Includes 16 industry breakdowns + exam instructions in China
Japan’s “Tokutei Ginō” is currently the core legal path for foreigners to enter Japan to engage in front-line work.
This article will not talk about macro policies, but will start from “how should I go”, and explain the system, industry, examination and realistic choices at once.
1. First give practical conclusions (important)
If you are in China and want to take a specific skill, the most realistic path is:
Take the skills test + Japanese → in China Get a certificate of qualification → Connect with a Japanese employer → apply for a Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa
Instead of:
- ❌ Go to Japan first to “see”
- ❌ Paying money and other intermediary “arrangements”
- ❌ Expect to be exempt from exams
2. The structure of the specified skill visa (only related to you)
Specified Skill No. 1 (Phase 1)
- Works
- Renewable (up to 5 years)
- Family members are not allowed
- Covering 16 industries
👉 99% start here
Specified Skill No. 2 (Upgrade)
- There are very few industries
- More demanding
- You can stay for a long time and bring your family
👉 This is “something to think about later”
3. Overall practical path (see the whole picture first)
Standard path:
1️⃣ Select industry
2️⃣ Register for the skills test
3️⃣ Pass the skills exam
4️⃣ Pass the Japanese language test
5️⃣ Get a certificate of conformity
6️⃣ Find a Japanese employer
7️⃣ Apply for status of residence
8️⃣ Apply for a visa to Japan
⚠️ Step 1 is wrong, and the rest are all wrong
4. “Practical dismantling” of 16 industries of specific skills
The following is the official 16 industries + feasibility + whether it can be tested in China.
(1) Factory manufacturing (manufacturing)
Reality evaluation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (most recommended)
- China can be examined: ✅
- Demand: Great
- Japanese language requirements: low
- Work content: assembly, processing, quality inspection, etc
👉 The most stable, mature, and most popular
(2) Catering industry
Reality evaluation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- China can be examined: ✅
- Demand: large
- Japanese Requirements: Medium
- Job content: kitchen, catering, simple pick-up
👉 The threshold is low, but the physical and time consumption is high.
(3) Nursing care (nursing care)
Realistic evaluation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (long-term route)
- China can be examined: ✅
- Demand: Extreme shortage of people
- Japanese language requirements: slightly higher
- Job content: elderly care, assisted living
👉 It can stay for a long time, but the psychological and physical pressure is not low.
(4) Construction industry
- China can be tested: ⚠️ (unstable)
- Salary: high
- Working intensity: high
👉 It is more suitable for people who already have experience in manual labor.
(5) Hotel and lodging industry
- China Exam: ⚠️ (Some Cities)
- Japanese language requirements: high
- Job description: front desk / guest room
👉 The service industry has higher requirements for communication.
(6) Agriculture
- China can be examined: ⚠️
- Location: Remote
- Income: Fair
👉 More suitable for people who accept local life.
(7) Fisheries
- China can be examined: ❌
- Risk: High
- Working environment: tough
👉 It is generally not recommended for novices.
(8) Aviation ground handling
- China can be examined: ❌
- Japanese language requirements: High
- Threshold: high
👉 The number of places is extremely small and unrealistic.
(9) Car maintenance
- China can be examined: ❌
- Technical requirements: high
(10) Shipbuilding and shipbuilding industry
- China can be examined: ❌
- Working environment: heavy industry
(11) Electrical and electronic information
- China can be examined: ❌
- Closer to a skilled visa
(12) Building cleaning
- China can be examined: ⚠️
- Job description: Commercial cleaning
(13) Element material industry
- China can be examined: ❌
- Preferential to Japanese local technicians
(14) Industrial machinery manufacturing
- China can be examined: ❌
(15) Agri-food manufacturing
- China can be examined: ⚠️
(16) Forestry
- China can be examined: ❌
5. Which industries are “most suitable for starting directly in China”?
Realistic priority (overall success rate):
1️⃣ Factory made
2️⃣ Catering
3️⃣ Care
👉 These three categories are the path to true “ordinary people friendly”
6. What is the skills test in China? (Practical perspective)
The skills test is not an “academic test”, but a job judgment test.
Common question types:
- Multiple-choice questions
- True or false
- Scenario questions
Core Investigation:
- Safety awareness
- Workflow
- Basic specifications
👉 The official positioning is very clear:
“Make sure you don’t mess around, not train experts.”
7. How to choose a Japanese test?
Choose one of the two:
- JLPT N4
- JFT-Basic (Daily Communication)
Practical suggestions:
- 👉 No Basic: Directly JFT-Basic
- 👉 I have learned Japanese: N4 / N3 are all available
8. Time & Cost
Timeline (common)
- and other exams: 1–2 months
- Exam preparation: 2–4 weeks
- Results: 1–2 weeks
👉 Overall 2–3 months
Cost (normal range)
- Skills test: hundreds ~ more than a thousand
- Japanese Language Test: Several hundred
⚠️ You don’t need 50,000 or 100,000
9. The most important reality reminder
- ❌ No “Exam-Free Specific Skills”
- ❌ No “wrapped”
- ❌ Those who collect a lot of money first are extremely risky
The real core is:
What industry you choose, not who you look for.
10. Conclusion
Japanese specific skills are not a “good life”,
But it is a legal, transparent, and controllable starting point.
If you want to:
- No more burning money
- No longer stuck in the training system
- Exchange 2–3 years for a stable export
👉 Then start by choosing an industry + taking the exam yourself.