Japanese Resume Template (履歴書 / Rirekisho)

Last updated: October 2026

Applying to a company in Japan usually means submitting a 履歴書 (rirekisho), a fixed-format resume, not a free-form CV. This guide shows the template layout, explains which file format to send, and how to fill in the form. You can type into a blank form yourself (the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare publishes a sample form through Hello Work), or generate it filled in with Rireksho from English input.

Which rirekisho template does Japan use?

For years the default was the JIS-style form, sold as a pad in stationery stores and convenience stores. The JIS sample was withdrawn from the JIS standards in 2020, and in April 2021 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published its own sample format. That MHLW format is the closest thing to an official standard today. It is a model for employers, not a legal requirement, so a company may still ask for its own form.

The main differences from the old JIS-style form:

• The gender field is optional free text instead of a forced male/female choice.
• The commute time, spouse, number of dependents and spousal support boxes were removed.
• The core sections are unchanged: personal details, photo, education and work history, licenses and qualifications, 志望動機 and the personal request box.

Old JIS-style forms are still widely sold and still accepted by most employers. The Rireksho samples use this widely used JIS-style layout, so they still include the commute time, dependents and spouse boxes and a gender box. You can leave those blank or fill them in as appropriate.

Blank template preview

A blank 履歴書 in the JIS-style layout, shown as one A4 landscape image. The left half holds your details, photo and history; the right half holds licenses, 志望動機 and requests.

Prefer not to type into a blank grid? Rireksho fills it in for you. There is no blank file to download, but you can generate your 履歴書 from English input.

Excel vs Word vs PDF vs handwritten

• PDF: the safest file to email or upload. Layout never breaks. It cannot be edited afterwards, so keep a source file too.
• Excel: the most common editable format, because the form is a grid. Good for tailoring each application.
• Word: works, but table cells shift easily when text length changes. It is the usual format for the 職務経歴書 rather than the rirekisho.
• Handwritten: only when the posting asks for it. Typed is accepted by most companies today.

Rireksho gives you a free Japanese PDF of your filled-in resume and, on paid plans, editable Excel and Word versions of it, so you are not locked into one output.

A4, A3 and B5: which size?

Use A4 for anything you email, upload or print yourself. Hello Work and the MHLW publish the form as both A4 and A3 PDFs; the A3 version is a double-page sheet that folds to A4. B5 pads sold in stationery stores are common for handwritten applications. Print on plain white paper and do not fold or staple unless the employer says so.

How to fill each field

• Date and name: date of submission, not the date you wrote it. Add the furigana reading above your name.
• Photo: a recent passport-style photo, plain background, business clothing.
• Address and contact: write the address in Japanese with a postal code and add an email you check daily.
• Education and work history (学歴・職歴): chronological, oldest first, with start and end dates for each entry. Write 以上 at the end.
• Licenses (免許・資格): include JLPT level, driver's license and relevant certifications.
• Motivation (志望動機) and self-PR (自己PR): the sections that decide whether you get an interview. See how to write 志望動機 and 自己PR.

For a field-by-field walkthrough, read the full guide to writing a Japanese resume. If your source material is an English CV, see how to convert an English resume to Japanese.

What about the 職務経歴書 template?

Mid-career applicants usually submit a 職務経歴書 (shokumukeirekisho) alongside the rirekisho. It is a free-form document, typically Word or PDF on one to two A4 pages, that explains your duties, projects and results company by company. There is no official government template, so any clean layout works. Our shokumukeirekisho guide covers the structure.

Frequently asked questions