How to Enter a Japanese Game Studio As a Foreigner
Japanese video games have been in circulation since the 70s, and now two-thirds of the world’s video game consoles (i.e., Nintendo and PlayStation) come from Japan. As a result, Japan has become synonymous with video games. Many Japanese game companies are well known across the globe, including Sega, Sony, Nintendo, Bandai, Capcom, and Square Enix. Moreover, millions of younger people have grown up using and playing what are now considered classics.
For those who are passionate about games and who are interested in being involved in their development, AAA studios are particularly attractive. AAA studios in Japan are by far the most sought-after companies to work in throughout the game industry, and not without good reason. Oftentimes they have the highest-paying positions, the most diverse teams, the newest engine technology, and the most substantial benefits. Of course, AAA studios are also known for their world-class titles. Therefore, having an AAA studio on a resume is of the utmost value to the career of a game developer. AAA studios are undoubtedly paramount in the gaming world, and many consider entering them to be the ultimate goal in their career.
Now, people from around the world are eager to bring their creativity and passion to the table. However, this has oversaturated the pool of applicants, significantly changing what the ideal path for entering the industry is.
In my experience as a recruiter for a variety of game studios in Tokyo, including indie and AAA ones, there are a few things I have come to notice about these companies and the candidates they hire. Previously, graduating, moving to Japan, teaching English, and then trying to enter the game industry from there was achievable. With so many foreigners now moving to Japan with this background, however, applicants now need more targeted experience to help them stand out.
For example, one of the other major hurdles that stop foreigners from being more present in Japanese studios is the language barrier. This usually ends up being the elephant in the room when I screen new candidates. Thus, studios are looking for candidates who can properly communicate. As a general rule, the lowest level of Japanese most studios require is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2. Most employees in these game studios are Japanese, and there tends to be a large misconception about the English skills of Japanese adults at these companies. Therefore, to join a Japanese studio, the onus is on the foreigner to learn Japanese, rather than the other way around.
Of course, there are a few exceptions. On the one hand, localization and translation teams require an even higher level of Japanese certification (JLPT N1 or more), as these positions are strongly dependent on the ability to properly comprehend the language. On the other hand, international tech teams have more lax requirements. Studios that have international teams and need engineers with skills that are hard to find in Japan will look for skilled individuals even if their Japanese level is lower than what is usually accepted. In this case, the candidate’s experience and technical skills are much more valuable than their language skills. In recent years, international staff and teams have become more common among game studios. For these teams, the lingua franca ends up being English because of how many different nationalities there are among the staff members. Some large studios even have departments dedicated to helping foreign staff with visas, relocation, culture, and language classes.
Some positions are easier for foreigners to get than others as well. In every game studio, there is a similar breakdown of roles in the production line. This includes producers, project managers, engineers, designers, artists, localizers, game planners, animators, and so on.
One of the easiest positions to get is in localization. If you want to work in localization as a foreigner, there will always be a role available to you. For those unaware, localization always goes from (non-native) to (native) language translation. For example, if your native language is English, you will be translating Japanese content into English. It rarely ever goes the other way around. For localization positions, specific qualifications are needed. As mentioned, most AAA studios will require at least JLPT N1 certification. Additional translation certificates are typically needed as well. Studios will also look into applicants’ experience to see if they have already worked in localization, for how long, and how the quality of their projects was.
Engineering positions are also good for foreigners to aim for. These includes graphics engineers, game engine developers, and technical artists. Engineers are in short supply across the gaming, tech, pharma, and automotive industries in Japan, giving an advantage to foreigners. This shortage is expected to continue even in the future, not only for basic-level IT engineers but also for the complex world of graphics engineers and technical artists. Technical skills undoubtedly go a long way, especially in the gaming world. If you have the technical skills a studio is desperate for, you may be able to join with less Japanese Language experience.
Unfortunately, I usually see most hopes dashed when it comes to non-localization and non-engineering roles. When it comes to other aspects of production, foreigners are less prevalent and have a much lower chance of being hired. Japanese game companies will generally choose Japanese candidates over foreign ones when hiring project managers, producers, and planners. This is for a variety of reasons. For management roles, companies prefer someone who is culturally aligned with the studio overall. This includes work style, seniority culture, game culture, and management style. Native Japanese speakers also have an easier time understanding linguistic nuances and have fewer communication errors than non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, companies are more interested in hiring native Japanese speakers for these roles to ensure smooth, error-free production. This is unfortunately the way the system works, and it is not expected to change anytime soon.
Foreigners are also not likely to be hired as artists. Generally speaking, there are thousands upon thousands of fantastic artists in countries across the globe. Japan is no exception. This makes the role extremely competitive, and in the end, due to ease of communication and less room for error, Japanese artists are favored by Japanese studios. Overall, the chances of becoming a foreign artist for a AAA game studio in Japan is very slim, unless you have already worked on and shipped several AAA titles as an artist and have a very unique portfolio.
These same hurdles of communication, culture, and a lack of demand exist for game designer and script writer positions in Japan.
Moving on from which positions are and aren’t available, I’d like to talk a bit about how to optimize your career and enhance your chance of successfully being hired by a Japanese game studio.
Work experience tends to be one of the largest career bumps I find when helping candidates find a role in a Japanese game studio. During the last few decades, Japan has experienced a boom in foreign residents. One of the most common jobs for foreigners who are native English speakers is teaching English. This has become quite a popular way for someone who is interested in living in Japan to come over and work there after university and with minimal job experience.
If your end goal is to work in gaming in Japan, my biggest piece of advice is to not do this.
Time and time again, I have spoken to foreigners in Japan who are looking for a job in the gaming industry, only to be met with rejection after rejection because of their work experience. While this career path was previously viable for maybe 20 years, it has become increasingly difficult. Typically, this path looks like the following:
Study in a random undergraduate program at a university 🡪 graduate from the university 🡪 apply for JET or a similar program for teaching English in Japan 🡪 work in Japan as an English teacher for several years 🡪 decide to switch to gaming 🡪 experience unsuccessful or difficult entry into a game studio that is most likely not AAA
If you are actually interested in working in the game industry, and not just in Japan, here is a better career path to follow:
Graduate from a university with a gaming-related degree 🡪 enter the game industry through a studio in your home country and gain experience 🡪 study Japanese on your own 🡪 build your portfolio and work experience in gaming 🡪 apply directly to Japanese game studios from overseas; apply for the studio’s foreign branch, where you can then network to a position in Japan specifically; or go to Japan on a working holiday visa and apply to studios during that time
This route ensures that you will have an advantage over the plethora of other foreigners who are applying for positions at Japanese game studios, as you will have a background in gaming that English teachers lack. Note, to receive a work visa in Japan, a 4-year university degree is required.
In the end, there are always exceptions to the rule, and not everything is so cut and dry when it comes to applying to game studios. Networking also plays an important role in the hiring process and goes a long way.
Overall, however, the outlook for the future of foreigners looking to join the game industry in Japan is good. It is becoming increasingly common for Japanese studios to look for talent from abroad, and it has become much easier than ever for foreigners to enter the industry, especially when they have the right credentials. Of course, there are additional things to consider when choosing a studio. In the end, however, the best way to understand these considerations and the hiring process is by speaking with those who have experienced the industry firsthand. I plan to write more about this in the future as well, so please stay tuned.
Editor: Melissa Somerdin
