Practice your first week before it happens.

First impressions are harder to change in Japan

Japanese workplaces form judgements quickly and quietly. How you respond to unclear instructions, whether you ask questions the right way, and how you handle your first feedback — these set the tone for your entire placement. The first week is when your reputation is built, not just your schedule.

Rights violations happen early

Housing deductions that don't match your contract, schedule changes presented as non-negotiable, pay calculations that are hard to verify — these often appear in the first week, when workers are too overwhelmed to question anything. Knowing what is normal and what is not protects you from the start.

15 situations across 5 days

Day 1 covers airport arrival and immigration. Days 2–3 move into the workplace — instructions, tools, and communication. Days 4–5 cover your first payslip, a medical situation, and navigating a rights concern. Practicing these decisions once beforehand makes the real situations less overwhelming.