Some handy tips for those interviewing at a Japanese company!

Questions you will be asked during an interview:

"Why did you come to Japan?" / "Why do you want to work in Japan?"

• They will try to guide you towards the topic of anime, either indirectly or directly: "Why did you come here? You know, some people come here because they like anime... or manga..."
• They are trying to pigeonhole you.

Family questions

• "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
• "Where do your parents live?"
• "How old are they?"
• I'm still not sure about this one, but I think the interviewer is trying to gauge the likelihood that you will need to return home to take care of your family, or will get homesick.

"Where do you live?"

• Not sure about this one, but #1 in this article explains why they might ask a Japanese person this question.

"How much money did you make at your last job?"

• If you worked as an English Teacher and are applying for a high-paying position at a big company, they will only match the salary you made as an English Teacher. They are looking for an excuse to pay you peanuts.

Tactics interviewers use in Japan

• They might repeat the same questions a few times throughout the interview to pressure you into spilling more details or giving a different answer.
• After you are finished answering a question, the interviewer will assume an aggressive posture and stare intently at you without saying anything. This is another pressure test.
• If you ask a question that gives you any kind of self-reliance, they will get offended and take an aggressive tone. For example, if you ask about the order of command in the office ("Who will I report to?") they might respond "Why do you want to know THAT?". Or asking for a tour of the office. If they offer you a job before you have seen the office, or are hesitant to give you a tour and meet your future coworkers, that's a red flag.
• They will drill down on personal details of your life. They are looking for sensitive information that they can later use to manipulate you.

Questions you will NOT be asked during an interview

• "Are you willing to work until midnight every weekday, with no increase in salary?" (They expect you to)
• "Are you willing to work on weekends?" (They expect you to)