Japan
Ireland
Exchange rates: European Central Bank reference rates, 2026-10-23. Japan: Tokyo, Kyokai Kenpo, salary paid evenly each month with no bonus, no dependants. Ireland: Employee in Dublin, Irish tax resident and domiciled, an Irish national (no expatriate relief such as SARP), single with no children, salary only paid evenly as monthly pay (no bonus or benefits in kind), calendar tax year 2026. Income tax with the single person's standard rate cut-off and the personal and employee (PAYE) tax credits only; Universal Social Charge at the standard rates; PRSI Class A (A1). PRSI is shown as the 2026 annual average because the rates rose on 1 October 2026 (employee 4.2% to 4.35%, employer 11.25% to 11.40%). Employer side includes the MyFutureFund auto-enrolment minimum, assuming the employee is in scope (no occupational pension).
At three salary levels
| Salary (US$ equivalent) | Japan | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | Cost 1.14× Keeps 73% ¥9,408,202 | Cost 1.13× Keeps 78% €53,605 |
| $120,000 | Cost 1.10× Keeps 66% ¥18,816,403 | Cost 1.12× Keeps 63% €107,210 |
| $250,000 | Cost 1.05× Keeps 57% ¥39,200,840 | Cost 1.12× Keeps 55% €223,354 |
Employment rules compared
| Japan | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory annual leave | 10 days after six months, rising to 20; 5 days must be taken | 4 working weeks; 20-25 days common |
| Public holidays in 2026 | 18 | 10 (Dublin) |
| Notice of dismissal | 30 days, or pay in lieu | 1-8 weeks by service |
| Severance required by law | None | Redundancy: 2 weeks/year + 1 week (€600/wk cap) |
| Typical negotiated exit | Commonly 3–6 months’ pay plus unused leave | No official benchmark |
| Probation | Commonly 3–6 months; dismissal still needs grounds | Up to 6 months (12 exceptionally) |
| Working hours | 40 a week; overtime capped at 45 a month and 360 a year | 48 h/week average |
| How hard is dismissal? | Very hard: needs objectively reasonable grounds | Moderate: fair grounds and procedure after 12 months |
| Women in management (ILO) | 14.5% (2023) | 37.8% (2024) |
Questions
What does a US$120,000 salary cost an employer in Japan and Ireland?
With the rates and exchange rates as of October 2026, in Japan (Tokyo, ¥18,816,403) the employer’s total cost is 1.10 times the salary; in Ireland (€107,210) it is 1.12 times. The employee keeps 66% of salary in Japan and 63% in Ireland.
Is it cheaper to employ someone in Japan or Ireland?
At this salary, the employer’s on-cost is lower in Japan. The ratio changes with pay, though: where contributions are capped, the on-cost falls as a share of salary for high earners. Enter the real salary in the calculator above to compare.
How do notice and severance compare?
Japan: 30 days, or pay in lieu; no severance is required by law, and negotiated exits are commonly 3–6 months’ pay plus unused leave. Ireland: notice is 1-8 weeks by service; severance required by law: redundancy: 2 weeks/year + 1 week (€600/wk cap); typical negotiated exit: no official benchmark.
Which has more paid leave and public holidays?
Japan: 10 days after six months, rising to 20; 5 days must be taken, and 18 public holidays in 2026. Ireland: 4 working weeks; 20-25 days common, and 10 public holidays in 2026.
Sources: Japan (Kyokai Kenpo, Japan Pension Service, MHLW, National Tax Agency, MIC). Ireland: every rate and rule is listed with its primary source on Ireland's HR data. Exchange rates: ECB reference rates (2026-10-23); for currencies the ECB does not quote, the central bank's rate.
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