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For Workers

Start preparing before you start guessing.

Kanousei is for people who want a more realistic, lower-noise path toward work in Japan.

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.

How it works

Four steps from confusion to a clearer path.

This is not a shortcut. It is a structured preparation process you can move through at your own pace.

01

Check where you actually stand

The readiness check is a structured self-assessment that tells you what is strong and what is not ready yet — without costing you anything. It takes around 10 minutes and gives you an honest output instead of a vague score.

02

Learn the things that matter early

Language, workplace behavior, and process awareness are the first real gaps most workers face. The learning paths here focus on those specifically — in English, with practical checklists you can track and return to.

03

Understand which direction fits

Not all Japan-facing roles are the same. Food production, manufacturing, hospitality, and caregiving all have different requirements, timelines, and language expectations. Explore the job tracks to see what matches where you are now.

04

Submit an expression of interest

When you have a clearer direction, you can apply. The intake form captures your job interest, timeline, and preparation context — not just your name. That record links to your readiness results so your effort is visible.

Free preparation tools

Thirty-three tools. All free. No sign-up required.

Planning tools help you understand your situation and avoid mistakes before you commit. Study tools build the knowledge and skills you need to pass assessments and succeed in Japan.

Planning & decision

Orientation

How Japan Work Actually Works

End-to-end process guide covering all 7 stages: research, language and skills preparation, finding a sending organization, employer interview, contract and visa, arrival, and your rights on the job. With red flags and tools for every stage.

Read the guide

First step

Find your starting point

Answer 4 questions and get a personalised list of your first 3 actions. Good if you're not sure where to begin.

Start here

Self-assessment

Readiness Check

A structured 10-minute assessment that shows exactly where you stand — language, process understanding, role clarity, and practical readiness.

Take the check

Cost planning

Migration Cost Planner

Understand the full realistic cost before you talk to any agency. Shows itemised ranges, your savings timeline, and flags overpriced fees.

Plan your costs

Preparation planning

Timeline Builder

Input your current Japanese level and target departure date — get a personalised month-by-month preparation plan with milestones.

Build your timeline

Financial planning

Salary Calculator

See what you actually take home after Japanese deductions. Compares food, manufacturing, agriculture, and hospitality tracks.

Calculate take-home

Risk check

Offer & Agent Evaluator

10 questions that flag dangerous or fraudulent offers before you sign anything. Based on real patterns in problematic arrangements.

Evaluate an offer

Full checklist

SSW Preparation Checklist

28 steps across 6 phases from zero to departure — language, certification, documents, finding a legitimate channel, finances, and final prep. Track as you go.

Open checklist

Rights training

Scenario Practice

12 realistic situations — fee overcharges, contract pressure, passport seizure, unpaid overtime, wage deductions, loan coercion, insurance avoidance, training wage abuse. Practice identifying the right response before you face it.

Start scenarios

Pay verification

Payslip Decoder

Learn what every line on a Japanese payslip means — base salary, overtime, commuting allowance, health insurance, pension, employment insurance. Spot illegal deductions before they become a problem.

Learn payslip reading

Gate check

Pre-Apply Confidence Check

15 questions across language, process, rights, finances, and documents. Not a study quiz — a readiness gate to run before engaging any sending organization or accepting an offer.

Run the check

After arrival

First 30 Days in Japan

What to do after you land — city hall registration (required within 14 days), health insurance, bank account, your first pay slip, and rights if something goes wrong. Interactive checklist with no account needed.

Open arrival guide

Organization comparison

Compare Sending Organizations

Add up to 3 sending organizations side by side. Answer 7 due-diligence questions for each — fee breakdown, contract language, employer identity, red flags — and get a risk score and recommendation before you commit.

Compare organizations

Contract review

Job Contract Review

Walk through your actual Japan employment contract section by section — salary, deductions, working hours, social insurance, termination rights. Flags red flags and lists specific questions to ask before you sign.

Review contract

Year 1 in Japan

Japan Life Guide

The practical guide for your first year beyond the first 30 days — banking setup, sending money home cheaply, navigating healthcare, affordable phone plans, finding community, and financial planning that prevents year 2 surprises like resident tax.

Open life guide

In Japan: help

Workplace Problem Advisor

Already in Japan and something has gone wrong? Get immediate steps, the right contact numbers, and your legal rights for 8 situations: unpaid wages, document seizure, work injury, unexpected deductions, overtime violations, housing disputes, and more.

Get help now

Study & practice

Daily practice

Daily Knowledge Quiz

5 questions per day covering SSW visa process, workplace culture, essential Japanese phrases, job track specifics, and worker rights. New set each morning.

Take today's quiz

Japanese vocabulary

Vocabulary Trainer

86 workplace phrases across all 4 SSW job tracks — flashcard and quiz modes with progress tracking. Filter by track or review words you're still learning.

Practice words

Japanese reading

Kana Reading Drill

Learn to read hiragana and katakana — the two Japanese scripts you'll see on safety signs, shift schedules, and wage slips. 92 characters, grouped by row.

Start kana drill

Japanese grammar

Sentence Builder

Arrange word tiles in the correct order to build 20 essential N5-level workplace sentences — covering safety alerts, salary disputes, medical situations, and daily communication. Each sentence includes grammar notes and a real workplace situation where you'd use it.

Build sentences

Exam simulation

Mock Skill Assessment

20-question timed test for each SSW track matching the actual skill assessment format — food processing, manufacturing, agriculture, and hospitality. 65% pass mark.

Take a mock exam

Language exam practice

JFT-Basic Language Practice Test

25 questions at JFT-Basic A2 / JLPT N4 level — vocabulary on signs and notices, common workplace conversations, and reading short announcements. Practice the language skills tested in the SSW visa language requirement.

Practice language test

Interview preparation

Interview Prep Guide

Industry-specific Q&A with strong answer examples, what to avoid, and the cultural context behind what Japanese employers are actually testing.

Prepare for interviews

Workplace simulation

Workplace Situation Trainer

7 realistic first-year workplace situations in Japan — handling a misunderstood instruction, an unexpected overtime request, a payslip discrepancy, a safety concern, and more. Choose responses and see what a Japanese work environment actually expects.

Start situations

Situational Japanese

Japanese for Daily Life

40 practical phrases organized by situation — first day at work, receiving instructions, safety emergencies, talking to supervisors, pay questions, medical visits, and daily housing needs. Mark phrases as learned and track your progress.

Learn daily phrases

Study planning

Weekly Study Plan

Get a personalised 7-day study schedule based on your job track and preparation stage. Tasks are checked off daily so you know exactly what to do each morning without having to decide.

Build your study plan

Cultural readiness

Japan Culture Quiz

15 questions on Japanese workplace norms — punctuality, hierarchy, communication style, overtime expectations, and the worker rights that apply from day one. Language gets you there; cultural knowledge helps you succeed.

Take the culture quiz

Japanese numbers

Numbers Trainer

Learn core number words, common yen salary amounts (¥150,000–¥300,000), and all 12 months in Japanese — in flashcard and quiz modes. Numbers appear on every payslip, contract, and shift schedule.

Train with numbers

Workplace reading

Workplace Signs Reader

Learn to read 30 essential Japanese signs you'll see every day on the job: safety warnings (危険, 注意), emergency markers (非常口, 救急), work rules (作業中, 立入禁止), and hygiene notices. Flashcard and quiz modes.

Learn the signs

Workplace Japanese

Workplace Phrases Trainer

60 essential workplace phrases in 6 categories — greetings, work instructions, safety emergencies, scheduling, asking questions, and reporting problems. Learn them before you arrive so you can communicate on day one.

Learn workplace phrases

Interview practice

Interview Practice Simulator

16 realistic SSW interview questions across all 4 job tracks — choose A, B, or C for each, then see exactly why your response is strong, acceptable, or weak. Distinct from the prep guide: this requires you to practice choosing, not just reading.

Start simulator

First week in Japan

First Week Simulation

15 realistic situations across your first 5 days in Japan — from immigration and workplace introductions to reading your first payslip, navigating a medical visit, and knowing what to do if your rights are not respected. Practice the decisions that matter before you face them.

Start first week simulation

Japanese reading

Japanese Workplace Reading Practice

10 authentic-style Japanese workplace notices — shift schedules, safety requirements, overtime announcements, payday notices, meeting reminders, and workplace rules. Read the full Japanese text, then answer two comprehension questions without looking at the translation.

Start reading practice

Workplace kanji

Workplace Kanji Trainer

42 essential kanji you'll encounter on shift schedules, safety notices, work forms, and HR documents — grouped into 5 categories: safety warnings, work schedule, workplace areas, work processes, and HR paperwork. Browse and flip cards, then drill only what you haven't mastered yet.

Train kanji

Track your preparation

Five milestones from basics to ready.

Not sure which tools to use or in what order? The milestone tracker groups everything into a structured progression — from language foundation through to application readiness — and shows you exactly where you are.

View preparation milestones →

This is a good fit if

  • You are based in Vietnam and want to understand how Japan-facing work actually works.
  • You have not started preparing yet, or you have started but are not sure whether you are preparing the right things.
  • You want to understand what employers actually care about before committing to anything.
  • You prefer honest information about costs, timelines, and risks over optimistic sales language.
  • You are not looking for a quick shortcut — you want a preparation process that holds up.

This is not the right fit if

  • You are expecting the platform to place you into a job directly.
  • You want to skip preparation and go straight to interviews.
  • You need a placement agent who manages the full process for you.
  • You are looking for a paid program with guaranteed results.

Common questions

Honest answers to what workers usually ask first.

Do I need to speak Japanese first?

No. Most of the preparation content here is in English. The platform helps you understand what Japanese level is actually needed for your target role, and gives you a path to start building it — rather than assuming you must be fluent before you can think about preparing.

Does this cost money?

No fee to use the platform. The readiness check, learning paths, job track information, and application intake are all free. Kanousei does not charge workers for preparation access, placement, or record-keeping.

How is this different from using a broker or agent?

An agent manages the full process and typically charges a fee — upfront or on placement. Kanousei is a preparation platform, not an agent. You keep control of your records, your timeline, and your decision-making. We do not take placement fees and we do not act as a middleman between you and employers.

What happens after I apply?

Your expression of interest is reviewed by the founding team. Depending on your readiness result, track fit, and preparation progress, you will receive a structured follow-up or a track review. Nothing is automatic — everything is reviewed by a real person at this stage.

Is it too early to start?

The earlier you understand what preparation actually looks like, the better. Many workers spend money or time on the wrong things because they started without a realistic map. The readiness check is specifically designed to give you a clearer picture before you commit to anything.

Important boundary

Kanousei does not promise a job. It does not act as an employment agent. It helps you prepare better, understand the path more clearly, and avoid moving blindly into a market where uninformed decisions are expensive.