Free Japanese Resume Templates履歴書テンプレート — fill online, download as PDF
Every Japanese resume template below is free. Open one in the editor, fill it in English, Japanese, or Nepali, and download a print-ready PDF in the exact A4 or A3 size Japanese employers expect — no account, no watermark. You can also download a blank 履歴書 template to print and fill in by hand, and switch between formats at any time without retyping your information.
The four core 履歴書 formats
JIS Standard Rirekisho · JIS規格 履歴書（A3見開き）
- Paper:
- A3 landscape (two A4 pages side by side)
- Best for:
- Conventional companies, government, finance, manufacturing
The classic Japanese resume layout that hiring managers have seen for decades. It devotes most of the sheet to your chronological education (学歴) and work history (職歴) tables, with the standard 30×40 mm photo box, ふりがな reading lines, commute time, dependents, and the 本人希望記入欄 request field — every cell positioned exactly where Japanese HR expects it.
JIS A4 Compact · JIS規格 A4縦
- Paper:
- A4 portrait, single page
- Best for:
- Email applications, part-time roles, quick submissions
The same JIS fields condensed onto one A4 portrait page. Choose this when an employer asks for an A4 rirekisho or when you are submitting by email and want a lighter document that still follows the standard structure.
MHLW Government Format · 厚生労働省様式 履歴書
- Paper:
- A4 portrait
- Best for:
- Most full-time applications in 2024+ — the modern default
In 2021 Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published a recommended resume format that removes the gender requirement, spouse, and commute fields. It balances personal data with a larger self-PR area, and many companies now treat it as the standard. If you are unsure which Japanese resume template to use, start here.
Modern / Tech Resume · モダン A4（IT・スタートアップ向け）
- Paper:
- A4 portrait
- Best for:
- Startups, IT, design, and casual-culture companies
A minimal single-column layout that keeps the essential rirekisho information but drops the rigid grid. Suited to companies that explicitly say 書式自由 (free format) — common in the startup and web industry.
Layouts for every kind of application
Beyond the core formats, the editor adapts the resume to the job you are applying for:
- New Graduate (新卒) — Replaces the empty work-history grid with prompts for research themes, seminars, and club activities — built for university students doing 就活.
- Mid-Career / Job Change (転職) — Adds resignation-reason and expanded skill-selling columns for experienced professionals switching companies.
- Part-Time & Arubaito (パート・アルバイト) — A compact single page centred on a weekly shift-availability grid instead of a deep career history.
- Dispatch Registration (派遣登録) — An itemised checklist of software, certifications, and typing speed for temporary-staffing agencies.
- English CV / Western Resume (英文履歴書) — A one-page, metrics-driven English document with no photo, age, or gender — for global tech hubs and multinationals in Japan.
Which Japanese resume template should I download?
For most full-time jobs, use the MHLW (厚生労働省) format — it is the government-recommended modern standard. Choose the JIS layout when applying to traditional companies that expect the classic form.
Students should use the new-grad layout, career changers the 転職 layout, and part-time applicants the compact arubaito sheet. Applying to a multinational? Use the English CV — and read our guide on when you also need a 職務経歴書.
Not sure how to fill in each field? Follow the step-by-step guide to writing a Japanese resume, covering the photo rules, date formats, 学歴・職歴 phrasing, and the self-PR section.
Template questions
Are these Japanese resume templates really free?+
Yes — every template on ResumeJP is completely free with no account, no email, and no watermark. You fill it in online and download a print-ready PDF instantly.
Can I download a blank rirekisho template to fill in by hand?+
Yes. Open any template in the editor and use the blank-template download to get an empty 履歴書 PDF at the correct A4 or A3 size for handwriting.
Which Japanese resume template do employers prefer?+
Most companies today accept the MHLW (厚生労働省) format, which is the government-recommended standard since 2021. Traditional companies may expect the classic JIS layout; both are available here.
Can I switch templates without retyping my information?+
Yes. Your data is kept as you switch between JIS, MHLW, modern, new-grad, part-time, and English CV layouts — the sheet reflows automatically.