Tokutei Ginou Work Sectors: The 16 Fields Now Open to Foreign Workers in Japan

Japan is no longer a country that opens its doors to foreign workers only a crack. Through the Tokutei Ginou (Specified Skilled Worker) program, the Japanese government now offers 16 work sectors covering the most essential parts of its economy: from elderly care and hospitality to railway operations. This isn't just a list of job openings. It's a blueprint of which sectors Japan considers too important to leave short-staffed.

Understanding this list is the single most strategic first step before you decide to make the move.

The 16 Work Sectors of Tokutei Ginou 1

Based on the latest regulations from Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA), here are all the sectors currently open:

  1. Nursing care (kaigo)
  2. Building cleaning
  3. Accommodation and hospitality
  4. Restaurants and food service
  5. Industrial product manufacturing (parts, machinery, electronics)
  6. Construction
  7. Shipbuilding and ship machinery
  8. Automobile maintenance
  9. Aviation (ground handling and aircraft maintenance)
  10. Agriculture
  11. Fishery
  12. Food and beverage manufacturing
  13. Road transport (taxis, buses, logistics trucking) — new sector
  14. Railways (train drivers, track maintenance, station services) — new sector
  15. Forestry — new sector
  16. Wood industry — new sector

The last four sectors (numbers 13–16) are the newest additions. This is the first time Japan has allowed foreign workers to help run its public transport infrastructure.

Why Are Railways and Transport Now Open?

This decision didn't come out of nowhere. Since April 2024, the Japanese government has enforced strict overtime limits for truck and bus drivers as part of an effort to improve working conditions. As a result, the country's logistics capacity shrank drastically. Rural bus routes were cut, and goods distribution took a hit.

At the same time, the post-pandemic tourism boom has put airports and transport networks under growing pressure. Japan needs thousands of extra workers in this sector, and there simply aren't enough local workers available.

Adding transport and railways to Tokutei Ginou isn't really about creating opportunities for foreign workers. It's a rescue operation for Japan's own infrastructure system.

Tokutei Ginou 2: Not Every Sector Has a Path Up

Tokutei Ginou 1 (TG 1) is the entry-level status, with a maximum stay of 5 years and no right to bring family. TG 2 is the long-term goal: unlimited stay, and you can bring your spouse and children.

However, of the 16 TG 1 sectors, only 11 have a path up to TG 2. One field notably missing from that list is kaigo (nursing care).

That's not because kaigo is considered less important. Quite the opposite. Workers in the kaigo sector have their own, more prestigious route: taking the national kaigo fukushishi (certified care worker) certification, the same exam Japanese citizens take. Pass it, and your visa status switches directly to a dedicated caregiving residence status, with rights equivalent to TG 2, without ever going through the Tokutei Ginou track at all.

Your Rights as a Tokutei Ginou 1 Holder

One TG 1 rule that's often overlooked but genuinely important: employers are required to pay you the same as or more than local Japanese workers doing the same job. This isn't generosity. It's a protection mechanism designed to stop companies from using foreign workers as cheap replacements for local staff.

On top of that, the company or Registered Support Organization (登録支援機関) supporting you is required to provide 10 official support services, from airport pickup and help with administrative paperwork to orientation for life in Japan and work-related consultations in your own language.

How to Choose the Right Sector for You

With 16 options on the table, the best decision usually starts with two simple questions: which field is closest to your experience or interests, and do you plan to settle in Japan long-term or not?

If you were previously a Ginou Jisshu (technical intern) participant, there's a bonus: you're exempt from the language and skills exams as long as you continue in the same field. It's the fastest route into TG 1 without starting from zero.

Nuance Union, as a Registered Support Organization, is ready to help you map out your sector options, prepare your documents, and support the whole process until you arrive in Japan. Get in touch with us for a consultation.