The rirekisho is a form, not a document the candidate designs. It has fixed boxes: name, date of birth, address, contact details, education and employment history in date order, licences and qualifications, and a short section on motivation. A photo is customary. It reads more like an application form than a CV.
The form has been changing. In 2021 MHLW published a model form that leaves gender as an optional field, and many employers now accept typed forms rather than handwritten ones.
What it means for a foreign employer
- It is not where the candidate sells themselves. The rirekisho records the facts. The case for the candidate is in the career history document that goes with it.
- It carries information you should not use. Date of birth, photo and family details appear by convention. Decide in advance which fields matter for the job and train interviewers to ignore the rest.
- Ask for an English CV as well, if the role needs one. A bilingual candidate will usually have one. Do not ask for a translated rirekisho; the format does not travel.
Sources
- MHLW model résumé form (2021), gender field optional.