At a Glance

Main Patterns in Japanese IT Companies

Key Point: No strict requirement for a formal CS degree

In Japan, many IT companies do not require a formal computer science degree. People often enter the industry from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including economics, chemistry, biology, and other science-related fields.

One reason is that highly specialized computer science programs have traditionally been concentrated in a limited number of universities. As a result, companies build teams with people who learned technical skills through various paths, such as self-study, vocational schools, or on-the-job experience.

Compared with some international companies, Japanese firms tend to place strong value on potential, communication style, university reputation, and practical experiences such as part-time work or extracurricular activities.

Key Point: GPA is rarely the main focus

Another common feature is the emphasis on on-the-job training. Many companies expect employees to continue learning after they are hired, so it is very common for people without formal CS training to work in IT roles and gradually build their skills.

Hiring decisions often consider communication style, university reputation, and practical experiences such as part-time work or club activities much more than focusing strictly on GPA or formal technical credentials.

Key Point: SES companies are very common in Japan

Unlike many foreign companies, a large number of Japanese IT firms operate as System Engineering Service (SES) providers. This means they often dispatch employees to work on-site at client companies rather than keeping everyone in-house.

Because it is legally and culturally difficult to fire employees in Japan, companies frequently use temporary contracts or dispatch-style arrangements, placing workers at client offices instead of hiring them directly into a single fixed team. This makes it easier for companies to reassign or let go of people who do not fit well with a project, and it also exposes employees to a variety of environments and technologies. Most of workers in IT industry in Japan are working in such SES-style companies (about 80-90%), and they are dispatched to client companies, even biggest companies in Japan.

Employees’ English level in Japanese IT companies

English ability varies widely across Japanese workplaces. Many employees recognize familiar English words used in code, UI labels, and common documentation, but that does not always mean they can read longer English texts, write emails, or discuss technical topics in English.

Since a large amount of software, online content, and educational material is already translated into Japanese, many teams can operate almost entirely in Japanese. When English becomes necessary, people often feel uncomfortable and rely on translation tools, AI assistants, or coworkers who are more comfortable with technical English.

Similarly, mainstream tools such as Google Chrome are widely recognized, while Firefox or Linux are often much less familiar outside of more technical circles. This reflects the fact that exposure to specialized tools depends heavily on a person’s role, education, and work environment.

Key Points

• Japanese IT companies often do not strictly require formal CS degrees.
• Graduates from economics, science, and other fields also enter the IT industry.
• On-the-job training plays an important role in skill development.
• Hiring frequently values potential and part-time or extracurricular experience more than GPA alone.
• Many workplaces function mostly in Japanese, even in IT roles.
• Technical English ability and familiarity with tools like Firefox or Linux vary widely.
• SES-style companies and client-site assignments are very common in the Japanese IT landscape.

Note

These are broad patterns rather than universal rules. Hiring standards and work culture differ depending on the company, role, and industry segment.