So I recently found a job in my field (in America) that’s asking for business level Japanese. Does anyone have any insight what exactly they might be looking for? Since it’s in America, I assume most of the communication would be writing, which would be useful so I don’t have to figure out/remember keigo on the fly.
I reeeeeaaalllly want to apply for this, but I’m worried my Japanese wouldn’t be up to par (somewhat sure it’s not, but this is a golden opportunity). Any insight or experiences (outside of Japan) that you’ve had with this would be very much appreciated.
“Business level” is generally considered to be roughly equivalent to the JLPT N2, though whether you’d actually be able to function with just the N2 and nothing else is another matter.
A lot of business jobs want live meeting interpretation or at least participation, so I wouldn’t assume it’s only writing just from the location. Seeing as meetings can be done from anywhere these days.
The listing doesn’t describe the responsibilities?
It does but they are all related to my field, minus the requirement for business level Japanese. I’m not really sure what it would be used for other than the company seems to have a (main?) branch in Japan. I don’t even know the company since it’s through a recruiter.
IMO it never hurts to apply and just be honest about your abilities. Job adverts are almost always asking for the moon and then they just take the best they can get and afford.
If they’re really relying on live in-meeting translation / interpreters that would come up in the interview and I’d expect in that case someone would simply speak with you in Japanese to get a feel if your abilities are going to work for them or not. And if it doesn’t come up in the interview like that, you could always ask and if you have reservations about your skills then you could say it and it’s for them to agree or not. They want the whole person, so if it’s otherwise perfect for you, don’t discount that.
my experience that may or may not apply but at least gives some idea
Based on some branches of Japanese companies I’ve worked with in the UK and Europe, there might be regular trips, either you (plus customers?) to Japan or Japanese colleagues coming to you, or online meetings. If none of the technical folks know Japanese it places a large burden on translators and interpreters. Sure they’ll be there anyway but it limits any side conversations or more natural interactions. So the companies I know would love for their technical staff to have business Japanese, but it’s only a nice to have skill as they can’t get everyone to that level. For the people I met there were several of the Japanese staff who could speak English but none of the EU staff could speak Japanese. Interestingly, some of the exact technical detail was so important I caught several instances where the broken English from the Japanese tech team saved the day because the interpreters simply couldn’t know which nuance was important. If that kind of situation is playing out in the company you’re interested in, maybe the managers are taking a shot at getting a Japanese speaker to help with that.
The best way to find out is to apply, be honest about your abilities, and see if they think you’re right for the role.
Keep in mind that job adverts tend to ask for their ideal person, but in reality a lot if the time they are happy to get someone that’s just good enough. Don’t hesitate to apply for jobs that you’re not sure you’re quite qualified for if you really want it. You might be pleasently suprised.
Business level Japanese” usually means handling professional communication—emails, reports, and sometimes meetings. It’s often around JLPT N2, but that depends on the role. If you’re close, I’d say apply anyway. Employers often ask for their “ideal” candidate but end up choosing someone who fits most of what they need.
During the interview, they’ll likely test your Japanese, maybe by switching languages or asking a few questions. Be honest about your skills and show your willingness to improve—that can go a long way. It’s like startups using a go-to-market strategy guide to highlight their strengths: focus on the overall value you bring to the table.