Country guides / Japan
Japanese Rirekisho Guide 2026 (for Foreigners)
What does a Japan rirekisho look like in 2026?
Photo: Required: 3×4 cm, formal, plain background. Personal details: DOB and address are standard fields on the form. Dates: Year/month (2020年3月); entries end with 以上.
Japan uses a two-document system. The rirekisho (履歴書) is a standardized JIS-format form: facts only, no selling. Achievements go in a second, free-format document: the shokumukeirekisho (職務経歴書). This builder generates the rirekisho.
This guide covers exactly how a Japan rirekisho should look in 2026: the right length, whether to include a photo, which personal details belong on it, the date format, and the mistakes that get applications rejected. When you are ready, the free GlobeResume Japan resume builder applies every one of these rules for you.
Japan Rirekisho rules at a glance
| Rule | Japan convention |
|---|---|
| Format | Standardized JIS form: fixed fields, fixed order |
| Photo | Required: 3×4 cm, formal, plain background |
| Personal details | DOB and address are standard fields on the form |
| Dates | Year/month (2020年3月); entries end with 以上 |
| Two documents | Rirekisho (facts) + Shokumukeirekisho (achievements) |
| Typed vs handwritten | Typed is fine, and safer for non-native writers |
How to write a Japan Rirekisho: 5 steps
- Set up the Japan layout. Start from a Japan-correct layout (the standard length). The free GlobeResume builder loads it automatically when you pick Japan.
- Add the expected personal details. Include exactly what Japan recruiters expect. The convention: DOB and address are standard fields on the form. Add a professional photo near the top.
- Write your experience with local date formats. List roles in reverse-chronological order and write dates as "Year/month (2020年3月); entries end with 以上".
- Order the sections the Japan way. Follow the section order shown below, so the document reads the way local hiring teams expect.
- Check the do's and don'ts, then export. Review your rirekisho against the checklist on this page and download it as a clean PDF.
What to put in a Japan Rirekisho
A Japan rirekisho is typically built from these sections, in this order:
- Self-PR
- Work History
- Education
- Skills
- Licences & Certifications
- Languages
- Interests
What makes it specifically Japan:
- A professional photo near the top of the page.
- Your date of birth.
- Your full postal address.
- A short, sincere reason-for-applying statement.
✓ Do
- List education and jobs as dated entry/exit lines (入学/卒業, 入社/退社)
- Write a short, sincere 志望動機 (reason for applying)
- Use the Self-PR box for strengths, briefly
- Prepare a separate shokumukeirekisho with your achievements
- Type it; handwriting kanji as a non-native is a risk, not a virtue
✕ Don't
- Job achievements or bullet points inside the rirekisho
- Casual photos; this is the most formal photo you'll ever take
- Leaving the 志望動機 box empty or generic
- Western-style creative formatting
- Forgetting 以上 at the end of the history table
💡 Modern MHLW-recommended forms dropped the gender field (2021). Most employers accept Western calendar years; just be consistent.
Japan Rirekisho FAQ
- How long should a Japan rirekisho be?
- See the rules above.
- Should a Japan rirekisho include a photo?
- Required: 3×4 cm, formal, plain background
- What personal details go on a Japan rirekisho?
- DOB and address are standard fields on the form
- What date format should a Japan rirekisho use?
- Year/month (2020年3月); entries end with 以上
- Can I build a Japan rirekisho for free?
- Yes. The free GlobeResume builder applies every rule on this page automatically, previews your rirekisho live, and exports to PDF. No login or signup is required, and everything runs in your browser, so your data never leaves your device. Paid plans add watermark-free downloads and editable Word (.docx) export.
Build your Japan Rirekisho
GlobeResume's free Japan resume builder does the formatting for you. Pick Japan, fill in one form, and it lays out your rirekisho with the correct length, sections, date format, photo and details, previewed live and ready to download as PDF or Word. It runs entirely in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
No sign-up. The builder pre-loads every Japan convention from this guide.