Changing Jobs in Japan: How Resigning (Taishoku) Actually Works
Updated: 2026-09-05
Quick answer
Hi, I'm Miya, and I help newcomers settle into life in Japan. Changing jobs here follows a fairly predictable rhythm: you tell your manager first, agree on a last working day, hand back what belongs to the company, and collect the documents your next employer will ask for. Do those four things in order and the rest tends to fall into place.
The part people underestimate is timing. Give notice earlier than feels necessary, keep every document you receive on the way out, and leave yourself a little breathing room between roles. This guide is a general orientation, not legal advice, so check the official labour guidance below for anything specific to your contract or situation.
Giving notice: talk to your manager first
In most Japanese workplaces, resignation starts as a conversation, not a form. You tell your direct manager that you intend to leave, ideally in a private setting, before anything is put in writing or shared widely. A written notice of resignation (退職届 or 退職願) usually follows once you've agreed on the direction, and many companies have their own template or process for it.
Keep the tone calm and factual. You don't have to explain every reason, and a short, respectful message is enough. Handling this step gracefully protects your reference and your professional network, which in Japan can be surprisingly small within an industry.
The notice period and last day
Your employment contract and the company's work rules (就業規則) will state how much notice they expect, so read those first. A common practical norm is to give notice roughly a month or more ahead, which leaves time to hand over your work, use up remaining paid leave, and let both sides plan cleanly.
Try to settle the exact last working day early, because it drives everything else: when your handover finishes, when your insurance and pension status changes, and when your next job can realistically begin. If your contract terms are unclear, the official labour guidance linked below explains how notice and contracts generally work.
What you hand back, and what you receive
On the way out you'll return company property: your ID or building pass, laptop and devices, any corporate cards, keys, and your health insurance card (健康保険証), which stops being valid once you leave. Clear this list with HR so nothing is left hanging after your last day.
In return, make sure you actually receive the documents that matter for your next step. The big ones are the employment insurance slip (離職票, needed if there's a gap or you visit Hello Work), your pension record book or number (年金手帳・基礎年金番号), the withholding tax certificate (源泉徴収票) for the year, and confirmation that your employment insurance has been processed. Keep them together in one folder.
The gap between jobs
If your new job starts the day after the old one ends, your next employer usually handles enrolling you back into health insurance and pension, and you mostly just hand over the documents above. Smooth, but rare in practice.
If there's even a short gap, you may need to manage the in-between yourself: switching to national health insurance (国民健康保険) and the national pension (国民年金) at your city or ward office, and visiting Hello Work if you're looking for the next role. Doing this promptly keeps your coverage continuous and avoids paperwork headaches later. The official labour and municipal guidance is the right place for the exact procedure in your area.
Keep your phone number ready for the handover
One quiet detail ties this whole transition together: your phone. Your next employer's HR team and any recruiting agency almost always reach you by phone, and a lot of onboarding steps, from scheduling your start to verifying your identity, are confirmed by SMS. An active Japanese number keeps that handover moving instead of stalling on a missed call or a code that never arrives.
If you're still getting set up, connecting a Japanese number is quicker than most people expect. With your residence card you can complete identity verification (eKYC) online and activate an eSIM the same day, often in about fifteen minutes, so you're reachable before your new team even sends the first message. It's a small step that saves a lot of back-and-forth when everything else is in motion.
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