Can You Work in English at Japanese IT Companies?

Reality of English Speaking in Japan Workplaces and Career Tips (2026 Guide)

Japan’s IT industry continues to face a shortage of engineers. Because of this, many professionals outside Japan ask:

“Can I work in Japan using only English?”
“How much Japanese is actually required?”

The short answer is: Yes, it is possible, but opportunities are limited and very selective.

This article explains the real situation of English-speaking work environments in Japan, based not only on market trends, but also on first-hand observations from the recruitment industry.

Current State of English Work Environments in Japanese IT Companies

Traditionally, Japanese companies required Japanese proficiency for most roles.

Over time, especially in the IT sector, companies began hiring more international talent. Today, there are indeed environments where English is used as the main working language.

However, it is important to clarify one point:

English-only environments exist — but they are not the majority, and they are not necessarily increasing in number.

How English-Friendly Environments Have Evolved (A Recruiter’s Perspective)

To understand today’s situation, it helps to look at how the market has evolved.

The Expansion Phase (Approx. 2010–2017)

During this period, many companies lowered Japanese language requirements in order to attract foreign talent.

This was driven by severe IT talent shortages, globalization strategies, influence from companies like Rakuten, which adopted English internally.

At the time, we observed the following:

Large companies (including Fast Retailing) hiring without strict Japanese requirements
Startups aggressively recruiting foreign engineers
Even some business roles being open to candidates without Japanese

In some cases, companies hired international talent without having sufficient internal English communication capabilities.

The Adjustment Phase

Over time, challenges became more visible.

Companies began reporting internal communication issues, misalignment between engineering and business teams, difficulties coordinating across departments

As a result, many organizations raised the Japanese language requirement again—not as a preference, but as a practical necessity.

The Situation in 2026

Today, the market is more balanced:

English-speaking roles still exist
But they are more selective and concentrated
Companies are more realistic about language needs

Typical environments where English is used include:

Foreign-affiliated companies
Global SaaS and product companies
Startups with international leadership (e.g., foreign CEOs or founders with overseas experience)

At the same time, even companies open to hiring non-Japanese speakers often expect at least conversational Japanese for internal communication.

A Current Contradiction: Technology vs. Hiring Reality

There is an interesting contradiction in today’s market.

On one hand, real-time translation and AI tools are improving rapidly, and communication barriers are technically becoming easier to overcome.

On the other hand, the number of “No Japanese Required” roles does not seem to be increasing significantly

In theory, language should matter less.
In practice, companies still value direct communication without friction, especially in team-based environments.

How this evolves in the future remains uncertain.

Characteristics of IT Companies Where You Can Work Only in English

Although limited, some companies do offer English-only environments.

1. Foreign-affiliated Companies

Many global companies use English as their internal working language across meetings, documentation, and communication.

2. Startups with International Leadership

Startups led by foreign CEOs or founders with international experience are often more open to English-based operations.

3. Japanese Companies with Global Products

Some Japanese companies developing global products or working closely with overseas teams use English more frequently in engineering teams.

4. Multinational / Remote Teams

Teams composed of members from multiple countries often adopt English as the common working language.

How Much Japanese Is Required?

Even in English-friendly environments, Japanese language ability plays an important role.

Typical patterns include:

No Japanese required
- Limited to specific global companies or teams, and a few startup companies.
Conversational level preferred
- Common in companies where internal coordination still involves Japanese
Business level required
- Roles involving clients, cross-functional teams, or domestic operations

In practice, even when companies say “Japanese not required,” they often expect at least basic communication ability over time.

Challenges of Working in English in Japan’s IT Industry

Working in an English-speaking environment in Japan comes with certain challenges:

The number of available roles is limited
Some “English environments” are only partially English in reality
Communication gaps can still occur within mixed-language teams
Cultural and work-style differences require adaptation

For this reason, it is important to carefully verify the actual working language environment during the hiring process.

How to Find IT Jobs in English-Speaking Environments

To find English-speaking roles efficiently:

Search on LinkedIn using keywords like “English” or “global team”
Work with recruitment agencies specializing in international talent
Check career pages of global companies and startups
Use job platforms such as Google Jobs

Specialized recruiters can be particularly helpful in identifying roles where English is truly used in practice, not just mentioned in job descriptions.

* You can view the latest job listings here:
View IT Job Listings

Skills Required for English-Speaking IT Roles

The core technical skills required for English-speaking roles are not fundamentally different from other IT roles.

However, there is an important trade-off observed in the market:

The lower the Japanese requirement, the higher the expectations for technical expertise and experience.

In other words, companies are more willing to be flexible on language when candidates bring strong, proven technical value.

Key areas include:

Solid engineering experience (frontend, backend, cloud, etc.)
Ability to communicate clearly in English (especially in team settings)
Experience working in international or distributed teams
Proactiveness and ability to work independently

Candidates who combine strong technical skills with effective communication in English are in the best position to access these opportunities. On the other hand, there are certain roles – within IT – that naturally require a good Japanese ability. PM is one of them.

Conclusion: A Realistic Outlook

Working in Japan using only English is possible—but it requires a realistic understanding of the market.

Opportunities exist, but they are limited
Japanese language skills still expand your options significantly
Technical strength becomes even more important when language flexibility is expected

Looking ahead, advances in AI translation may gradually reduce language barriers, but this is still to be seen.

As of today, human communication and collaboration still play a central role in hiring decisions.

The best strategy is a balanced one:

Build strong technical expertise
Develop communication skills (in English and, if possible, Japanese)
Target companies that genuinely operate with an international environment mindset, regardless the size.

For other details, please refer to other articles, such as the following:
Complete Guide to Changing Jobs as a Foreign IT Engineer in Japan