Japan: Help and advice abroad

Public employment services

The Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners  has offices in Tokyo and specialises in placement services and offering job-related information to foreign students and jobseekers living in Japan. The website also provides links to employment service centres for foreigners in other areas of Japan.

Higher education careers support

There is some careers service support at most universities, but services are better developed in the private universities, which tend to have stronger links with industry. These services are called Shushokubu and they are the nearest equivalent to our university careers services. They usually offer counselling, internet search facilities and a careers library.

The International University of Japan - Career Counseling and Services (CC&S)  has a useful website with tips and advice for job hunters. Many of the bigger, well-known universities have English-speaking staff.

Universities often hold careers fairs for graduates similar to those held in the UK. Most of the dealings are in Japanese, but there may be opportunities to discuss options in English.

Professors frequently act as an interface between employers and students, particularly those representing technical students. For humanities students, there are recruitment fairs such as the one organised by DISCO International .

There are some career directories and journals, such as those published by DISCO International. Graduate recruitment publishers and event organisers are increasingly turning to internet technology to offer improved and more efficient services.

Some large companies target particular universities, but recruitment is often done through networking, word of mouth and alumni.

Help in an emergency

Registering with your embassy is recommended, as they can provide valuable help in times of emergency. Registration for UK citizens can be done online at the British Embassy in Japan . The British Embassy in Japan recommends that any citizen staying in Japan for more than three months registers with them.

Emergency contact numbers in Japan are:

• 119 - emergency (general)
• 110 - police
• 03-3501-0110 - English-speaking police hotline in Tokyo
• 119 - ambulance
• 119 - fire department