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Education & Culture

Japanese Language: A new career opportunity


Published : 27 Mar 2023 09:24 PM | Updated : 27 Mar 2023 09:24 PM

In the previous article, we talked about the general benefits of Japanese language. Here, we suggest some career options you can embark upon after learning Japanese.

Work In Japan

According to an estimate, Japan will face a shortage of over 6 million workers by 2030. With an ageing society and abundance of wealthy MNCs with a worldwide presence, professionals with Japanese language skills are in high demand. They will continue to be so in the next decade.  

Furthermore, native Japanese people are hardly well versed in English. Even though a small group of people speak English as a second language, most of them still depend on translation and interpretation services.

In Japan, engineers' demand has been rising every year, but there is a shortfall of graduates. So, an engineer from India has a better chance of landing a job not only in Japan but anywhere in the world if they have additional Japanese skills. Not any advanced level certificate, but N4 or N3 would generally suffice. 

Demand for other skills like in Healthcare, Market Research and Data/IT sectors are also high. Due to the falling working population, Japan also offers lucrative salaries. A person with a Japanese language certification and passion for their work can easily pave the way to a job in Japan. Additional English skills will prove to be the icing on the cake!

Opportunities at Home Country

Japanese companies have a presence in almost every major country. Given the high demand and a shortage of experts, investing some money, time and efforts in this language can assure high, long term remunerations! 

Firms do not only need Japanese skills, but they need "Japanese Culture Specialists". As companies look to deploy human resources overseas, demand for Japanese speakers will rise. 

Japan and India have been friendly nations for a very long time. There are above 5000 Japanese establishments in India and impressive FDI investments. So, Japanese companies are going to provide plenty of jobs here!

These are career opportunities after a Japanese degree:

Translator/Interpreter

Job of a translator is to convert written material from any language to Japanese and vice versa. While Interpreter intermediates and converts on the spot between speakers of different languages. In most cases, the same person may be required to be both a translator and an interpreter. 

One will need a graduate degree in Japanese language or Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certificate N1/N2. Some previous experience in the field or some translation certification is preferable. 

One can also work as a freelancer. Salaries are highly lucrative depending on one's skills, networks and the client involved. 

Japanese language teacher/Trainer

Demand for Japanese is rising and so is the demand for highly qualified Japanese teachers. If you have a graduate degree in Japanese studies from a reputed institution or a higher JLPT certificate, you can teach in a school or a training institute. 

With post graduation and above, one can qualify as a professor in a university. Additionally, reputed MNCs hire professional Japanese language trainers for upskilling their human resource. You can also work as a private tutor.

Executives

Post globalisation, companies have increased their international presence. Meanwhile, Indian institutions have also increased their global footprint. So, a sales/marketing executive or analyst profile fluent in a language in addition to English can highly increase your chances of getting hired.

Language specialists can work in sectors like BPO/KPO, Export processing units, International Business Development and so on. 

Content curator

As all of us know, Content is the King! Almost every institution relies on captivating content to expand their presence. Working as a content writer fluent in more than one language can greatly increase your significance in an institution.

Furthermore, if you love writing, you can start a blog targeted for Japanese speakers. Initially, establishing  oneself as a freelance writer may take some time and efforts, but it will be definitely worth it!

Hospitality/Tourism

Professions in the hospitality sector can range from tour guides to hotel managers. Interacting in the native language of customers can establish better relations and aid in expanding your business.

Couple your extrovert personality and communication skills with Japanese language and watch your career reach new heights!

Embassies/international organisations

Last but not the least, learning Japanese can help one understand the nuances of Japanese culture and social customs. It helps to establish strong interpersonal skills and can leave a greater impact on a person.

Thus, diplomats, academicians or other professionals working in an embassy or international institutions which require frequent contact with Japanese people are strongly suggested to learn the language.          

Hopefully, after reading this, you might consider learning Japanese language for your next career move. Here's where Langma comes to the rescue!