Skip to main content
K
Kanousei
by 叶セイ
Apply
Vietnam-first. English-first. Preparation-first.

Working in Japan should not depend on luck.

Kanousei helps people who want to build a future in Japan through AI learning, job readiness, skill signals, and transparent information.

Find your starting point →How it worksOpen workspaceStart readiness checkView learning paths

We currently provide education, information, and preparation support. We do not provide unlicensed job placement services.

Why now

Japan still needs labor. Workers still need a fairer path.

First launch

  • English-first launch, designed so you can build and maintain it directly.
  • Initial country focus: Vietnam.
  • Initial sectors: structured roles such as food production and manufacturing.

Principle

This project is designed to begin as a credible entry layer, not a vague promise machine.

What you can do

Learn with AI

Build Japanese basics, workplace awareness, and practical understanding of jobs in Japan.

What you can do

Show readiness

Use study records, assessments, and interview practice to show more than intent.

What you can do

See clearly

Understand roles, risks, timelines, and expectations before you move.

First product slice

A worker should leave with a clearer next step.

The readiness check is the first interactive layer of the platform. It turns confusion into a practical self-assessment and a more useful next action.

It checks

  • Role clarity
  • Basic Japanese readiness
  • Consistency of preparation
  • Process understanding
  • Practical organization
  • Realism of role fit
Try the readiness check

Salary calculator

Understand the numbers before you commit.

Japanese statutory deductions reduce gross pay by around 20%. Use the calculator to model your realistic take-home pay, monthly savings, and how long it takes to reach a savings goal.

Open salary calculator

What it estimates

  • Net take-home after health insurance, pension, and income tax
  • Monthly savings after housing and living costs
  • How long to reach ¥500,000 — ¥5,000,000 in savings
  • VND equivalent of your salary and savings

Covers food production, manufacturing, agriculture, and hospitality tracks.

Timeline Builder

How long will preparation actually take?

Most workers underestimate the timeline. Language alone can take 6–10 months from zero. Enter your current level, target track, and departure goal — get a realistic month-by-month plan.

Build your timeline

What the plan covers

  • Language foundation phase — realistic months by starting level
  • Skill assessment preparation and exam registration
  • Document gathering sequence and what not to hand over early
  • Application and interview timing
  • Key risks that derail preparation timelines

Covers all four SSW tracks. Tells you honestly if your target date is feasible.

Offer Evaluator

Check an opportunity before you commit.

Not all Japan work offers are what they appear. Use the offer evaluator to check a specific opportunity or intermediary against 10 known warning signs — before paying or signing anything.

Evaluate an offer

What it checks

  • Whether fees are itemized and explainable in writing
  • Whether the visa category is genuinely SSW
  • Whether you will keep your own documents
  • Whether a written contract exists in Vietnamese
  • Whether the employer is named and verifiable

Takes about 3 minutes. Shows you which questions you still need to ask.

Preparation Checklist

Every step, in one place.

The SSW process has six distinct phases — from understanding your situation to boarding the plane. The checklist tracks every required and recommended step, links to the right tools at each point, and saves your progress in your browser.

Open preparation checklist

What it covers

  • Phase 1 — Readiness assessment, track selection, timeline
  • Phase 2 — Language and skill assessment preparation
  • Phase 3 — Documents: passport, health check, criminal record, certificates
  • Phase 4 — Finding a legitimate channel and evaluating fees
  • Phase 5 — Financial preparation and savings targets
  • Phase 6 — COE, visa, pre-departure orientation

28 items. Required items clearly marked. Warning notes for the highest-risk steps.

Cost Planner

Know the full cost before talking to anyone.

Language classes, skill tests, medical exams, documents, and a sending fee — the total cost of going to Japan has a legitimate range. This tool shows you what each component should cost, and what counts as too much.

Estimate total costs

What it breaks down

  • Language preparation — varies by method and starting level
  • Skill assessment test registration and exam fees
  • Medical examination and document preparation costs
  • Sending organization fee — with the legitimate cap clearly shown
  • Initial Japan arrival costs — deposit, gear, and first-month setup

Also shows your financial readiness and how long to recover costs after arriving.

Vocabulary Trainer

Learn the phrases before you arrive.

Knowing a few dozen Japanese phrases makes a real difference on your first days. The vocabulary trainer covers greetings, safety commands, and job-specific terms for all four SSW tracks — no account needed.

Open vocabulary trainer

What it covers

  • Universal workplace phrases — greetings, safety, time, directions
  • Food production terms — hygiene, line work, quality checks
  • Manufacturing terms — assembly, inspection, machine operation
  • Agriculture terms — harvest, planting, sorting
  • Hospitality phrases — guest service, omotenashi, room care

Flashcard and quiz modes. Progress saved in your browser.

Kana Reading Drill

Learn to read Japanese script.

Hiragana and katakana are the two phonetic alphabets behind every Japanese workplace sign, safety label, and payslip. This drill helps you recognize all 92 characters — grouped by row, with mastery tracking that saves in your browser.

Start kana drill →

How it works

  • Choose a script — hiragana, katakana, or both at once
  • Select a row to focus on (vowels, K-row, S-row, and 7 more)
  • Identify each character from 4 choices — instant feedback
  • A character is “mastered” after 3 correct answers
  • Unmastered characters appear more often until you know them

92 characters total. No account needed. Progress saves automatically.

Daily Quiz

Build knowledge a little every day.

5 questions per day covering SSW visa requirements, Japanese workplace culture, essential phrases, job track specifics, and worker rights. Same questions for everyone each day — new set every morning.

Take today’s quiz

What it tests

  • SSW visa process — certificates, documents, COE, language requirements
  • Japanese workplace culture — hourensou, punctuality, feedback norms
  • Essential Japanese phrases — safety, breaks, instructions, pay slips
  • Job track facts — food, manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality
  • Worker rights — breaks, overtime pay, document rights, insurance

Streak counter keeps your daily practice visible. No account needed.

Weekly Study Plan

Know exactly what to study this week.

A personalised 7-day schedule generated every Monday from your quiz scores, vocabulary progress, interview preparation, and checklist status. Each day has two specific tasks — check them off as you go.

Open this week’s plan

How it works

  • Monday — fresh plan generates based on your current progress
  • Each day has 2 tasks: one core practice, one focused improvement
  • Tasks adapt to your weakest quiz category, vocab gaps, and interview readiness
  • Check off tasks as you complete them — progress saves in your browser
  • Today’s tasks are highlighted so you know exactly where to start

No account needed. Connects your quiz, vocabulary, interview prep, and checklist data.

Mock Skill Assessment

Test yourself before the real exam.

The SSW skill assessment is one of the hardest gates before your visa is approved. This timed mock exam simulates the real format — 20 questions, 30 minutes, track-specific. See your score, read the explanations, and know exactly where to focus next.

Take the mock exam

What it covers

  • 4 tracks — food production, manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality
  • 20 multiple-choice questions from real assessment topic areas
  • 30-minute countdown timer — matches actual exam conditions
  • Explanation shown after each answer so you learn as you go
  • Results broken down by category — see exactly where you are weak
  • 65% pass threshold — same as the official SSW requirement

No account needed. Results saved in your browser and visible in your workspace.

JFT-Basic Language Practice

Test your Japanese — before the real test.

Every SSW worker needs to pass either JFT-Basic A2 or JLPT N4 before their visa is approved. This practice test covers the same language skills — vocabulary on signs and notices, common workplace conversations, and reading short announcements — in a format that mirrors what the real test expects.

Take the language practice test

What it covers

  • もじ・ごい — 10 vocabulary questions from signs, schedules, and payslips
  • かいわ — 10 conversation questions: what to say in real workplace situations
  • よみとり — 5 reading questions: short notices and announcements
  • 25 questions total · 65% pass threshold · no time limit
  • Explanation shown after each answer — learn as you go
  • N5–N4 / JFT-Basic A2 level — practical, not academic

No account needed. Practice as many times as you like.

Pre-Apply Confidence Check

Know if you are actually ready to proceed.

Most tools help you prepare. This one tells you when you are done. 15 questions across language certification, process knowledge, rights awareness, finances, and documents — a gate check before engaging any sending organization or accepting an offer.

Take the pre-apply check

What it checks

  • Language — certified or close, and functional for the workplace
  • Process — track selected, skill test passed or registered
  • Rights — passport seizure response, fee red flags, overtime rules
  • Financial — take-home estimate known, fee itemization received
  • Documents — passport valid, COE responsibility clarified

For workers who have done preparation and want to know: is it safe to proceed now?

For workers

Many people do not lack ability. They lack access.

Language barriers, unclear processes, hidden costs, and weak preparation often stop capable workers before they get a fair chance.

Learn what Japan-facing job preparation actually looks like before paying anyone.

Build signals of readiness through assessments, study records, and interview practice.

Understand roles, risks, timelines, and expectations with less guesswork.

For employers

Employers need more than resumes.

The first version of Kanousei is built to help employers see earlier signals of seriousness, preparation, and intent.

Reach candidates who are actively preparing instead of only seeing passive resumes.

Review learning progress and job-readiness signals before deeper engagement.

Reduce uncertainty in cross-border hiring by starting earlier in the funnel.

Learning paths

Preparation should feel structured.

View all paths

Japanese Basics

Foundational language for daily life, instructions, and workplace communication.

Open path

Work Readiness

Practical guidance on expectations, routines, workplace culture, and discipline.

Open path

Industry Guides

Role-specific preparation for manufacturing, food production, and other structured sectors.

Open path

Agriculture Basics

Foundational knowledge for agricultural work in Japan including safety, seasonal vocabulary, and field protocols.

Open path

Construction Safety

Safety-first preparation for construction sites including protective equipment, signage, and on-site communication.

Open path

Nursing Care Introduction

Introductory preparation for elderly care work covering communication, empathy skills, and daily care vocabulary.

Open path

Building Maintenance Basics

Practical preparation for building cleaning and maintenance roles including chemical safety and routine management.

Open path

Hospitality Service Skills

Guest-facing communication and service preparation for hotel and accommodation support roles.

Open path

Interview Practice

Structured preparation, response drills, and confidence-building before employer contact.

Open path

Initial opportunity map

Start where the path is more learnable.

The first launch focuses on more structured sectors where preparation can be explained, repeated, and improved.

Explore job tracks

First resources

Real content makes the project easier to trust.

These are the first core articles for workers who need clearer preparation, lower noise, and fewer expensive mistakes.

View all resources

Preparation · 5 min read

How to prepare for work in Japan without relying on luck

A practical starting point for workers who want a clearer path and do not want to make expensive blind decisions.

Read article

Rights & Safety · 4 min read

How to spot hidden fees and unclear promises

A short guide to identifying early warning signs before a worker commits money, documents, or trust.

Read article

Employer expectations · 4 min read

What employers actually want to see before interviews

Most employers do not expect perfection. They expect seriousness, basic communication, and signs that a candidate understands what they are applying for.

Read article

Language · 5 min read

What to learn first if your Japanese is still basic

A prioritization guide for beginners who feel blocked because they do not know where to start.

Read article

Scenario Practice

Know what to do before you face it.

8 realistic situations that workers actually encounter — fee overcharges, contract substitution, passport seizure, unpaid overtime, wage deductions. Choose how you would respond. Then see the specific law or rule behind the correct answer.

Start scenario practice →

What the scenarios cover

  • Fee overcharges — knowing the one-month-salary cap before any conversation
  • Passport and document seizure — your rights under Japanese law
  • Contract substitution after arrival — what you can do
  • Unpaid overtime and unauthorized wage deductions (Labor Standards Act)
  • High-pressure signing tactics from sending organizations
  • Health emergencies — your insurance rights and how to access care

Workplace Situation Trainer

What would you actually do on the job?

7 situations SSW workers face in the first year in Japan — instructions you didn’t fully understand, overtime you weren’t sure you could refuse, a payslip that didn’t match, a mistake you needed to report. Not rights violations. Everyday professional situations where the right response is cultural as much as practical.

Start workplace trainer →

What the trainer covers

  • Instructions you didn’t understand — how and when to ask again
  • Overtime requests — agreeing professionally and ensuring it’s recorded
  • Making a mistake — 報連相 and why immediate reporting matters
  • Calling in sick — what to say and how to say it directly
  • Pay discrepancies and unrecognized deductions — how to ask
  • Public criticism from a supervisor — the culturally fluent response

After you arrive

First 30 days in Japan.

Most preparation guides stop at departure. This one doesn’t. City hall registration is required within 14 days. Health insurance enrollment, bank account, your first pay slip — know what to do before you land, not after.

Open arrival checklist →

What the arrival guide covers

  • Residence Card — what to do at the airport and the 14-day registration window
  • Health insurance enrollment — company scheme vs. National Health Insurance
  • Opening a Japan Post Bank account before your first payday
  • Reading your first pay slip — expected deductions and what looks wrong
  • Emergency contacts — Labor Standards Office, Legal Aid, JFIE

Before you sign

Review your contract section by section.

When you receive a job contract, most of the risk is in the details — missing deduction breakdowns, no social insurance mention, resignation penalties, vague job duties. This tool walks through nine key sections and flags what needs to be resolved before you sign.

Review contract →

What the review covers

  • Salary, payment date, and payment method
  • Deductions — housing, food, and any unauthorized charges
  • Working hours, rest days, and overtime rules
  • Social insurance enrollment from day one
  • Termination rights and resignation penalties (illegal if present)

Before you sign anything

Compare sending organizations side by side.

Most workers evaluate organizations one at a time and react to whoever contacts them first. This tool lets you add up to 3 organizations, answer 7 due-diligence questions for each, and get a risk score — so you can make an informed comparison before committing to anyone.

Compare organizations →

What the comparison covers

  • Itemized fee breakdown — is every cost listed separately?
  • Contract in Vietnamese and employer name on paper
  • Whether the employer can be independently verified
  • Red flags — upfront payments, guaranteed placement claims
  • Risk score (0–100) and clear recommendation for each org

New here?

Not sure where to start?

Answer 4 quick questions — where you are now, which track interests you, your Japanese level, and your biggest concern. Get a personalized list of the 3 tools or resources that matter most for you right now.

Find your starting point →

How it works

  • 1Tell us where you are in your preparation journey.
  • 2Choose a work direction (or say you’re not sure yet).
  • 3Share your current Japanese level and biggest question.
  • 4Get 3 specific actions — with links, context, and reasons.

Final note

Opportunity does not appear on its own. It can be prepared for.

The first version of Kanousei is not trying to be everything. It is trying to be credible enough to begin.

Join the first cohortTalk with the project