Happy New Year!

We look forward to working with you again in 2025.

The year 2025 (Reiwa 7) has begun.

This year, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) will once again be held twice, in July and December.

The first test of 2025, scheduled for July, will have its dates announced in early February. The application period will run from mid-March to mid-April, lasting only one month, so be sure to mark your calendar and apply in time.

As the most widely recognized Japanese proficiency test, the JLPT is only held twice a year.

If you are planning to take the exam, please keep this in mind.

The tests are conducted across various locations in Japan and overseas.

For detailed information, please refer to the official website (link below).

The test is divided into five levels of difficulty: N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5, in descending order of difficulty. Each level includes sections on “Reading,” “Kanji,” and “Listening.”

The highest level,N1,

is defined as the ability to understand Japanese used in a wide range of contexts. Those who pass N1 can read editorials in newspapers and engage in discussions. N1 is often considered sufficient for working in a Japanese-speaking environment, and many major Japanese companies require foreign employees to hold N1 or higher.

The next level, N2,

is defined as the ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations and to some extent in a broader range of contexts. At this level, you can read newspapers and magazines, converse at near-natural speed, and use kanji and honorific language appropriately. N2 is generally considered the minimum level required for foreign employees in Japanese companies.

N3,

which is the middle level, indicates the ability to engage in slow-paced daily conversations. Below that, N4 is considered the minimum level required for Specified Skilled Workers (SSW). However, with N5, there are still many kanji that cannot be read, which might raise concerns for employers.

One of our clients,

who holds an N5 level certification, experienced a situation where their application for a “Secondhand Dealer Manager” license was denied due to insufficient Japanese language skills after establishing a company and applying for a secondhand dealer permit. (For more details, please refer to a separate article we will publish soon.)

Meanwhile, preliminary results for the second JLPT exam of 2024, held on December 1, have been released. The total number of applicants, both domestic and overseas, reached an all-time high.

Our company provides services related to foreign employee management, residence status applications and changes, and labor management.

The first consultation is free of charge. Feel free to contact us anytime!

Reference: JLPT Official Website 　https://www.jlpt.jp/index.html