freelance writing jobs japan

English Writing Jobs in Japan for Foreigners

6月 10, 2019

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If you’re living in Japan and want a job that utilizes your English abilities there’s an alternative to teaching English – writing. Read on to find out how to work comfortably from your home.

Japan needs English writers

One of the most well-known ways jobs for English-speaking foreigners in Japan has been English teaching. Understandably so – jobs are abundant and usually don’t require any formal education in English or Japanese. As such, they’re an easy way to get into (and live in) Japan. However, they also have their downsides, and not everyone likes teaching. While there are many paths that you can take, in this article I want to focus on writing.

Why writing?

Simply put: Because the demand is there. Many Japanese companies still use their Japanese writers to produce content in English. This often leads to awkward, unnatural, and sometimes downright confusing English texts. In the past, quality content in English in addition to Japanese was thought of as something that was “nice to have”, but ultimately not all that necessary – island mentality at work. However, as Japan’s population is decreasing, more and more companies and communities are realizing that they need better communication in English to stay competitive internationally.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism in Japan is on the backburner for now – as everywhere else in the world. However, before the start of the pandemic, the industry was booming. The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached new record heights every year. Once Covid-19 eventually subsides and it becomes safe to travel internationally again, the demand that’s currently on the ground is likely to skyrocket. This will be another chance for English writers.

Types of Writing Jobs

Japanese companies (or foreign companies based in Japan) need English writers for a variety of tasks: Creation or translation of instruction manuals, website or game translation, SEO writing, article or blog entry writing, writing for social media and many others. All of these jobs have slightly different requirements. Below, we’ve broken them down into three main types.

1. Technical Writer

Technical writers break down complex information and explain it to the users in an easily digestible way. They provide instructions or reference material related to the use of technology, be it home appliances or content management systems.

The main goal is to make the users understand. Even if they know nothing about the technology beforehand, they should be able to use it flawlessly after reading the instructions. This leads to a need for clear, concise, and easy-to-understand texts. Another very important aspect is consistency in word use and terminology (whereas you can usually be a bit looser with your choice of words in other areas of writing.)

Typical examples for technical writing include user manuals, operating instructions, and reference guides. For advanced topics in fields like IT, engineering, and medicine, a certain amount of experience or prior knowledge may be required.

2. Content Writer

As a content writer, your job is to create “engaging content”. What exactly that means depends on the context.

Visitors arriving on a website have a reason for going there in the first place – they all share a broad, common interest. However, the specifics differ. A website’s content, together with its design, decides how effectively the user’s interest can be captured and held. Most of the time, the target group will already be decided on. The task of the content writer is to write an optimized text for that group.

For example, imagine a website about a new DSLR camera. In this case, articles introducing and detailing the camera’s capabilities, explanations on how to take certain kinds of shots, and interviews with users could all be “engaging content.” Rattling off technical details and providing in-detail explanations of the inner workings of the camera may be a good approach to market it to professionals, but a hobbyist would probably get lost and leave the site before long.

3. Japanese-English Translator

In an age where Google Translate is always just a few clicks away, everyone can get a simple machine translation, for free. However, human translators are far from becoming obsolete.

Professional translators not only make sure that all information from the original text is included. They also interpret and – if necessary – change the text’s structure and content to “make it work” and properly get the message across in their target language.

“Being a good translator” is often associated with “being really good in speaking the language you’re translating from.” Of course, if you’re translating from Japanese, you need to understand the texts you’re working with. But translation work also requires more than a solid grasp of your target language. It doesn’t matter how good you are at reading, speaking, or writing Japanese if you can’t turn it into natural-sounding English. This skill is often overlooked because many native speakers consider themselves to be “fully trained” in their language. But in practice, it’s often harder than you might think!

Freelance Writing Jobs in Japan

This section introduces some options for finding jobs on a case-by-case basis. Be aware that to be able to take freelance writing jobs, you need a Japanese bank account, and a visa that allows you to work.

If you’re a student or already have another job in Japan, you need to get a 資格外活動許可 しかくがいかつどうきょか from immigration first. In case you’re not a full-time freelancer (i.e. with a sole proprietorship) and already work for another company, you should check with your company if they allow side jobs ( 副業 ふくぎょう ) before starting to write. You can find out more about freelance work in Japan in our article over here .

1. Freelance Websites

The first option are crowd-sourcing websites that list freelance writing job offers. This is probably the place most people look when just starting out. Some of these sites are specialized in writing, but most of them are not. You’ll have to sift through the job offers yourself and find something that matches your skills and interests. Examples include Lancers , Crowdworks , and Upwork .

The job offers on Japanese portals are usually written in Japanese. Try keywords like 英文 ライター (English writer), 英文 ライティング (English writing), 英訳 (English translation) or ローカライズ (localization).

The benefit of websites like these is that there’s a wide variety of offers to choose from. On the other hand, the requirements vary, and the tasks are often time-intensive for relatively low pay. Continually having to search for the next job on these sites also takes up a lot of additional time.

2. English Language Publications

The next option is contacting media companies publishing content in English from inside Japan. Examples here are Tokyo Cheapo , Time Out Tokyo , SoraNews24 , or Metropolis Magazine .

Because they’re completely focused on Japan, chances that they’re willing to accept content from a wide variety of topics are relatively high. As long as the content you offer is compelling enough, there is the chance to get your texts published without any (or just a little) prior experience.

However, depending on the publication, the quality of the editing/support will vary. You should also brace for rejection – a lot of it. After all, to these publications, you’re a complete nobody. Things get easier once you have something to show. Maybe you have a personal blog that you’ve maintained for a long time, or some earlier writing work from freelance websites. Even one article is better than nothing, so try to build a small portfolio before establishing contact.

3. Publications Abroad

Listing examples here would be pointless since there are thousands upon thousands of English language publications outside of Japan. And: A lot of them at least aren’t opposed to well-written content about Japan. So even if they aren’t actively searching, you may land a gig upon contacting them anyway. Just like with English language publications in Japan, it’s best to have a portfolio ready upon establishing first contact.

Writing for overseas publications often comes with the benefit of higher pay. However, unless you’re writing for a publication with an explicit Japan focus, they will be publishing content on other topics as well or have a different overarching theme. Because of this, you may find yourself often being asked to write about the same or similar topics. Essentially, you will have to write for an audience who knows very little about Japan. Typical topics are famous tourist spots, Japanese food, traditions and sports, nightlife, transportation in Tokyo, etc.

4. Specialized Writer Platforms

In addition to the options above, here are specialized platforms connecting Japanese companies and foreign writers. One example of such a service for writing jobs in Japan is Writer Station .

Platforms like Writer Station are similar to the Freelance websites in that they give their users access to writing job offers covering a wide variety of topics. The main difference is in how the writers interact with the offers. On Freelance websites, users have to search for and apply to every job separately. On the other hand, when contacting publishers directly, writers usually have to pitch ideas or supply sample content “on spec” for each application.

Now, being proactive is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to freelance work. But ideally, when you’re a writer, you want to spend more time writing (i.e. working) than time searching and applying.

This is where the writing platforms come in: They rely on a stock of registered writers and distribute the available tasks between them. As long as you’re a registered member, you’ll be able to get a relatively constant stream of possible assignments without having to constantly search for new work. In exchange for this, pay is usually lower than what you get for jobs that require more initiative. But as a freelancer, you can always combine both options to increase the overall stability of your income. Platforms are also a good place to get your first bit of experience.

In the end, one of the biggest draws of writing is that it’s a job you can do from the comfort of your home. This also makes it very easy to do on the side, even it’s just for one weekend or two. So definitely give it a try – it might be your thing!

Register on Writer Station

Others also read

My love for ninjas and interest in Chinese characters (kanji) were what first made me come to Japan, as a high school student. Over ten years and many visits later, I’ve found a job here and have chosen it as my new home.

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ROB GOSS, WRITER

The business of being a freelance writer in japan, part 1.

[Updated March 2022]

From time to time, new writers and students get in touch to ask for advice about becoming a writer, so I thought I’d post my notes from a presentation I once did (for the Society of Writers, Editors, and Translators) on freelancing from Japan. Some of it might be useful to writers trying to get into freelancing.

Before reading, please bear in mind that the notes are in fairly rough form, more often than not just extended bullet points. Also, the focus is on freelancing, not finding full-time work as a journalist or at a publication (that’s a very different beast). Being a presentation in Tokyo for Tokyo-based writers, the focus is also on writing from Japan, although there are many points in here (pitching, marketing, etc) that aren’t specific to Japan-based writers. Finally, this is by no means a definitive guide, it’s just advice that comes from my experiences as a writer – there are many, many other ways to approach the job, probably many of them better than the way I go about it.

Anyway, here are parts 1, 2 and 3 (I’ll post the rest separately), on how to find work, who to write for (in Japan and overseas) and (because travel is a large part of my work) what is travel writing.

  PART 1: HOW TO FIND WORK AND HAVE WORK FIND YOU

• Contact a publication directly with a detailed pitch for a specific story.
• Contact a publication to introduce yourself and ask if you can send ideas or be considered for work.
• Send a publication a full story “on spec”.
• Keep and online bio and portfolio that’s easy for editors/publishers to find.
• Join professional organizations.
• Do a good job. Be professional. Word of mouth works wonders even across borders in media.
• Create a social media strategy, if you think it can help you reach your goals. Don’t be afraid to ignore it and use that time elsewhere, if not.

Contact a publication directly with a detailed pitch for a specific story

You need to be proactive to land good assignments, especially in the early stages of a career. That means contacting publications that aren’t advertising a need for writers (in many cases, publications advertising for contributors have no or a very low budget). Let’s start with the pitch that I used to get my first story in Time magazine. Looking back on it now, it’s not the greatest pitch (and not the most interesting story), but it worked.

Dear NAME: Twenty years ago, Naoshima—an island just off the northern coast of rural Shikoku—was a small fishing community in decline. Today, the island is the centerpiece of Japan’s contemporary art scene. And it would be a great fit for the Global Adviser section of TIME. Would you be interested in a 400-word piece about the island, titled “5 Reasons to Visit Naoshima”? I would include:

Benesse House Museum:  Art set to a natural soundtrack of lapping waves and birdsong. The inside, with works by Hockney, Pollock and Warhol, is impressive, but it’s the 20 outdoor installations scattered around the surrounding beaches and hillside that really define the site. Honmura Art House Project:  On the outside it’s a sleepy fishing village, but look more closely and several of the old wooden houses, as well as a temple and a shrine, have been transformed into permanent art installations. Chichu Art Museum:  This sleek Tadao Ando-designed museum built into a hillside is home to a collection that includes Monet, Walter de Maria and James Turrell. I love Yu:  A modern take on the traditional Japanese public bath, I Love Yu is plastered inside and out with pop art, ceramic tile mosaics and even a bit of erotica. The Man with the Red Tattoo Museum:  More like the attic of a crazed collector than a conventional museum, this collection of James Bond memorabilia was inspired by Raymond Benson’s Naoshima-based 007 novel of the same name. [Bio follows…]

Some thoughts on pitching:

• Pitch to the correct person (check the masthead, dig up their direct email, don’t waste time emailing info@ or other addresses that lead straight to the slush pile).
• Study the publication a little beforehand. Know what they want and how they want it. Do they like short and punchy sentences or something longer? What kind of tempo? You often hear talk about developing your own style, but it also helps to develop the ability to write in any style a publication needs.
• If you think the idea is a good fit, pitch to a specific part of the publication AND in the style of the publication.
• Add a brief bio/info on experience.
• Use a clear subject line (Pitch: Global Adviser section, 5 Reasons to Visit Naoshima, Japan)
• Can be time consuming, BUT it can also be tweaked and reused.
• In the case of the sample here, it formed the majority of the actual story.
• Don’t be afraid to follow up on a pitch. Emails get missed. People can forget to reply or just need a nudge because they are busy.

Contact a publication to introduce yourself and ask if you can send ideas or be considered for work

Again, here is an example of a simple introduction email. This (or something like it) has been quite effective as an icebreaker over the years. Dear USE THEIR NAME,

Hello. I read your recent feature on Osaka and was wondering if you would have any interest in other Japan-related articles? If so, may I send you some pitches or be considered for any Japan coverage you might be planning?   I’m a Tokyo-based writer covering Japan for the last decade for publications that have included National Geographic Traveler, TIME, the Economist 1843, and the Independent. My work ranges from guides and travel narratives to interviews with artisans and features on food and drink, with recent work including this online guide to Tokyo for Nat Geo, this story about   the cat that saved a Japanese railway for the BBC, a piece on bull sumo on the remote Oki Islands for Roads & Kingdoms, and this book on Japan’s traditional inns .

Thank you for your time.

Some thoughts on the pros and cons of this approach:

• This kind of email is extremely time effective.
• Can get a dialogue started; the editor can reply without having to commit, and you can take it from there (asking about sections open to pitches, and so on)
• Can lack personalization, so take a few moments to tweak it a little each time and show that you’ve read their publication.
• Some editors don’t like this approach. They receive lots of emails, so some would prefer a concise, specific pitch. That said, I don’t think it will offend an editor; they’ll just ignore it. And, if you get no reply, you can still try again with a pitch at a later date.
• Works better when your bio shows you are experienced (pitches and on spec are more effective for newer writers). It’s sad, but name-dropping certain publications can make a pitch or an intro letter more appealing.
• Like a pitch, make sure you are sending it to the correct person and use their name. Also like a pitch, don’t be afraid to follow-up (I tend to wait a fortnight), if you don’t get a reply.

Send a story on spec “On spec” means to send a complete story (or the first part of a complete story) to a publication in the hope that they will want it.

• Negotiations for fees, rights usage and so on naturally come after acceptance. Make sure you stress this is an offer to sell work, not a free submission of the piece.
• Can be an effective way for inexperienced/new writers to break into a publication, if the story is good OR if the publication has a gap to plug (and publications often spring leaks).
• It’s best not to send the same on spec story to multiple publications. You can only sell it to one at a time and depending on the rights you sell there will likely be other limitations.
• Just like a pitch, an on-spec story needs to be a fit for the publication and a particular section therein. If they don’t publish 2,000-word first-person travelogues, don’t send them one.

Keep and online bio and portfolio that’s easy for editors/publishers to find. Over the years this has been how I’ve got the majority of new clients.

• I keep a simple and infrequently updated website aimed at potential clients (not general readers). It contains a basic bio, a portfolio of samples, and contact info: robgosswriter.com . Every writer and photographer ought to have something like this.
• If you aren’t ready to invest in a website, consider creating a free portfolio on Trav Media.
• I also have my details on about half a dozen websites used by media professionals: NATJA, BGTW, etc.
• The above bios need updating about twice a year, but that takes very little time.

  Join professional organizations

• Good places to communicate with and meet people actually doing the same job. Professionally I often feel isolated in Tokyo, as there are very few people doing what I do fully freelance and full time. That makes professional organizations overseas (with online activity) very useful.
• Offer professional development seminars, webinars and so on.
• Not just for full-time travel writers. Most have associate memberships.
• Have forums, job boards, email alerts and so on with info on new publications, editors looking for writers, etc.
• Have annual awards for writers – these can be great for marketing.

A few examples: British Guild of Travel Writers: http://bgtw.org North American Travel Journalists Association: www.natja.org Society of American Travel Writers: www.satw.org

Do a good job. Be professional. Word of mouth works wonders even across borders in media. Here’s an example of why this is such good marketing. Many years ago, I did a few hotel reviews for an Asia-wide guidebook whose editor was based in Hong Kong. A year later another editor got in touch on the HK editor’s recommendation. This turned out to be a $2/word market, with interesting assignments. Emailing with this editor one day, he suggested I contact someone he knew at Time. I did (with the earlier pitch). That was another new client. Years later, I pitched an inflight magazine in the US. The editor said he remembered my name from when he worked as a copy-ed at Time. And on (hopefully) it goes.

• Word of mouth and publication-to-publication recommendations are a great source of work. As is the movement of editors across publications. Bear in mind that many magazines are published by companies that produce several or dozens of publications. It’s not uncommon to end up working for multiple titles for these companies, if you maintain a solid reputation.
• Make your deadlines. If you can’t, don’t reschedule at the last-minute. There is often wiggle room and editors are usually fine with delays, but you need to ask for it in advance.
• Don’t flake out. If you take a gig for $50 and then a $5,000 gig comes along at the same time, you still have to do the $50 gig to the best of your ability.
• Follow your brief, deliver clean copy. If the assignment is for 600 words, deliver as close to 600 as possible (not 900, not 450). Even just an extra 30 minutes of self-editing and reading aloud before hitting send can make a world of difference in the quality of the text you deliver.
• Don’t be a diva, but do stick up for yourself and your work when needed (and with a cool head).
• Help out a bit. If your editor is struggling to contact a source for images because of language issues, it’ll take you just two minutes to email in Japanese for them. There’s no need to charge an additional fee for that. If they want to add a new 500-word section not in the original brief, however, that requires an additional fee.

Create a social media strategy, if you think it can help you reach your goals. Don’t be afraid to ignore it and use that time elsewhere, if not. (updated 8/2020)

• With marketing, one size doesn’t fit all.
• I don’t use Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, though I have dabbled with them in the past. I have an Instagram account mostly for connecting with others in the media industry; not to be an influencer. I started it during the pandemic as a way to keep in touch with others. All told, I don’t spend much time on social media, other than the occasional binge on shiba puppy photos on Instagram. If I were a blogger or influencer, who needed to communicate directly with an audience (and build their own audience), I would be much, much more active. One size really doesn’t fit all. But the kind of clients that hire me (editors, publications, agencies and so on) don’t tend to trawl through the noise of social media looking for writers. We find each other in other ways (see above), and I write for their audiences, which they build. So, I don’t need social media for getting work or building a reputation. The idea that you must be active (or very active) on social media is a fallacy that many new writers fall for.
• Whether writing full time or part time, time is precious. The less I need to spend marketing, the better. It means more time writing and improving as a writer. That means being clinical (or trying to be) with my marketing.
• It might be different for you, but ask yourself a question: does the time you spend on social media for work bring in enough income to justify it? Do you think it ever will? Does it help you in any other ways, such as creating a sense of connection with others? Writing might be creative, but it’s also a business and a business still needs a business plan and goals – think about social media’s place and effectiveness in your planning.

PART 2: WHO TO WRITE FOR? The obvious first step: publications and other clients in Japan The pros

• There are some good English-language publications in Japan that could be worth getting experience with or targeting for full-time work. Examples: Tokyo Time Out, Japan Times, iNTOUCH, Weekender, Tokyo Cheapo.
• They tend to be fairly easy to break into compared to bigger overseas publications.
• Good for getting clippings that can build a portfolio for targeting other work. Or just a nice way to do a bit of writing for fun on the side and see it in print.
• Tend to be open to a greater variety of Japan-related content and story ideas as Japan is their sole focus.
• Looking beyond the above, there are also local agencies who do branded content/content marketing for DMOs and other tourism-related organizations. These often use the same skills as travel writing. This is one area where Japan offers professional rates. For me, branded content work with local and overseas clients over the years has included producing a year’s worth of social media content for a DMO, scripting an animated travel commercial, producing online guides aimed at tourists, and writing features published (and clearly labelled) as “advertorials”. Most recently, I worked on an Instagram Story ad campaign with National Geographic for Japan’s National Parks.
• English-language media in Japan represents a small fraction of the global industry, and a fraction that (excluding international media outlets here and agencies producing branded content) generally isn’t very well developed or funded.
• Branded content aside, it generally doesn’t pay professional freelance rates, or anything remotely close. For a full-time freelance career, it can really help to look outward.
• Some English-language publications in Japan don’t provide much editing, have poor production quality, or don’t seem to understand copyright laws, writers’ rights, and more. Can often be amateurish and incompetent. That said, the ones I listed above all have good reputations.

To make a freelance career viable: publications and clients outside Japan

• Japan has a handful of English-language publications, but the US, UK, Australia, and other places between them have thousands, and many of these are open to travel and non-travel pieces about Japan.
• When I started, however, a few things soon made it clear that not many writers in Japan were successfully targeting these. The most obvious was that despite being inexperienced I was getting contacted (via a simple online portfolio) by decent publications looking for writers in Japan.
• The main thing: pay levels that make a freelance career viable. While some Japanese agencies pay English-language writers appallingly, fees for branded content are often comparable between many Japanese and overseas agencies (and both tend to be higher than editorial fees). In terms of editorial, however, the gulf is vast. it’s an easy choice between 10,000 yen to 30,000 yen for a 1,000-word story in Japan or 30,000 yen to 150,000 yen for exactly the same work for reputable overseas publications. I can’t churn out a well-written and well-researched 1,000-word story in 90 minutes, so it’s impossible to do 1,000 words for 10,000 yen. It varies on the exact content (listicles are quicker, in-depth features take a long time), but spread over a longer period a 1,000-worder might require up to a full week’s work and time on the road. That requires a full week’s pay.
• There are very few in my eyes, but it can sometimes be hard to convince overseas publications to cover lesser-known places and experiences. Many want the same thing: Tokyo, Kyoto, food, and other usual suspects. They often need a very strong hook and/or answer a typical editor question: why now?
• With publications that cover the entire world, a single publication probably won’t want stories from you on Japan incredibly regularly. So, you’ll need to cultivate a wide pool of clients. 
• Another issue that can crop up is exoticizing or fetishizing Japanese culture. At times, you might have to fight a publication to stop them adding a Japanese stereotype or doing something else that lazily mentions Japan as being weird or bizarre. 

PART 3: WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT? WHAT IS TRAVEL WRITING?

If you read blogs, first-person features and travelogues often dominate. In reality, those kind of stories are in the minority in magazines and travel sections. The umbrella of travel writing covers many types of stories: front-of-book shorts, city guides, craftsman interviews, hotel/restaurant reviews, top 5/10/20 lists, and many, many others. These don’t just appear in travel-focused publications like in-flight magazines or National Geographic Travel, all sorts of publications will have sections into which travel and culture pieces fit. Broadsheets have travel sections, for example, and even business magazines often have a section dedicated to leisure. Look far and wide and you will find numerous opportunities. Then there’s the multi-faceted branded side we mentioned earlier.

There are guidebooks or other travel- and culture-related books, too. Writing a book is one option (with royalties—when a royalty deal is available—roughly being 10% of sales), but don’t overlooking updating work and editing guides. The larger guide makers typically update every two to three years and although some will offer risible fees, many pay very fairly (on a work-for-hire, not royalty, basis). They represent a good opportunity for ongoing work, provide travel experiences (sometimes with expenses covered, sometimes not, but in the latter tourist boards might help support your travel) that you can turn into features and other articles, and for me were an important step toward writing my own books.

Part 2: http://www.tokyofreelance.com/the-business-of-being-a-freelance-writer-in-japan-part-2/ 

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Responsibilities – Building a portfolio of articles, with lots of coaching along the way. – Learning research specific topics and reports for clients. – Online PR / marketing projects.

Research & Client Liaison

Junior full time role – english speaking.

If you love interacting with clients, communicating and business research, you could be a good fit for our client advisor position.

Responsibilities/Requirements – Getting client feedback and referrals. – Increasing interaction with clients and seeking AMA articles. – Organising, scheduling and growing article content on Japanese business. – Attention to detail, passion for communicating and success. – Impeccable English grammar.

Talk to us…we are hiring!

If you are an ambitious, enthusiastic and outgoing self-starter looking to learn more about writing or business development.

If you crave the cutting edge and love the latest in business and helping entrepreneurs succeed.

If you are ambitious and web 2.0 savvy (ie. you understand social media, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and the blogosphere.)

Then apply to join our team!   Contact us here

Note: Your details are kept strictly confidential as per our Privacy Policy .

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Work at LIVE JAPAN: Freelance Opportunities

LIVE JAPAN is a travel website catering to international tourists. It offers a wide range of article and video content, encompassing travel guides, helpful tips, dining recommendations, must-visit attractions, accommodation options, local events, and much more.

Freelance Writers: Join LIVE JAPAN as a Travel Content Contributor

Notes regarding personal information and responses.

LIVE JAPAN is looking for Japan travel writers who are passionate about traveling and can produce helpful, accurate, and interesting content about Japan, based on experience. Additionally, travel writers specializing in food, Japanese trends, fashion, and accommodations are preferred. We are particularly interested in freelance writers now residing in any of the following areas:

What we are looking for

LIVE JAPAN is primarily looking to commission articles introducing destinations (guides, things to see, do, eat) as well as listicles (i.e., Top 10s). We do not publish first-person accounts and all stories adhere to editorial guidelines. Travel writers are not required to submit a set number of articles per month and pieces typically follow an editorial calendar. ・Employment Status: Freelance Contract Writer ・Age: 20 years or older ・Compensation: Discussed on a project basis

• Living in Japan for over a year with a valid working visa. (Visa sponsorship by the company is not available.)
• Can offer demonstratable knowledge relating to the prefecture in which you live and/or surrounding areas.
• Writing experience with web media, books, magazines, or blogs.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate in Japanese (written/spoken); JLPT Certificate N2 or above is preferred. Candidates should be able to set up and conduct interviews, obtain permissions, and correspond in Japanese without the assistance of LIVE JAPAN editors.

How to Apply & Contact LIVE JAPAN

Please apply via our contact page (link below) with the following information:

• Your full name and email address*
• Why you want to work with LIVE JAPAN*
• Field(s) of interest (Writing/editing/translation/video creating/etc.)*
• Nationality and current visa status*
• Prefectures that you have visited in Japan, and whether you have lived in different areas around Japan
• Japanese ability (JLPT) and level of comfort with the language (e.g. able to conduct interviews in Japanese; able to send emails in polite Japanese; etc.)*
• Current occupation*
• Additional skills (Photography, drone pilot, video direction/editing, etc.)
• Whether you have organized an on-location photoshoot/interview before (and if so, what kind)
• Links to 3-5 articles and/or videos you have done*

(*Requested; other points are optional but very helpful) We will then reply regarding the next steps.

• We will only use the provided personal information for the selection and contact of applicants.
• Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to all inquiries.
• Please make sure you fulfill the criteria ahead of submitting your application to us.

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Travel Writers Wanted!

Join our team of freelance writers located all across Japan!

Write for GaijinPot Travel

We would like to hear from freelance writers/photographers who have experience traveling in and now   currently reside in Japan.

We are looking for short destination reports on locales around Japan as well as straightforward listicles (i.e., top 10s). We do not publish first-person stories on GaijinPot Travel. Articles are written strictly in the second or third person and AP Style. Articles and high-quality photos are paid upon publication.

Writers are not required to submit a certain amount of articles per month but will be added to our list of freelance writers and will be given opportunities to pitch ideas and dibs for assignments in their region. There are great opportunities to do FAM and press trips for trusted writers.

Gaijinpot pays ¥4,000 for 400-word travel cards. There are also opportunities to write for GaijinPot Blog (which pays more).

Requirements

• Lived in Japan for over a year
• Note: Personal blogs are not accepted.
• Can offer a demonstrable knowledge of travel in the prefecture you live and/or surrounding areas
• The candidate understands how to write to the GaijinPot audience – including a range of travelers from those who don’t know the first thing about Japan to local experts who want to find new spots.

Ideal candidates

• Photography skills are a plus.
• Japanese language skills are also a plus.

Note : If you do not have published samples, read below.

Send along your resume and two writing samples to the editor at  [email protected] with the subject line “Application for GaijinPot Travel.” Serious candidates will be contacted to take a writing test as the next step in your application.

Don’t have writing experience yet?

If you do not have published samples online, we accept articles on spec, i.e., an article draft on a subject of around 400 words. While there is no guarantee we will publish your work, if we think it is a good fit for the site, we will take a look and go from there.

You can start sending us pitches once we know you have a knack for this. This is the ideal side work for assistant language teachers in the countryside to build up experience in another field. If interested, please send an email with the subject “GaijinPot Travel Local Guide Application” to [email protected]  with this info:

• Your profile: Name, email, location in Japan, how long you have lived there and social media (Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and/or LinkedIn)
• A list of the topics you want to cover
• A pitch: What do you think GaijinPot readers need to know or see that’s related to your area? Be specific.

GaijinPot Travel is an award-winning travel website from  GPlusMedia , based in Tokyo, Japan.

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How to make it as an English-language author in Japan

Travelers, adventurers, academics and dreamers — attend any Japan Writers Conference and you’ll know that the expatriate community is alive with writers of every stripe, but breaking into the industry can be a tricky business.

I sat down with three authors with books coming out in 2024 — Ellen McGinty , Ambika Nagino and Kristin Osani — to discuss the ups and downs of the publishing industry and the long (and very different) roads each of them took to seeing their books in print.

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Looking for some ideas or advice about your trip to Japan? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Hi, I’m Tanja and I’m originally from the UK. After eight years working in tourism in London, I packed up my life in the UK to move some 6000 miles east to Japan. If you want to know more about my personal journey, you can read my story  if you like.

I moved to Japan in 2015 and spent two years working as a freelance writer and English teacher on the island of Shikoku, before making the move to Tokyo in 2017.

My freelance writing work:

As well as this blog, I have written for JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization, ANA Airlines, Gaijinpot, Savvy Tokyo and Kansai Scene magazine. You can read more of my articles on these sites:

JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization)

ANA Airlines

Savvy Tokyo

Kansai Scene

Samurai Trip

What’s with the name Ryokougirl?

Ryokou (旅行) means trip/travel in Japanese. I write mainly about travel and I live in Japan so naturally thought to use the Japanese word. Girl, well, because I’m female…

Contact Me!

Drop me a line at [email protected]

Why you should follow this blog right now!

• If you have ever wanted to visit Japan and are looking for trip ideas, itinerary inspiration or travel advice, I’m your girl.
• If you love Japan and want to share your knowledge on all things Japanese, leave me a comment or share your travel tips here. Or just stop by and say hi!
• If you are a fellow ex-pat living in Japan, let’s share stories of embarrassing cultural faux pas we have made since being here!

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Hi! We are Japan Culture & Travel Web Magazine “Tadaima Japan”. http://tadaimajp.com/ Your website was very interesting.We were impressed by your point of view of Japan.

We’re holding an event “Making Sushi Experience at Asakusa” on Wednesday, Aug.24. If you are interested in it, we’d like to invite you to this event. No charge, of course! We would like you to experience to make sushi by yourself! The professional sushi shef will teach you. If you have friends who have interested in Sushi lesson, bring them!

——————————————————– “Maiking Sushi Experience at Asakusa”

Date&TIme: Wednesday, Aug 24, 2016 11:00-13:30 (Meeting up at 10:30AM at the police box in front of Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa)

Place: Sushi-Dining Tsuruoka (Asakusa)

Lesson includes: 　 ・ Sushi making(Nigiri-zushi, Temaki-zushi, how to slice sashimi fish, etc.) 　 ・ Tasting party 　 ・ Sushi recipe 　 ・ English translation ——————————————————–

See the detailed information below.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1587978714839153/

I’d appreciate it if you would reply me.

Tomoko Wada(Tadaima Japan Editorial Team)

Hello Tomoko, thank you so much for reading my blog and your kind message! Sushi making sounds really fun but I am in Shikoku right now so I won’t be able to make it unfortunately. I am planning to move to Tokyo next summer so please keep in touch for future events!

Thank you for your reply. That’s too bad! But we’ll welcome you at our future another event in Tokyo!

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