Rirekisho (履歴書) and shokumu keirekisho: how to write them

A resume rirekisho in Japan is a standard form, not a free-style CV. A rirekisho (履歴書) lists your education, work history and qualifications. A shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書) is a separate 1 to 2 page write-up of the duties you have done. Many employers ask for both. All as of October 2026.

What is the difference between a rirekisho and a shokumu keirekisho?

Hello Work (ハローワーク) says employers usually ask for the rirekisho, and increasingly ask for the shokumu keirekisho as well, to judge whether you have the experience they want.

Which rirekisho form should you use?

If the employer doesn’t specify a form, the Hello Work leaflet says to pick one that is easy for you to fill in and show yourself on. Common types are the JIS-style, the ministry sample form, a “general” form (more room for motivation, good if you have few jobs), a job-change form (more room for work history) and a part-time form.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) made its own sample form after the Japanese Standards Association removed the JIS version in July 2020. It has two changes. The sex field is optional, and four fields are gone: commuting time, number of dependents (excluding spouse), spouse and spouse’s support obligation. The ministry also says employers shouldn’t decide hiring on what is or isn’t written in the sex field.

A3 folded to A4 is the preferred size when none is specified.

How do you fill in a rirekisho?

The Hello Work leaflet gives these rules.

• Date. Write it when you submit, not first.
• Name and furigana. If the form says ふりがな, write hiragana. If it says フリガナ, write katakana. Fill it in even if your name includes kana.
• Birth date and age. You may start with an era name, and Western-calendar years are fine if you match the same style in your education and work section. Age is your full age on the day you submit.
• Address. Include the prefecture, apartment or building name, floor and room number, the full 7-digit postal code and the phone number with area code.
• Education. Usually from junior high school, with the school type (public or private) before the name.
• Work history. For job changers it is the most important item. Use the full company name (株式会社, not 株) and the job, for example “joined X Co., worked as accounting clerk.” Short part-time jobs related to the job can go in.
• Qualifications. List what you have, and if you are studying for one, say so. Add a short explanation if the name is unclear.
• Motivation. Avoid generic phrases such as “a promising company.” State why you chose this company, what you can offer and what work you want to do.
• Wishes. Write the job type and location even if you have no strong wish.

What are the photo and handwriting rules?

If the employer doesn’t specify, the leaflet says black-and-white or color is fine, facing the front, formal clothes, upper body. The common size is 4 cm by 3 cm, taken within 3 months. Write your name on the back.

Write by hand with a black ballpoint. Don’t use correction fluid or tape: rewrite on a new form. Don’t reuse a form for another employer.

Can you make a rirekisho on a computer or email it?

Often, but ask first, because some employers want handwriting. The leaflet’s advice:

• Copy the layout of a commercial form.
• Avoid characters that can garble: circled numbers, Roman numerals, unit symbols and ㈱.
• Attach a photo file if you email it, and name the file 履歴書 with your name.
• Send a PDF so the layout doesn’t break.

If you mail it, the leaflet says to use an A4-size envelope (角形2号), write “application documents enclosed” (応募書類在中) in red on the front, put your address on the back and write the company’s full formal name.

How do you write a shokumu keirekisho?

Hello Work describes it as a way to show practical ability: “I have done X and achieved Y, so I can do this job.” Write it for each employer. Don’t reuse the same one for several companies, and don’t just copy your rirekisho. Add the detail the form can’t hold.

You can include abilities you can use (活かせる能力), self-PR (自己PR) and motivation (志望動機). If you have little experience, you can use related part-time work, training, a field you are studying, your traits, your attitude to work and your goals. Keep a copy, because interviews often ask about what you wrote.

Where can a foreigner get help?

Hello Work corrects resumes and work histories for free, and offers interview advice and mock interviews. The ministry’s checklist (July 2020 edition) says this is free and that interpreters vary by office. For example, the Osaka center for foreigners lists English, Chinese and Portuguese on weekday afternoons. We found no official guidance on writing foreign degrees or residence status on a rirekisho, so ask Hello Work or the employer.

More guides: job hunting in Japan, job hunting visa, quitting a job in Japan.