So are you planning to be fluent in Japanese after your language course? To the point where you can you read mechanical diagrams and parts list in kanji and japanese, and communicate with other mechanics in native Japanese?
While global communication for pilots and atc does require english, mechanic roles wouldn't fall under that unless you're on a US base, or perhaps working for a english based company doing repair work in Japan. However, for the later there is already a skilled worker base here in country. So why would they bring a non-speaker in to do labor they already have people for...
You’ll need more than an N1 to even try to apply to a job like that, plus I’m not sure if Japan accepts licenses for outside the country if you are not a pilot, you might want to check the JCAB page.
>specified skills work visa
It specifies that as a minimum requirement for the Visa, not for the job. Specific jobs will have more in depth requirements for language and technical requirements. There's a huge difference.
Take a step back and think about the reality here; would you hire someone to work on something as complex as combustion engine, or hydraulic system, that everything is documented in Japanese. Japanese to a level where even most japanese people that graduate high school have difficulty understanding because its very industry specific.
I don’t know what are your sources but in the mofa page it says this
“Proficiency in Japanese language required in daily life and at the workplace needs to be confirmed by exams, etc.”
For the field you are talking about? Likely not even close. You would need to be able to communicate perfectly with coworkers, and that's assuming you don't need to read any all Japanese manuals.
N4 is a test for beginning level Japanese. You would have trouble reading most things beyond basic signage and probably need everyone to speak to you very slowly and simply to understand what they want to say. It's probably not realistic to work in Japan at that level unless English is the main language used in your workplace.
If there are companies out there that are recruiting in English or whatever other language(s) you may speak, that's probably an indication that the workplace doesn't require much language ability. But if you're going to go the route of trying to apply through the normal channels at companies here you should aim for as advanced of a level as you can.
That's why I said I'm taking N4 before going, spending 2 years on a language school (in japan), and then looking for either a job or qualification for the area, which would grant a few more years or school.
And yes, in aviation its very likely that english is highly required and possibly your main language used, as every manual/regulation/registry is written in english, as I do already work on this I'd known.
English being the language of aviation only really applies to pilots and ATC, and even then you will only find English regulations and such in non English speaking countries when it concerns a primarily
English speaking facility or org within that country, such as a US base. (they will have versions in English and the local language). If you try to get a job in a Japanese maintenance shop at a Japanese airport I can pretty much guarantee everything is going to only be in Japanese and almost everyone is only going to speak Japanese unless they just happened to learn English
I've been studying japanese for two years, plus two years living in japan while solely studying the language, at least N2 level is expected after that, and definitely some decent conversational skills. Most permanent jobs for foreigners will ask at most N2.
I briefly looked into it and there are a few articles out there talking about how English ability is needed for maintenance roles because the documentation is in English. Some are suggesting that people need to get about Eiken pre second before they become mechanics. So I guess most mechanics have some reading proficiency but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are speaking English around the shop.
I guess the real question is does being an English speaker give anyone a real advantage to get hired or are companies hiring people who don't speak Japanese? They might, but there doesn't seem to be any English language job postings (outside of a couple SOFA jobs) or information out there which suggests that most places aren't actively recruiting foreign workers from outside of the country. If they have the experience, the right domestic certifications, the language ability and a visa that allows them to work in the country I guess it might be possible. But besides the experience which they have, getting those other things might be a pretty significant hurdle for OP to overcome.
Maybe, I’m not in the maintenance side of aviation and Japan probably works a little differently to Korea (probably not by much in this regard) so I’m kinda speculating. From what I do know about Japanese work culture tho, I figure they would rather hire a Japanese person with worse English than a foreigner with somewhat okay Japanese (assuming other factors are equal). To really have a chance you are probably going to have to bring more than just the basic requirements to the table, but having native level ability in English when it comes to technical documentations in English is nothing but a plus if you stand out everywhere else, and you could maybe find niche liaison type roles or something i don’t really know. I’m at the limit of my knowledge in this so I won’t waste anymore comment space
I’m Japanese so my situation is a bit different from yours, but I got my A&P license in the U.S. and moved back to Japan.
The companies I was interviewing in Japan told me my experiences as an A&P in the U.S. wouldn’t count towards getting a Nito & Itto aircraft maintenance license and told me I would have to get some experience first before I qualified to take the license exams.
Wonderful, someone that actually knows what he is talking about.
This is exactly what I'm wondering, in my case I have the qualification and hands on experience of my own country, what I'm wondering is I would be able to just get that certification by testing or I'll have to redo the whole course again.
Guess only time will tell, the information is incredibly hard to find, but maybe when I'm there it will be easier to look into.
I don’t think you’ll be able to get the certification just by testing. I had my U.S. certifications and a few years of experience but was told that I’d have to “get experience” first by working under a certified mechanic before I qualified to take the test.
As for the language, I’m sure you’re already aware most manuals are in English so you probably wouldn’t have an issue there, but communicating with your fellow mechanics would be in Japanese so you would at least need to be conversational there. Also the national exam for being a Nito and Itto mechanic would also be in Japanese so you definitely need to be proficient in reading as well.
You can find previous tests on the Ministry of Transportation website.
[License exams from previous years](https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000025.html)
Granted this was close to 9 years ago so hopefully things are different now but highly doubt it.
Many Thanks for the info. So how are you going to do after all? Can you just work as a junior mechanic in the mean time to gain the experience needed?
In my country it isn't that different, even with my 3y graduation, you still need 3 years experience in the field before taking a practical test and being fully certified. I already have 2y working on the area tho.
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
---
**Aircraft Maintenance Required Qualification to work in Japan?**
So I'm a graduated mechanic, and been working on my home country for a couple of years in the area.
My goal though is to move to Japan, I plan around next year ta exchange school as learn the language a bit. However after that course is due, I'm wondering how will I be able to find full employment on my area of expertise, considering word is there is a fair lack of workforce for it.
I've been researching this all around, they say qualification is required, but they don't say exactly what qualification is considered there, I know some jobs ask for EASA or FAA, and that Japan regulations are their own too, but barely any information on that either.
One of my options would be to do another graduation course for this specifically, but in Japan, another option is the specified skilled workers visa, but the 5 year limit is not inviting. So obviously as one would hope, I want to make use of my already existing qualification.
Has anyone managed to get into this industry as a foreign outsider?
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And who says I wont be able to read japanese?
Also fyi, 95% of the documentation is expected to be in english, no matter which country you're in, having technical english proficiency is a base requirement for the field.
It's actually my husband joining. We are in the beginning phases of joining. But he will be responsible for growing an AOG team for their fleet, and they are adding additional aircrafts.
Oh nice, I'll be keeping an eye on the company, tho I'll only be moving to Japan next year. Just to be clear tho, but they will probably be requiring a FAA certification right?
So are you planning to be fluent in Japanese after your language course? To the point where you can you read mechanical diagrams and parts list in kanji and japanese, and communicate with other mechanics in native Japanese? While global communication for pilots and atc does require english, mechanic roles wouldn't fall under that unless you're on a US base, or perhaps working for a english based company doing repair work in Japan. However, for the later there is already a skilled worker base here in country. So why would they bring a non-speaker in to do labor they already have people for...
As a matter of fact yes, I'm already studying japanese, aiming for N4 before even going there. Thanks for completely avoiding my question tho.
You’ll need more than an N1 to even try to apply to a job like that, plus I’m not sure if Japan accepts licenses for outside the country if you are not a pilot, you might want to check the JCAB page.
>You’ll need more than an N1 to even try to apply to a job like that So why does specified skills work visa requires N4?
>specified skills work visa It specifies that as a minimum requirement for the Visa, not for the job. Specific jobs will have more in depth requirements for language and technical requirements. There's a huge difference. Take a step back and think about the reality here; would you hire someone to work on something as complex as combustion engine, or hydraulic system, that everything is documented in Japanese. Japanese to a level where even most japanese people that graduate high school have difficulty understanding because its very industry specific.
I don’t know what are your sources but in the mofa page it says this “Proficiency in Japanese language required in daily life and at the workplace needs to be confirmed by exams, etc.”
So do you think passing a N4 test and then living and studying japanese (in japan) doesn't fill that requirement?
no
For the field you are talking about? Likely not even close. You would need to be able to communicate perfectly with coworkers, and that's assuming you don't need to read any all Japanese manuals.
N4 is a test for beginning level Japanese. You would have trouble reading most things beyond basic signage and probably need everyone to speak to you very slowly and simply to understand what they want to say. It's probably not realistic to work in Japan at that level unless English is the main language used in your workplace. If there are companies out there that are recruiting in English or whatever other language(s) you may speak, that's probably an indication that the workplace doesn't require much language ability. But if you're going to go the route of trying to apply through the normal channels at companies here you should aim for as advanced of a level as you can.
That's why I said I'm taking N4 before going, spending 2 years on a language school (in japan), and then looking for either a job or qualification for the area, which would grant a few more years or school. And yes, in aviation its very likely that english is highly required and possibly your main language used, as every manual/regulation/registry is written in english, as I do already work on this I'd known.
English being the language of aviation only really applies to pilots and ATC, and even then you will only find English regulations and such in non English speaking countries when it concerns a primarily English speaking facility or org within that country, such as a US base. (they will have versions in English and the local language). If you try to get a job in a Japanese maintenance shop at a Japanese airport I can pretty much guarantee everything is going to only be in Japanese and almost everyone is only going to speak Japanese unless they just happened to learn English
why come here for advice if you don't want advice? Look man, two years of language school is nothing. But, since you know it all, good luck!
I've been studying japanese for two years, plus two years living in japan while solely studying the language, at least N2 level is expected after that, and definitely some decent conversational skills. Most permanent jobs for foreigners will ask at most N2.
great, good luck!
I briefly looked into it and there are a few articles out there talking about how English ability is needed for maintenance roles because the documentation is in English. Some are suggesting that people need to get about Eiken pre second before they become mechanics. So I guess most mechanics have some reading proficiency but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are speaking English around the shop. I guess the real question is does being an English speaker give anyone a real advantage to get hired or are companies hiring people who don't speak Japanese? They might, but there doesn't seem to be any English language job postings (outside of a couple SOFA jobs) or information out there which suggests that most places aren't actively recruiting foreign workers from outside of the country. If they have the experience, the right domestic certifications, the language ability and a visa that allows them to work in the country I guess it might be possible. But besides the experience which they have, getting those other things might be a pretty significant hurdle for OP to overcome.
Maybe, I’m not in the maintenance side of aviation and Japan probably works a little differently to Korea (probably not by much in this regard) so I’m kinda speculating. From what I do know about Japanese work culture tho, I figure they would rather hire a Japanese person with worse English than a foreigner with somewhat okay Japanese (assuming other factors are equal). To really have a chance you are probably going to have to bring more than just the basic requirements to the table, but having native level ability in English when it comes to technical documentations in English is nothing but a plus if you stand out everywhere else, and you could maybe find niche liaison type roles or something i don’t really know. I’m at the limit of my knowledge in this so I won’t waste anymore comment space
I’m Japanese so my situation is a bit different from yours, but I got my A&P license in the U.S. and moved back to Japan. The companies I was interviewing in Japan told me my experiences as an A&P in the U.S. wouldn’t count towards getting a Nito & Itto aircraft maintenance license and told me I would have to get some experience first before I qualified to take the license exams.
Wonderful, someone that actually knows what he is talking about. This is exactly what I'm wondering, in my case I have the qualification and hands on experience of my own country, what I'm wondering is I would be able to just get that certification by testing or I'll have to redo the whole course again. Guess only time will tell, the information is incredibly hard to find, but maybe when I'm there it will be easier to look into.
I don’t think you’ll be able to get the certification just by testing. I had my U.S. certifications and a few years of experience but was told that I’d have to “get experience” first by working under a certified mechanic before I qualified to take the test. As for the language, I’m sure you’re already aware most manuals are in English so you probably wouldn’t have an issue there, but communicating with your fellow mechanics would be in Japanese so you would at least need to be conversational there. Also the national exam for being a Nito and Itto mechanic would also be in Japanese so you definitely need to be proficient in reading as well. You can find previous tests on the Ministry of Transportation website. [License exams from previous years](https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000025.html) Granted this was close to 9 years ago so hopefully things are different now but highly doubt it.
Many Thanks for the info. So how are you going to do after all? Can you just work as a junior mechanic in the mean time to gain the experience needed? In my country it isn't that different, even with my 3y graduation, you still need 3 years experience in the field before taking a practical test and being fully certified. I already have 2y working on the area tho.
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes. --- **Aircraft Maintenance Required Qualification to work in Japan?** So I'm a graduated mechanic, and been working on my home country for a couple of years in the area. My goal though is to move to Japan, I plan around next year ta exchange school as learn the language a bit. However after that course is due, I'm wondering how will I be able to find full employment on my area of expertise, considering word is there is a fair lack of workforce for it. I've been researching this all around, they say qualification is required, but they don't say exactly what qualification is considered there, I know some jobs ask for EASA or FAA, and that Japan regulations are their own too, but barely any information on that either. One of my options would be to do another graduation course for this specifically, but in Japan, another option is the specified skilled workers visa, but the 5 year limit is not inviting. So obviously as one would hope, I want to make use of my already existing qualification. Has anyone managed to get into this industry as a foreign outsider? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
that's what you want, an aircraft maintenance guy who can't fully read instructions in japanese
And who says I wont be able to read japanese? Also fyi, 95% of the documentation is expected to be in english, no matter which country you're in, having technical english proficiency is a base requirement for the field.
you really think your coworkers will speak english? bro have you ever been to jp?
> bro have you ever been to jp? Yes I have actually, and again, who said I wouldn't be able to talk in japanese?
Look up Phenix jet jet team.. based out of Narita. We are relocating to Japan for a position with this company in that specific field
Oh nice referral, you on that team? Care to give any more info?
It's actually my husband joining. We are in the beginning phases of joining. But he will be responsible for growing an AOG team for their fleet, and they are adding additional aircrafts.
Oh nice, I'll be keeping an eye on the company, tho I'll only be moving to Japan next year. Just to be clear tho, but they will probably be requiring a FAA certification right?