Rirekisho Builder

Jiko PR (自己PR) and Shiboudouki (志望動機): How to Write Them

Last updated: October 2026

Two boxes on a Japanese resume cause more trouble for foreign applicants than any other: the 自己PR (jiko PR, self-promotion) and the 志望動機 (shiboudouki, reason for applying). They are short, but employers read them closely because they show how you think and whether you understand Japanese business communication. This guide explains what each one is, how the tone differs from a Western CV or cover letter, and shows English-to-Japanese examples for five different profiles.

What are jiko PR and shiboudouki?

自己PR (jiko PR) is your strength, backed by evidence. It answers the question "what can you do for us?" It is a self-pitch, but written modestly, with facts rather than adjectives.

志望動機 (shiboudouki) is your motivation for this specific company and role. It answers "why us, and why you?" Both sections appear on the rirekisho, and the jiko PR is usually repeated and expanded at the end of the shokumukeirekisho.

Japanese applications rarely include a Western-style cover letter. The shiboudouki is the closest equivalent, but it is much shorter and more formulaic. If you are searching for how to write a "Japanese cover letter", this is the section you actually need.

Western tone versus Japanese tone

  • Modest confidence. A Western CV says "I am an exceptional leader." A Japanese document says what you did and lets the reader conclude it.
  • Team before self. Credit the team and describe your role in it. Phrases like チームで (as a team) and 周囲と連携し (in cooperation with those around me) are positive signals.
  • Polite, formal register. Use です・ます style and respectful company terms such as 貴社 (kisha, "your company") in written applications. 御社 (onsha) is the spoken form for interviews.
  • Contribution over desire. Saying what you want to get ("I want to grow") is weaker than saying what you will give ("I want to contribute").
  • No personality slogans. Avoid slogan lines like "I am a hard worker." Show it with one concrete episode.

The structure that works

Career sites in Japan recommend the same skeleton for both sections: conclusion first, then supporting evidence or an episode, then how you will contribute. This is often summarised as 結論 → 根拠・エピソード → 貢献 (ketsuron, konkyo / episode, kouken).

  1. Conclusion (結論). One sentence stating your strength or reason for applying.
  2. Evidence or episode (根拠・エピソード). One or two specific experiences with numbers where possible.
  3. Contribution (貢献). How you will use this at the target company.

Let AI write your 志望動機 and 自己PR

The paid Rireksho pack includes AI-written 志望動機 and 自己PR in real business Japanese, plus editable Excel and Word files. Start free with a Japanese PDF, no credit card.

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Example pairs: English to natural Japanese

These examples are fictional. Treat them as patterns for sentence structure, not text to copy, because your facts and the company will be different.

1. Software engineer: jiko PR

English

I am good at finding the root cause of problems. At my last company I traced a slow checkout page to database queries and cut load time by 40%. I want to use this approach to keep your service stable as it grows.

Japanese

私の強みは、課題の原因を突き止めて解決する分析力です。前職ではECサイトの決済ページが遅い原因をデータベースのクエリにあると特定し、表示速度を40%改善しました。この分析力を活かし、貴社サービスの安定した成長に貢献したいと考えております。

2. Sales: jiko PR

English

I build long-term relationships with customers. I managed 30 accounts and renewed 95% of them by checking in regularly and solving problems before they were raised.

Japanese

私の強みは、お客様と長期的な信頼関係を築く力です。法人顧客30社を担当し、定期的なフォローと課題の先回りによる提案を続けた結果、契約更新率95%を維持しました。今後も同様の姿勢で貴社の事業拡大に貢献いたします。

3. Hospitality: jiko PR

English

I stay calm under pressure and make guests feel welcome in their own language. I handled inquiries in English, Chinese and Japanese and helped lower complaints by 25%.

Japanese

私の強みは、状況に応じて柔軟に対応するおもてなしの姿勢です。英語・中国語・日本語で問い合わせに対応し、お客様一人ひとりに寄り添った案内を行った結果、クレーム件数を25%削減しました。

4. English teacher moving to corporate training: shiboudouki

English

After five years teaching English in Japan, I want to help adult learners use English at work. Your language training program for corporate clients matches the experience I have designing lessons.

Japanese

日本で5年間英語教育に携わる中で、社会人の方が仕事で英語を使えるようになる支援に携わりたいと考えるようになりました。企業向け語学研修を展開する貴社であれば、これまでに培ったカリキュラム設計の経験を活かして貢献できると考え、志望いたしました。

5. Product manager changing industries: shiboudouki

English

I like your products and want to use my English and overseas experience to help you expand globally.

Japanese

貴社の製品に強く共感しており、これまで培った英語力と海外での業務経験を活かして、グローバル展開に貢献したいと考え志望いたしました。

Notice the pattern: every Japanese version names a strength or reason, supports it with a fact, and ends by pointing at the employer. Compare the second-to-last line of each: it looks forward, to what you will do for them.

Phrases to use

  • 私の強みは〜です (my strength is ...)
  • 〜を担当し、〜を達成しました (I was in charge of ... and achieved ...)
  • 〜の経験を活かし、貴社に貢献したいと考えております (I want to contribute to your company using my experience in ...)
  • 貴社の〇〇に魅力を感じ (I was drawn to your ...). Name something specific.
  • 周囲と連携しながら (while cooperating with the people around me)

Phrases and habits to avoid

  • 御社 in writing. Use 貴社 on paper and in email.
  • "I want to learn" as the main reason. Employers hire for contribution, not training. Mention growth only as a supporting point.
  • Pay, benefits or work hours as the reason. Even if true, it is not written on the form.
  • Generic praise. "Your company is a leader in its industry" could apply to anyone. Refer to a product, a value or an initiative.
  • Machine-translated slang or idioms. They often turn into stiff or confusing Japanese.
  • Copying the same text everywhere. Recruiters notice.

How long should they be?

Fit the box. The rirekisho has a limited space for each, so the text must be short and clear, usually a few sentences. Do not shrink the font to squeeze in more. If you have more to say, put the extended jiko PR in the shokumukeirekisho and keep the rirekisho version to the strongest point. If you are working from a template, check how large the field is before you write. The rirekisho example shows a completed form.

Writing them from an English resume

The easiest source material is your existing English resume: take the strongest result from each job and turn it into the evidence line. If you want help, see how to convert an English resume to Japanese. Rireksho can also read an uploaded PDF or DOCX resume and write the 志望動機 and 自己PR for you in business Japanese. You then edit them in plain English requests before you download.

Let AI write your 志望動機 and 自己PR

The paid Rireksho pack includes AI-written 志望動機 and 自己PR in real business Japanese, plus editable Excel and Word files. Start free with a Japanese PDF, no credit card.

Create my 履歴書 free

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between jiko PR and shiboudouki?

自己PR (jiko PR) answers "what are you good at?" and focuses on your strength. 志望動機 (shiboudouki) answers "why do you want to work here?" and focuses on the company and role. Both appear on the rirekisho, and jiko PR usually repeats in the shokumukeirekisho.

Is a shiboudouki the same as a Japanese cover letter?

Close, but shorter. Japanese applications rarely use a separate cover letter. The shiboudouki box on the rirekisho, sometimes with a short note in the shokumukeirekisho, does the same job. When an employer does ask for a cover letter, it is usually a 送付状 (sofujo), a brief covering note that lists the documents you are sending.

How long should they be?

Fill the box on your form without cramming. A few focused sentences, usually somewhere around a short paragraph, reads better than a wall of text. If the field is blank-lined paper, aim for roughly the same length as the box suggests. A smaller form field means you need a tighter message.

Can I reuse the same text for every company?

You can reuse your jiko PR with small tweaks, but the shiboudouki must be specific to each company. Generic motivation is the most common reason these sections fail.

Is it okay to use ChatGPT or machine translation?

Machine translation of English text tends to sound like a foreign document: too casual, or too direct. Always check register (敬語), structure and whether the content really matches your experience before sending. Never submit claims you cannot back up in an interview.

Does Rireksho write these for me?

Yes. AI-written 志望動機 and 自己PR in business Japanese are part of the paid Complete Application Pack (one-time, 24 hours of access) and Premium Monthly. You can review and ask for changes in plain English before downloading. The free plan gives you a Japanese 履歴書 PDF with basic Japanese correction.

Related guides: Japanese resume basics, shokumukeirekisho, English resume to Japanese.