Finding a job in Chiba

Chiba
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Updated 2022-12-20 13:03

Chiba is sometimes mistaken as an extension of Tokyo. The fact that it is part of the Greater Tokyo area has contributed to this confusion. But Chiba is the capital of its eponymous prefecture and is an economic pillar of Japan. Which sectors are the most attractive there? How to find a job in Chiba?

Mapping Chiba

Chiba literally translates into thousand leaves in English. Behind this name is that of a capital, of a city, and of a Japanese prefecture adjacent to Tokyo. Chiba prefecture has 6 districts: Chûô-ku, the center district, Hanamigawa-ku, Inage-ku, Midori-ku, Mihama-ku and Wakaba-ku. Most of its inhabitants are concentrated in Chiba City and according to the Statistics Bureau of Japan, 974,951 people were living in the city in 2020. Chûô district follows, with 211,736 inhabitants. Then Hanamigawa with a population of 177,328, Inage with 160,582, Mihama with 148,944, Wakaba with 146,940 and Midori with 129,421 inhabitants.

Distribution of the population 

97% of Chiba's population is Japanese and aged between 30 and 70. The 40-60 segment comprises most of its residents, while 145,195 inhabitants are between 40 and 49 years old. One hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred one people are between 50 and 59 years old. The 70–79-year-olds represent the 3rd largest population segment, with 133,301 inhabitants, while those in their thirties barely exceed 100,000. In Japan, the aging population can be seen in the figures and observed daily. (figures: Statistics Bureau of Japan)

Living in Chiba

The city extends over 271.8km², with a population density of nearly 3,600 inhabitants per km². That's a lot! Chiba's capital city has a dynamic economy, partly due to its proximity to Tokyo. The Narita airport is also located in Chiba. Tourists often think they are landing in Tokyo when they are, in fact, landing in Narita, a city in the Chiba prefecture (to land in Tokyo, you have to choose Haneda airport). But Chiba is not meant to remain in the shadow of the sprawling capital. The local authorities boast of its strengths, starting with its geographical position. For foreigners looking for a job in Japan, choosing Chiba has several benefits: life is less expensive than in Tokyo, and job opportunities offer good career prospects.

Chiba's economy

According to official figures, Chiba's economy is worth more than 3.9 billion yen, which makes the city an economic powerhouse. The Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications lists more than 30,000 companies based in the city. As a matter of fact, Chiba has set up a subsidies scheme to facilitate the setting up of new companies in the city. It mainly applies to the purchase of new factories, new office buildings, business premises, etc. These subsidies benefit both companies and workers. Depending on the amount the new company plans to invest in Chiba, the city can provide up to 500 million yen in tax assistance over 5 years. It can also provide a 500,000-yen allowance for any worker who moves to Chiba or who already lives there.

With these aids and incentive programs, Chiba has made its objectives simple and clear. The city seriously intends to become a Japanese "Silicon Valley" and for this, it can also count on its 3 hubs: The Chiba city center, The Makuhari new city center and the Soga sub-urban.

Chiba City Center

The Chiba City Center is a concentration of companies in the fields of information and communication, trade, and business (management, finance). 

Makuhari New City Center

The Makuhari New City Center focuses on innovation and "international spirit". It offers a wide range of services to make life easier for businesses. It capitalizes on its expertise in trade. Popular with tourists and entrepreneurs alike, Makuhari is designed to be a new stronghold for international trade.

Soga Sub Urban

Soga Sub Urban offers an ecosystem based on the start-up concept with dedicated residences and parks, among other amenities. It also operates in the commercial and business spheres.

Sectors that are recruiting in Chiba

Industry

Driven by its powerhouse, Chiba city, the prefecture is in the top 10 of the country's largest industrial centers. Its major areas of expertise include the chemical, petroleum, and steel industries. Together, they produce more than 50% of the prefecture's wealth.

Trade and commerce

Along with industry, the service sector is another heavyweight in the prefecture's economy. It is especially in Chiba city that things happen, with ultramodern hubs focusing mainly on retail, like the impressive shopping and leisure center Makuhari mall AEON. It shares the stage with the Mitsui outlet park Makuhari, the Harbor city SOGA or the Chiba PARCO. 

PARCO is a giant in the fashion sector that owns stores all over Japan, while AEON is a holding company, a retail behemoth that owns 24/7 convenience stores, pharmacies, super and hypermarkets, shopping malls, and more. AEON's HQ is also a symbol of success. The company's head office is located in the AEON Tower in Chiba city,

Agriculture and fisheries

In Japan, there's a government-driven experiment that aims at reinvesting in the countryside. It is referred to as the "Return to The Countryside Program". Between 2012 and 2019, nearly 600 municipalities, including Chiba, were involved in the experiment. With its important agricultural and fish farming sectors, Chiba Prefecture is one of the country's biggest suppliers in terms of vegetables, fruits, and fish, which Tokyoites consume abundantly. This is how the geographical position of Chiba in Tokyo Bay also contributes to the dynamism of its thriving agricultural and fish industry.

Chiba's major corporations

Like Yokohama, Chiba benefits from its advantageous geographical position to attract companies. The prefecture has Narita and its international airport. With the city having hubs like the Makuhari New City open to the international markets, many Japanese commercial juggernauts are continuously investing in Chiba.

Businesses related to Narita Airport

Narita is one of Japan's gateways to the world. The city counts many companies related to the aviation industry, starting with Narita International Airport itself. Other local companies like Prologis, GLP Japan, Nippon express company, Kinetsu world express, etc., are taking advantage of Narita's influence. This is also the case for real estate, hotel and restaurant companies that seek to capitalize on the "Narita effect".

Companies in the medical sector

Arcturus Therapeutics, an American company manufacturing drugs based on RNA Messenger technologies, has decided to set up in Kashiwa, a city in Chiba Prefecture. Production is expected to begin next year. Arjuna Therapeutics, a Spanish company that develops treatments for refractory cancers, was also set up in Kashiwa last year.

The food industry

Among the big corporations based in Chiba, there's Kikkoman, world-famous for its soy sauces. But they are not the only ones. Other big local companies such as Yamasa Corporation, Ishii Food and Japan Foods have also set up business there.

As a result, all of these companies today represent an immense pool of career opportunities for foreigners in Chiba, and more foreign companies are coming in.  In 2020, for instance, Chiba city saw the arrival of the American company Kinetic Technologies, which specializes in the production of semiconductors that have become a very much sought-after commodity since COVID.

Chiba: The sharing economy

Local authorities are convinced that the combination of nature and economy can be profitable. And the Chiba prefecture would like to be the demonstration of this concept, with its wide countryside and urban areas. As an agricultural and industrial powerhouse, the prefecture cultivates its uniqueness. Both sectors rely on each other and are believed to benefit from one another. Innovation helps agriculture, which in turn helps innovation. This is the spirit of Chiba, summarized in the term "sharing economy".

The 3 "eco-economic" projects of Chiba 

The first project concerns the entire prefecture, particularly the Wakaba and Midori districts, where nature and agriculture are prevalent. The project is about creating "special zones" dedicated to green tourism and accommodation for visitors. Its prime objectives are to promote the regional economy and to reconcile agriculture and economy.

Regarding transportation, the city of Chiba has rethought its infrastructure to allow more space for bicycles. The project, named "ShareCycle", started in 2018 with a test on 110 bikes positioned on the way from Chiba Station to JR Kaihim Makuhari Station. The operation was so successful that it grew to a monthly usage of 15,000 bikes in the same year. 

Also in Chiba City is a 3rd project, called "Chiba report" and nicknamed Chiba Repo for short. It is about inviting all the residents to report any everyday-life problem they encounter via a dedicated app. There again, the objective is to improve public services and utilities.

Assessing the sharing economy concept

All these initiatives have definitely had a positive impact on Chiba's economy. As a result of these innovative projects, new businesses are being created in the region. Chiba Repo is mobilizing developers and engineers, ShareCycle is bringing in bike builders and repair shops, and the Special Zones are boosting eco-friendly tourism and heftily supporting the local economy. For expats, these are all career opportunities to consider in Chiba.

How to look for a job in Chiba according to your situation?

Before you begin your job search in Chiba, ask yourself and answer the following questions:

  • What is your employment status? 
  • On what visa are you traveling to Japan
  • Do you have a student visa or a Japanese Working Holiday Visa (WHV)? 
  • Are you applying for a job from your country? 
  • What is your personal situation? Are you single or married? 
  • Are you moving to Japan as a couple, with or without children? 
  • What do your family and friends think of your move to Japan
  • And if you are coming to Japan for a long period of time, like more than 90 days, what type of position are you looking to occupy?

Of course, you will need to deploy different tactics depending on the type of work you will be seeking, but keep in mind that your visa will affect the type of jobs you may apply for. On a student visa or WHV, for instance, you can only work 28 hours per week, and you are not allowed to work in the nightlife sector.

Small Jobs, called "baito" in Japanese

Although since COVID, it's said that "you can find a "baito" on every street corner" seems to have become less relevant, there are still a lot of jobs available in Chiba. In fact, you don't need to be highly qualified to get a job there, especially in sharehouses, catering, cafes, restaurants, etc. In some cases, they won't even ask you to be fluent in Japanese. 
In other words, “baitos” will be less demanding on you because you can be easily replaced. However, keep in mind that no company will sponsor you for a "baito". It is too much paperwork for them, and these jobs offer almost no return on investment. Also, keep in mind that it is important to learn Japanese if you want to land a job. You will get better deals and be more comfortable at work, especially if the company is Japanese.

Open-ended employment (seishain contract)

This is the kind of job that companies will definitely endorse, and this is what many foreigners who want to work in Japan are looking for. The "seishain" contract is much more difficult to obtain than the job itself. The entry requirements are stricter, and besides having the right degrees and skills, you will need to pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or JLPT (Nihongo Nôryoku Shiken). Basically, companies require Level 2 (N2) which is an advanced intermediate level, but more and more companies are asking for level 1, the bilingual level.

Job search in Chiba

General and specialized job websites, unsolicited job applications, social media, Japanese and international associations, you name it! All these tactics work, and you should activate any of them, if not all, to find a job in Chiba. Not surprisingly, you will get better results if you start searching in Japanese, hence the importance of having a good command of the language. English is, of course, a professional advantage, but Japanese is still a must. It is the national language, and learning it will prove your motivation and your willingness to integrate.

Chiba or Tokyo?

Isn't Tokyo a better choice when it comes to looking for a job? As the capital city, Tokyo technically has more employment opportunities to offer. But one can easily opt for commuting daily and take advantage of the cheaper rents in Chiba while aspiring to potentially higher salaries in the Japanese capital. This is indeed a sound argument. By rapid rail, Chiba station is only 40 minutes away from Tokyo station. 
Many foreigners fear that they won't find work if they move away from the capital, and this concern has been exacerbated since COVID. But you can bet on Chiba, especially if you have strong skills in the fields that drive the region's economy.

Working in Chiba: Some extra tips

Be patient and bold. Many foreigners dream of living and working in Japan. Be organized, and start your job hunt as early as possible. For example, if you are on a temporary work permit in Japan, don't wait until the end of your visa to look for a job. 

Avoid mentioning your dream of immigrating to Japan in your WHV application. The Japan Working Holiday Visa only lasts for one year, with an obligation to leave the territory. Show that you understand the spirit of the visa and provide a well-balanced plan. Once in Japan, you will be free to look for a job. If you find one, remember that you are limited to 28 hours per week on the Working Holiday Visa.

Useful links:

Chiba Prefecture website

Chiba City

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