital of Kyoto.

The majority of big Japanese tech or manufacturing companies accept new graduates straight out of university (新卒採用, shinsotsu saiyou). Even though most engineering positions require a degree in a relevant field, expect your previous education and skills to carry less weight than what you’re probably used to.

As the Japanese workforce as a whole is shrinking, most companies are also recruiting mid-career professionals (中途採用, chuuto saiyou or キャリア採用, career saiyou).

Nippon Steel Corporation

Nippon Steel Corporation (日本製鉄株式会社) is the worlds third largest steel producer (2017) and it’s subsidiary Nippon Steel Engineering focuses on providing engineering solution.

Industry: Steel
Products: Machinery, industrial electrical equipment, equipment installation (plants), steel products
Founded: 1950
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Employees: 93,557

Go to Nippon Steels’s Corporate Site・Engineering Site (EN)
Go to Nippon Steela’s Recruitment Site・Group Recruitment (JP)

Fujitsu Ltd.

Fujitsu Ltd. (富士通株式会社) is a internationally active information technology equipment and services company.

Industry: Telecommunications, Computer hardware and software
Products: ICT, technology and device solutions
Founded: 1935
HQ: Tokyo
Employees: 155,000

Go to Fujitsu’s Corporate Site (EN)
Go to Fujitsu’s Recruitment Site entry level・mid-career (JP)

Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (株式会社日立製作所) is diversified international conglomerate, operating in a variety of business segments.

Industry: Electric and electronic equipment
Products: information and communication systems, social and industrial systems, electronic devices, construction machines, etc.
Founded: 1910
HQ: Tokyo
Employees: 307,275

Go to Hitachi’s Corporate Site (EN)
Go to Hitachi’s Recruitment Site entry-level・mid-career (JP)

DENSO Corporation

DENSO Corporation (株式会社デンソ) is automotive components manufacturer and a world leading auto parts supplier.

Industry: Automotive parts
Products: automotive system, ITS, industrial equipment, etc.
Founded: 1949
HQ: Kariya, Aichi
Employees: 168,813

Go to DENSO’s Corporate Site (EN)
Go to DENSO’s Recruitment Site entry level・mid-career (JP)

Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車株式会社) is a multinational company and the worlds largest automotive manufacturer (2017).

Industry: Automotive
Products: development, manufacturing, and sale of automobiles and parts
Founded: 1937
HQ: Toyota, Aichi and Tokyo
Employees: 370,870

Go to Toyota’s Corporate Site (EN)
Go to Toyota’s Recruitment Site entry level・mid-career (JP)

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Looking for a job in Japan?

Do you have an engineering background and are looking for positions in Japan? Then a job might only be a few clicks away! One way of finding work is Diversity HR, an IT job placement service from Zenken Corporation. Just create a profile, and job updates matching your skills and other requirements will start coming your way. Signing up is free, so why not give it a try? The button below will take you to the entry form. If you’d like to know a bit more about the service first, check out our guide here . (※EU residents are currently not able to register.)

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