Looking for a creative job in Japan? Join the club.

In Japan, as in most places, advertising creative jobs haven’t changed much since the Mad Men days. There’s still the Creative Director with his rock-star complex and ‘industry’ trips to LA. Below that, a Copywriter and Art Director, who are in turn supported by design and production teams.

What’s changed is a sense that the creative function has been marginalised. The rise of the smartphone, social media and data harvesting has led advertisers to invest in fancier ways to target consumers online, often at the expense of the big idea.

While agencies once ran a few big campaigns each year for a client, they’re now expected to produce hundreds of pieces of content for online consumption. More power then to Producers and Content Creators whose job it is to feed the beast.

Old-fashioned creative isn’t dead, however. The sophistication of data-driven marketing is, paradoxically, driving renewed demand for creative services. The more advertisers target users on their screen devices, the harder it becomes to earn their undivided attention. And for that, there’s still no substitute for a bold, original idea.

Where to look for creative jobs in Japan

Japan is a culture of perpetual novelty with a history steeped in craft and aestheticism. In other words, it’s a creative place. Good creative jobs can be found in advertising agencies and design firms that are trusted by clients to produce original work for the Japanese market. You’ll find a higher ratio of original to adaptation work in Japan than in other APAC countries, a reflection of the unique consumer trends and visual culture that attract many creative people to Japan in the first place.

Most creative jobs are in Tokyo, where you’ll find hundreds of small agencies, production shops and design firms. In theory, there should be a job for everyone. However, while talent matters, speaking Japanese remains the game-changer. Most creative jobs below Creative Director level require business-level Japanese to speak to clients and vendors. Creatives at bigger agencies might get away with only basic Japanese if they have account teams to keep clients at arm’s length.

One thing we often hear from hiring managers is that, regardless of language ability, creative candidates must have a passion for Japan and the intellectual curiosity to question long-held assumptions about what works and what doesn’t. Look around at the most successful foreign-born Creative Directors in Tokyo, and you’ll find that their passion for Japan often long predated success in their Japan careers. For more thoughts from senior creatives who’ve made it in Japan, check out this rundown of career advice from Campaign Asia.

While Tokyo has a well-developed agency scene, creative jobs are much harder to come by on the client side. The trend towards bringing the creative function in-house has not taken hold in Japan, with companies still relying on agencies and vendors for most things in life – which is why a scope of work comes in very handy. One day you’ll thank us for telling you that.

How to get a creative job in Japan

Let’s start by busting a few myths. Japan has millions of open jobs, but that doesn’t mean finding one is easy. For a start, most jobs require communication in Japanese, which is why Japanese-English bilinguals are always in such high demand.

If you speak both Japanese and English to business level, then the only thing holding you back is the right connections. That’s because many open jobs in Japan are filled by recruiters or personal referrals, not by job ads. In a culture where the power of introductions goes a long way, companies in Japan are more likely to meet candidates introduced by a trusted source. So connect with a recruitment agency that specialises in your industry to unlock hidden jobs and give yourself the best possible chance of landing one.

Here’s another thing we can’t stress enough: it’s extremely difficult to land a creative job when applying from outside Japan. Unless you’re a Japanese national looking to return home, you’re more than likely wasting your time. Employers generally aren’t interested in people just starting out on their ‘Japan journey’. The vast majority will prioritise candidates already based in Japan (preferably Tokyo) who can speak some Japanese and attend an interview in person.

So if you’re not already in Japan, your best option is to base yourself here long enough to explore the job market. This can be done by visiting on a tourist visa, applying for a company transfer (if your current employer has a Japan office), taking a less-than-ideal job that sponsors a visa (changing employers later is a relatively easy task), or by enrolling on a master’s degree or language course (part-time work is permitted on a student visa). Be patient: it may take anywhere from three months to a year to find the right opportunity to progress in your career.

Foreign creatives in particular need to be proactive about getting their work seen and hitting the streets in pursuit of opportunities. Canvas Tokyo is a great site for networking with other creatives. Tokyo has a well-developed freelance scene, so it’s possible to make a reasonable living by gradually building up a client base. But for tapping into full-time opportunities with major ad agencies and design firms, a well-connected recruiter is your friend.

There are, of course, many ways to get a job in Japan, and these are just some general guidelines. Market trends and hiring activity may change from time to time, but some advice remains timeless: Be present, be humble, be patient, learn the language, and make local connections. Information correct at time of publishing. Last updated: Nov 2019

We hope you enjoyed this guide. Considering a career change in Japan? Then let’s connect. We recruit for a wide range of jobs in the creative industries, including advertising, marketing, media and design. See the latest job openings or get in touch to let us know you’re looking.

What They Say

“I highly recommend AP Global Talent. I appreciate their efficiency and deep understanding of both agency and candidate side.”

Art Director at global advertising agency in Tokyo