Japanese Resume Templates: Rirekisho vs Work History

Sources checked September 11, 2026

Follow the employer's current instructions for the document, language, file format, and delivery method. If a request such as “Japanese CV” is ambiguous, ask whether the employer wants a rirekisho (履歴書), a shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書), both, or an ordinary resume written in Japanese.

Do not automatically send every format. Use an employer-provided form or portal when required. If the employer asks for a rirekisho but supplies no form, the current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) resume-form example is a reliable starting point when the employer accepts it.

This page is general career information, not legal, immigration, employment, privacy, or hiring advice. No template can guarantee an interview or job offer.

What Did The Employer Ask For?

Request	What to prepare
Employer form or application portal	Complete that form. Do not substitute the MHLW form unless the employer permits it.
International resume or CV	Use the requested language and format; emphasize experience, skills, and results relevant to the role.
Rirekisho (履歴書)	Use the employer's form, or the current MHLW reference form if none was supplied and it is acceptable.
Shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書) or work history	Provide a more detailed, role-focused account of duties, skills, and supportable results in the requested format.
Both Japanese documents	Submit both, but make every shared name, date, employer, title, qualification, and education entry agree.
Entry sheet	Answer the company's own questions within its limits. Do not replace it with a generic resume.
“Japanese CV” or another unclear label	Ask which document or combination the employer means before spending time on the wrong format.

Resume, Rirekisho, Work History, Or Entry Sheet?

Document	Main job	Important boundary
International resume or CV	A flexible, role-focused summary of work, education, skills, and results.	The meaning and expected length vary by employer and country context.
Rirekisho (履歴書)	A structured summary using the fields in the selected form, commonly covering contact details, education and employment chronology, qualifications, motivation or appeal, and preferences.	It is not a substitute for detailed evidence of each role. Do not add fields that the chosen form does not contain.
Shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書)	A detailed account of work, responsibilities, relevant tools or skills, and results.	It complements rather than merely repeats the rirekisho; its structure is flexible.
Entry sheet	A company-specific application, especially common in student and new-graduate recruitment.	Use the employer's prompts and character limits. The format is not universal.
Portfolio or other evidence	Shows role-specific work or supports a material qualification.	Add it when requested or genuinely useful, not as a default for every application.

The Hello Work application-document hub says a resume is generally requested and a work-history document is also often requested. That is a common pattern, not a rule that every employer requires the same package.

Official MHLW And Hello Work Downloads

Start from the Hello Work hub above. It is the durable index for the current government reference form and guidance. The direct links below are convenient, but return to the hub if a file moves.

Official material	What it is and when to use it
MHLW resume-form example: A3 PDF	MHLW via Hello Work; Japanese; PDF. A blank reference form for viewing or printing.
MHLW resume-form example: A4 PDF	MHLW via Hello Work; Japanese; two-page PDF. The A4 version of the same blank reference form.
MHLW resume-form example: A3 Excel	MHLW via Hello Work; Japanese; Excel. An editable A3 version; confirm the exported layout before submitting.
MHLW resume-form example: A4 Excel	MHLW via Hello Work; Japanese; Excel. An editable A4 version; confirm page order and legibility after export.
Application-document handbook	Hello Work; Japanese; PDF. Guidance on selecting, preparing, checking, and sending application documents.
Shokumu keirekisho guide	Hello Work; Japanese; PDF. Detailed guidance on planning and writing a work-history document.
Work-history master-sheet workbook	Hello Work; Japanese; PDF. A preparation workbook for organizing experience and strengths; it is not a blank universal template.

Omnishoku links to these official files; it does not copy, translate, rehost, or certify them. Hello Work prohibits republication of its pamphlets. The MHLW form is a reference example; using it does not mean MHLW has reviewed or approved your completed application.

Why “JIS Resume” Is Outdated Shorthand

The Japanese Standards Association removed its former resume example from the commentary to the JIS standard in July 2020. MHLW then created the current resume-form example as a reference for fair recruitment. Calling the current file a mandatory “JIS standard resume” is therefore inaccurate.

The MHLW explanation of the change highlights three features of its example:

• the gender field is optional and may be left blank;
• it omits fields for commute time, number of dependents, spouse, and obligation to support a spouse; and
• its photo area applies when a photo is required.

These are features of the MHLW example and its fair-selection guidance. They do not mean every employer uses the same form or that this page can decide what information is lawful or relevant in every hiring situation. Follow a stated employer requirement, and ask for clarification when it conflicts with the form or seems unrelated to the job.

Typed Or Handwritten? Photo Or No Photo?

There is no useful universal answer beyond the employer's instruction. Hello Work's handbook says whether to handwrite or use a computer depends on the employer and notes that many employers accept either. If no method is specified, prioritize an accurate, legible, stable document; ask the recruiter when the submission context remains unclear.

Treat a photo the same way. The current MHLW example labels the photo space for use when a photo is required. Do not interpret the existence of that space as a rule that every application needs a photo.

Prepare The Rirekisho

Use the fields in the form the employer accepts. For the current MHLW example, check the following without inventing extra fields:

• the date is current for the submission;
• your name and its requested reading are accurate;
• the contact details can actually reach you from your current location;
• education and employment entries follow a clear, consistent chronology;
• licenses and qualifications use their official names and truthful status;
• motivation, relevant strengths, or appeal fit the vacancy; and
• applicant preferences are stated only where relevant and in the form's field.

Choose one date system and use it consistently. If the employer has supplied a different form, its fields—not this checklist—control what you complete.

Prepare The Shokumu Keirekisho

Hello Work describes the work-history document as flexible and commonly around one or two A4 pages. That is planning guidance, not an employer-independent length limit. Tailor the document to what the vacancy needs to evaluate.

A restrained structure can include:

• document title, your name, and date;
• work chronology and brief employer or business context;
• responsibilities, scope, relevant tools, methods, or skills;
• specific results you can substantiate;
• relevant licenses or qualifications; and
• selected self-promotion or motivation content when useful.

The official work-history guide shows chronological, reverse-chronological, career-based, and other arrangements. Choose the structure that makes your relevant experience easiest to verify. Do not let a writing or AI tool invent metrics, duties, credentials, or fluency.

Handle Overseas Records Carefully

Keep the official names of schools, employers, degrees, qualifications, and job titles. Add the country or a short plain-language explanation when it helps a Japanese reader understand the institution or role. Do not invent a Japanese legal name or claim that an overseas credential is equivalent to a Japanese one.

Follow the employer's instructions on language and translation. If none are given, ask rather than assuming that English, Japanese, or a self-translation will be accepted.

Consistency And Submission Checklist

Before sending the application, confirm:

• required documents, language, file type, filename, deadline, and delivery channel;
• a working email address or phone route for your current location;
• matching names, dates, education, employers, job titles, and qualifications across every file and portal field;
• truthful, narrow wording about current location, availability, and need for work-permission support when relevant;
• supportable accomplishments without invented or inflated figures;
• legible PDF output with pages in the intended order;
• removal of comments, tracked changes, hidden worksheets, and draft filenames;
• no unnecessary sensitive data or identity-document attachment; and
• a saved copy of the exact submitted version for interview preparation.

Fair Recruitment And Personal Data

MHLW says recruitment should be based on the applicant's aptitude and ability. Its guidance for job seekers flags questions or documents about unrelated matters such as registered domicile or birthplace, family circumstances, housing, religion, beliefs, and political views as fair-selection concerns.

For foreign applicants, MHLW's fair-recruitment FAQ says employers should confirm status of residence or permission to engage in work orally or in writing during selection, then verify work eligibility using the residence card after a tentative hiring decision for an applicant who holds one. Answer relevant work-authorization questions accurately, but do not volunteer a passport copy, residence-card image, bank details, family information, or other sensitive data with an initial resume. If a request seems mistimed or unrelated, ask why the information is needed, how it will be used, and how it should be sent.

Before Uploading A Resume To A Review, Translation, Or AI Service

A real rirekisho may contain a home address, birth date, phone number, photo, and other personal data. Before uploading it to any third-party service, check the service's current privacy, retention, model-training, deletion, and human- review terms. Redact information the task does not require. This page does not recommend a resume-upload tool.

Next Steps

If you do not yet have a credible vacancy, start with how to find a job in Japan from abroad and confirm what the employer means by sponsorship and overseas eligibility. After applying, use the Japanese job interview guide to prepare answers from the exact documents you submitted.

FAQ

Do I Need Both A Rirekisho And A Shokumu Keirekisho?

Only if the employer requests both. Hello Work describes a rirekisho as generally requested and a work-history document as often requested, but the actual vacancy, recruiter, employer, or application portal controls your set.

Is There An Official Rirekisho Template?

MHLW publishes A3 and A4 PDF and Excel versions of a resume-form example through Hello Work. It is an official reference form, not a mandatory nationwide form. Use an employer-provided form when one is required.

Is The Current MHLW Form A JIS Standard?

No. The earlier resume example was removed from the commentary to the JIS standard in July 2020. The current file is the MHLW resume-form example.

Must A Japanese Resume Be Handwritten?

Not universally. Follow the employer's instruction. Hello Work notes that the choice varies by employer and that many employers accept either handwriting or computer creation.

Is A Photo Always Required?

No universal requirement is established by the MHLW example. Its photo area is expressly conditional on a photo being required. Check the employer's current instructions.

Can I Submit An English Resume?

Yes when the employer accepts or requests one. A Japanese company, bilingual role, recruiter, or application portal may ask for Japanese, English, or both. Ask if the vacancy does not make the language clear.

Is An Entry Sheet The Same As A Rirekisho?

No. An entry sheet uses the company's own questions and limits. The Study in Japan employment-exam guide describes it in the international-student and new-graduate recruitment context; do not generalize that process to every experienced-hire application.

Official Sources

Primary and government-approved sources checked on September 11, 2026:

• Hello Work, Resume and work-history document hub
• Hello Work, Application-document handbook
• Hello Work, Work-history document guide
• Hello Work, Work-history master-sheet workbook
• MHLW, Explanation of the current resume-form example
• MHLW, Fair-recruitment guidance for job seekers
• MHLW, Fair-recruitment FAQ
• Study in Japan, Employment Examinations