// Featured Article
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International students at Japanese vocational schools are rising fast. Two recent graduates share the costs, benefits, challenges, and how they landed developer jobs.
// TokyoDev Basics
Survey 2025
TokyoDev conducts annual surveys on developer compensation, demographics, remote work opportunities, job-searching, technologies and more.
// Collections
// Job Hunting (Show all)
This article aims helps you understand the structure of recruiting in Japan and assist you in your job search, with a focus on those looking to work as an engineer in Japan.
A guide to understanding your chances of getting a job as a programmer in Japan are, and what the first steps you can take are.
Why networking is absolutely vital for developers’ long-term careers, and how to do it online, offline, or in Japanese without feeling like a used car salesman.
Learn how new grads are hired in Japan and how to improve your chances of getting a tech job in Japan.
// Working Conditions (Show all)
This article will help you understand what holidays you’re entitled to receive in Japan, along with what you can expect to be able to actually take.
An overview of the legal and cultural context for age discrimination in Japan's tech industry.
This article describes the mental health challenges a foreigner working in Japan may experience, and the available resources.
An overview of Japan’s Freelance Act, including who qualifies as a freelancer, what rights freelancers have, and step-by-step instructions for reporting violations.
// Developer Experiences (Show all)
Five developers share the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a game developer in Japan, and their top tips for entering the industry.
Telling the experiences of women who work as software developers in Japan, covering the positives and negatives of working here.
Four success stories from people who became software developers after moving to Japan, and their advice for anyone who wants to do the same.
To get the real scoop on living in Kansai, TokyoDev asked three developers working in Osaka, Kyoto, and Shiga Prefecture to share their experiences and advice.
// Japanese Society (Show all)
How Japan's labor shortage equals career opportunities for certain international developers.
In 1985, D&D had a massively successful release in Japan. However, its popularity quickly waned. This article chronicles the rise and fall of D&D in Japan.
Curious about the barred windows in Japan? This article explores three key reasons: window placement, fire code regulations, and traditional architecture.
Japanese tech companies share their reasons for hiring international talent, and what they’ve gained from their multinational teams.
// Relocating to Japan (Show all)
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International students at Japanese vocational schools are rising fast. Two recent graduates share the costs, benefits, challenges, and how they landed developer jobs.
This guide to finding an apartment in Japan helps you understand the costs involved, and how to go about looking for a place to call your own.
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Thinking about moving to Japan with your pet? Read this article now, as you might need to prepare almost a year in advance.
We’ve gathered statistics, other developers’ experiences, and advice from industry professionals to help you decide if you want to move to Japan, and what your best visa and job options are.
// Visas (Show all)
Curious about living in Japan? Learn from Christian, one of the first digital nomad visa holders, as he shares his experience and tips for obtaining the visa.
The complete guide to visas that permit you to work as a full time software developer in Japan.
My personal experience extending my work visa in Japan as a freelancer—with dependents, a new sponsoring company, a recent move, and other fun factors. Spoiler alert: it was easier than I thought it would be!
Explore paths to Permanent Residency in Japan with insights from Michael’s experience via the highly skilled professional scheme. Learn about eligibility and the process.
// Resumes and Interviewing (Show all)
Nine recruiters go into detail on what causes them to accept or reject candidates’ resumes, and how to improve your chance of success.
A guide for how to format an English CV when applying to a company in Japan.
How to write a Japanese shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書) for developer jobs in Japan—when to use it, what to include, and how to impress recruiters.
The Japanese-style "casual meeting" is a terrific way to find out whether you're suited for a particular company and whether that company is a good fit for you.
// Family Life (Show all)
How developers can bring their spouse and children to Japan.
An overview of Japanese vs. international schools, and what you can expect from the public school system.
Navigating childcare in Japan? Discover a variety of options tailored to your location, your child's age, and the season. Start here for a comprehensive guide to common childcare services.
An overview of Japan's paternity leave system, including the options and benefits available.
// Hiring Developers (Show all)
Practical tips for writing job postings that attract the developers you want to hire, based on reviewing 1,000+ postings and seeing what truly works.
Strategies for not only attracting more women as candidates, but also helping you to hire and retain them.
Japanese businesses discuss the two main problems they have encountered hiring internationally, and their solutions.
Discover how Eugene designed a hiring process that reviewed 1,500 applications to hire 15 engineers, focusing on technical skills and mission-driven passion.
// Business in Japan (Show all)
An overview of the gotchas when incorporating a company in Japan based on my personal experience of incorporating three of them.
Considering starting a business in Japan? Learn when a sole proprietorship is enough, when a company makes sense, and the real tradeoffs in taxes, liability, and ownership.
How to transfer contracts and IP from an individual to a Japanese company.
In October 2022, new regulations were put into place that put legal requirements on job board operators.
Operating a job board in Japan can lead to legal issues if not properly licensed. This article explains the legal requirements and guidelines for running a job board without facing penalties.
// Startups (Show all)
Investing 1000+ hours and ¥8 million in developer communities hasn’t brought much in direct returns but has still been the key to my startups' success.
This is the story of how the site has evolved from its humble origins as my personal blog to a flourishing job board and community that serves tens of thousands of visitors per month.
After working on it for more than ten years, I sold Doorkeeper, an event management platform I bootstrapped.
Learn to calculate your business’s growth ceiling using key metrics like churn rate and customer acquisition.
// Living in Japan
This article is informed primarily by my experiences as a deaf American living in Japan for the last 16 years. It covers the challenges someone with a disability will face and the accommodations available.
The benefits of having a local account, tips on selecting a bank, a list of what documents you'll need, and more.
I bought a house in the scenic resort town of Karuizawa. Learn about my experience, the buying process in Japan, and tips for prospective homeowners.
A guide to the basic steps in buying a house in Japan, including the financing and purchasing process.
// Salaries
Compiles various sources for software developer salary data to help you judge the market.
Wading through the cultural differences to maximize your salary as an expat in Japan's tech industry.
Companies in Japan can roughly figure out what you made at your previous job, so you might be caught if you exaggerate your compensation.
Software developer salaries in Japan have dramatically increased since I first came here, but this isn't without its downsides.
// Japanese Language
What is “reading the air”? Why do Japanese people ignore me sometimes?
How to understand Japanese language requirements on job postings.
// Software Development (Show all)
As adding more code to a product will slow down development, we should view all code as technical debt.
A step by step guide on how I used a migration to fix the typo in the has_one_attached association.
This article covers a zero-downtime approach for migrating from Paperclip to Active Storage in Rails, focusing on best practices for smooth transitions.
Learn how to generate social images for static sites using tools like HCTI API and Middleman, ensuring a smooth process for creating shareable visuals at build time.
Safari 12.1.1 has a bug causing crashes when clicking ruby tags, particularly with Japanese kanji readings.
// Technology in Japan
An interview with Makoto Ueki, the founder of a web accessibility consultancy that services large Japanese clients, about web accessibility in Japan.
A moving company estimate site overwhelmed me with constant calls, creating a frustrating experience.
How technology played a critical role during Japan's earthquake, from early warning systems to social media and online communications, helping people stay informed and connected.
In Japan, Facebook is becoming a leading professional network, similar to LinkedIn, as users maintain a more business-like presence compared to other platforms like mixi.
// Working in Japan
A guide to tech meetups in Tokyo, including where to find them and the differences between Japanese and English meetups.
Everyone knows about coworking spaces, but what are some of the other options when looking for places to work remotely from.
EoRs can help your business expand to Japan and beyond, and they might be an option if you're looking to work for an overseas company from Japan.
// Announcements (Show all)
TokyoDev's 2025 Developer Survey had 989 respondents. Explore insights on pay, remote work, the gender gap, job satisfaction, and more!
Resumes from 460 individuals submitted to TokyoDev were accidentally exposed on Bing. We explain who was affected, why it happened, and our response.
Our annual developer survey is now live! If you’re a software developer living in Japan, please help us by taking it.
As the year winds to a close, I’ve been reflecting on both the accomplishments and the challenges we’ve faced, and how they’re paving the way for what is to come.
Japan’s lack of same-sex marriage affects people I care about, so TokyoDev joined Business for Marriage Equality, a campaign with 500+ companies involved.
TokyoDev will instead improve the traditional hiring process.
// Event Reports (Show all)
Recapping RubyKaigi 2025, three days in Matsuyama packed full of learnings, meetings, and mikan.
Recapping my first RubyKaigi - an unforgettable community experience.
A summary of TokyoDev's activities at the world's largest Ruby conference.
// Company Profiles
What is it like to work as an engineer in a multinational team at a Japanese company? Givery offers a case study.
How one of Japan's first B2B software companies has built an English-speaking team from scratch.
Forkwell is a platform for engineers to showcase their skills and network. It allows users to endorse each other's abilities, helping engineers find jobs and companies find talent more efficiently.
// Misc
TokyoDev's LinkedIn page was taken down due to broken automation on their side. Here's what happened.
After my lost MacBook was returned to me with an Activation Lock on it, Apple refused to unlock it. Only after emailing Tim Cook could I get it unlocked.
How I had paid ¥77,619 (500 USD) to have a bricked MacBook returned to me.
// Karuizawa
A parent’s guide to the best things to do with kids in Karuizawa, from playgrounds and easy hikes to ice skating, pools, museums, and nearby day trips.
Personal impressions of coworking spaces and other places to work in the town of Karuizawa, where I currently live.