Japanese resume format: rirekisho (履歴書) and shokumu-keirekisho (職務経歴書)
Most employers in Japan expect two documents: a rirekisho, a standard form with your personal details and history, and, for experienced hires, a shokumu-keirekisho describing what you did in each job.
The rirekisho (履歴書)
- A fixed form, usually on A4 (or two A4 pages), with a photo box (about 3 × 4 cm), name with furigana, date of birth, address and contact details.
- Education and employment history in a table, by year and month, written oldest first, ending with 以上 ("end").
- Licences and qualifications, motivation for applying (志望動機), self-PR, and a box for personal requests (本人希望記入欄), often left as "as per company rules".
- Many employers follow the JIS-style layout or the 2021 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare model, which makes gender optional.
The shokumu-keirekisho (職務経歴書)
- A free-form career history of one to two A4 pages.
- A short summary, then a block per company with the period, department, role and a table of responsibilities and results.
- Skills, qualifications and a self-PR section at the end.
Tips for foreign applicants
- Foreign-affiliated companies often accept an English rirekisho or a standard English CV; our English versions keep the familiar structure.
- Use the Japanese era or Western years consistently, not a mix.
- Keep the photo recent and formal.
Templates for this format (4)
Each template below opens in the builder with sample content written for this market. Your details from My Profile fill in automatically, and you can switch templates at any time.
Rirekisho 履歴書 (JIS style)
Japanese JIS-style rirekisho: photo box, furigana, education & employment history table, licences, motivation and personal-request boxes.
Shokumu-keirekisho 職務経歴書
Japanese career-history document: summary, company blocks with period/responsibility tables, skills, qualifications and jiko PR.
Rirekisho (English version)
English version of the Japanese rirekisho form for foreign-affiliated firms and bilingual applications.
Shokumu-keirekisho (English version)
English version of the Japanese career-history document.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a rirekisho to apply for jobs in Japan?
Most Japanese employers ask for one. Foreign-affiliated firms may accept an English CV instead; check the job advert.
Can I write a rirekisho in English?
Yes, for companies that work in English. We offer English versions of both the rirekisho and the shokumu-keirekisho.
What is the difference between a rirekisho and a shokumu-keirekisho?
The rirekisho is a standard form with personal details and a dated history. The shokumu-keirekisho is a free-form description of your work and results in each job.
This page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. When a job advert or employer asks for something different, follow the advert.