What industry would you like to work in?
There are so many industries out there in the market that it is not unusual to not hear of a particular industry or have misconceptions about the kind of work in that industry.
In Japan, your field of study often does not matter to your employer.
This is especially so if you graduated from faculties such as humanities and the arts, aka 文系 (Bunkei).
With unlimited possibilities for employment, you might be overwhelmed by the amount of options available.
One common issue for job applicants in Japan is the difference between the various industries.
Allow me to run through the various industries with you!
There are 8 main industries in Japan, with a number of job sectors under each industry.
1. メーカー Manufacturing：production of goods
食品(Shokuhin) Food products・農林(Nourin) Agriculture&Forestry・水産(Suisan) Fisheries
建設(Kensetsu) Construction・住宅(Juutaku) Housing・インテリア Interior
繊維(Sen'i) Textiles・化学(Kagaku) Chemicals・薬品(Yakuhin) Pharmaceutics・化粧品(Keshouhin) Cosmetics
鉄鋼(Tekkou) Steel・金属(Kinzoku) Precious Metals・鉱業(Kougyou) Mining
機械(Kikai) Machinery・プラント Plant
電子(Denshi) Electronics・電気機器(Denki Kikai) Electrical Equipment
自動車(Jidousha) Automobiles・輸送用機器(Unsouyou Kiki) Transport Equipment
精密(Seimitsu) Measuring, Analytical and Control Instruments・医療機器(Iryoukikai) Medical Equipment
印刷(Insatsu) Printing・事務機器関連(Jimu Kikai Kanren) Office equipment
スポーツ Sports・玩具 Toys
その他メーカー Others
2. 商社(Shousha) Trade：buy, sell and exchange goods and services
総合(Sougou)商社 General Trade
専門(Senmon)商社 Special Trade
3. 小売(Kouri)：sale of products to consumers
百貨店(Hyakkaten) Departmental stores・スーパー Supermarket
コンビニ Convenience Stores
専門店 Specialty shops
4. 金融(Kinyuu) Finance：money management
銀行(Ginkou) Banks・証券(Shouken) Securities
クレジット Credit card
信販(Shinpan) Credit sales・リース Lease
その他金融 Others
生保(Seiho) Life Insurance・損保(Sonho) Insurance for loss
5. サービス・インフラ Service and Infrastructure：Provision of intangible products e.g. human capital
不動産(Fudousan) Property
鉄道(Tetsudou) Railway・航空(Koukuu) Aviation・運輸(Unyu) Shipping・物流(Butsuryuu) Logistics
電力(Denryoku) Electricity・ガス Gas・エネルギー Energy
フードサービス F&B
ホテル・旅行(Ryokou) Hotels & Tourism
医療(Iryou)・福祉(Fukushi) Medical care & Welfare
アミューズメント・レジャー Entertainment & Leisure
その他サービス Others
コンサルティング・調査(Chousa) Consulting & Marketing research
人材(Jinzai)サービス Human Resources
教育(Kyouiku) Education
6. 広告(Koukoku)・出版(Shuppan)・マスコミ Mass media：Transmit information to a large audience
放送(Housou) Broadcast
新聞(Shinbun) Newspaper
出版 Publishing
広告 Advertising
7. ソフトウエア・通信(Tsuushin) Telecommunications：Sale of value-added information
ソフトウエア Software
インターネット Internet
通信 Communications
8. 官公庁(Kankouchou)・公社(Kousha)・団体(Dantai) Government/Public sector：work in offices of national and regional associations
公社・団体 Public Corporations and Organizations
官公庁 Government and municipal offices
That pretty much sums up the job industries!
Have you found the industry best suited for you?
Deciding on an industry to work in allows you to narrow down your choices to sectors that will boost your personal growth.
This in turn will help in your career planning for the future. Good luck! :)
There are so many industries out there in the market that it is not unusual to not hear of a particular industry or have misconceptions about the kind of work in that industry.
In Japan, your field of study often does not matter to your employer.
This is especially so if you graduated from faculties such as humanities and the arts, aka 文系 (Bunkei).
With unlimited possibilities for employment, you might be overwhelmed by the amount of options available.
One common issue for job applicants in Japan is the difference between the various industries.
Allow me to run through the various industries with you!
There are 8 main industries in Japan, with a number of job sectors under each industry.
1. メーカー Manufacturing：production of goods
食品(Shokuhin) Food products・農林(Nourin) Agriculture&Forestry・水産(Suisan) Fisheries
建設(Kensetsu) Construction・住宅(Juutaku) Housing・インテリア Interior
繊維(Sen'i) Textiles・化学(Kagaku) Chemicals・薬品(Yakuhin) Pharmaceutics・化粧品(Keshouhin) Cosmetics
鉄鋼(Tekkou) Steel・金属(Kinzoku) Precious Metals・鉱業(Kougyou) Mining
機械(Kikai) Machinery・プラント Plant
電子(Denshi) Electronics・電気機器(Denki Kikai) Electrical Equipment
自動車(Jidousha) Automobiles・輸送用機器(Unsouyou Kiki) Transport Equipment
精密(Seimitsu) Measuring, Analytical and Control Instruments・医療機器(Iryoukikai) Medical Equipment
印刷(Insatsu) Printing・事務機器関連(Jimu Kikai Kanren) Office equipment
スポーツ Sports・玩具 Toys
その他メーカー Others
2. 商社(Shousha) Trade：buy, sell and exchange goods and services
総合(Sougou)商社 General Trade
専門(Senmon)商社 Special Trade
3. 小売(Kouri)：sale of products to consumers
百貨店(Hyakkaten) Departmental stores・スーパー Supermarket
コンビニ Convenience Stores
専門店 Specialty shops
4. 金融(Kinyuu) Finance：money management
銀行(Ginkou) Banks・証券(Shouken) Securities
クレジット Credit card
信販(Shinpan) Credit sales・リース Lease
その他金融 Others
生保(Seiho) Life Insurance・損保(Sonho) Insurance for loss
5. サービス・インフラ Service and Infrastructure：Provision of intangible products e.g. human capital
不動産(Fudousan) Property
鉄道(Tetsudou) Railway・航空(Koukuu) Aviation・運輸(Unyu) Shipping・物流(Butsuryuu) Logistics
電力(Denryoku) Electricity・ガス Gas・エネルギー Energy
フードサービス F&B
ホテル・旅行(Ryokou) Hotels & Tourism
医療(Iryou)・福祉(Fukushi) Medical care & Welfare
アミューズメント・レジャー Entertainment & Leisure
その他サービス Others
コンサルティング・調査(Chousa) Consulting & Marketing research
人材(Jinzai)サービス Human Resources
教育(Kyouiku) Education
6. 広告(Koukoku)・出版(Shuppan)・マスコミ Mass media：Transmit information to a large audience
放送(Housou) Broadcast
新聞(Shinbun) Newspaper
出版 Publishing
広告 Advertising
7. ソフトウエア・通信(Tsuushin) Telecommunications：Sale of value-added information
ソフトウエア Software
インターネット Internet
通信 Communications
8. 官公庁(Kankouchou)・公社(Kousha)・団体(Dantai) Government/Public sector：work in offices of national and regional associations
公社・団体 Public Corporations and Organizations
官公庁 Government and municipal offices
That pretty much sums up the job industries!
Have you found the industry best suited for you?
Deciding on an industry to work in allows you to narrow down your choices to sectors that will boost your personal growth.
This in turn will help in your career planning for the future. Good luck! :)
