Awards and Penalties on a Japanese Resume: Writing “None” and Checking the Scope
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Category: Job Search Preparation & Interview Tips
Shobatsu (賞罰), often translated as “awards and penalties,” is a field on some Japanese resumes for information about awards and criminal penalties. The scope depends on the form and the employer's instructions. Read both before deciding what is relevant.
Many resume formats have no such field. Its absence does not create a universal requirement to add one yourself.
Awards, penalties, qualifications, and internal evaluations
- Awards: Facts about an award, such as public recognition. Check the scope requested by the form.
- Penalties: Matters such as criminal penalties covered by the request. Consider the precise question and individual circumstances.
- Qualifications: Licenses and qualifications usually belong in the qualifications section.
- Internal awards: Recognition from an employer may be better explained as an achievement in your work-history document.
- Workplace warnings or internal disciplinary action: These are not identical to criminal penalties. Check what the employer is asking about.
Do not assume that every internal award belongs in this field or that every minor violation must be listed as a penalty.
How to write “no awards or penalties”
If the form has a field and you have no relevant matters within its requested scope, one possible entry is “賞罰なし” (shobatsu nashi: no awards or penalties). Use the specified checkbox or selection if the form provides one.
For a free-text field, write the entry directly. If the format does not require a date, you can leave the year and month blank. In a dedicated awards-and-penalties section, write the entry in the content column and follow the form's convention on adding “以上” (end of entries).
If an entry is required in a section shared with education and work history, separate the heading, “no awards or penalties,” and closing line as appropriate. First confirm whether adding that section is actually requested.
For a yes/no field, select “no” and follow any supplementary instructions. If there is no field, you would not normally add one; clarify the scope if the employer asks separately.
You do not need to invent a date to write “none.” If an online form requires a date in an unclear situation, ask the hiring contact how to enter the information.
An example of recording an award
The following is a format example, not a statement of actual awards. Replace placeholders with the official name and actual date.
Year | Month | Details |
|---|---|---|
20XX | X | Received [official award name] from [prefecture or awarding body] |
20XX | X | Received [award name] at [competition name], organized by [organization] |
End of entries (以上) |
Check that the award fits the requested scope. Add the organizer or category if the name alone is unclear. For an internal award, a work-history document may communicate more by explaining the eligible group, criteria, and your contribution.
If you are unsure about criminal penalties
Whether information must be provided can depend on the judgment, date, exact question, and legal treatment. Neither “you never need to mention the past” nor “you must always list everything” is a reliable general answer. If a particular history raises questions, seek individual advice before preparing the response.
Japan introduced kokin-kei (拘禁刑), a new custodial sentence, on June 1, 2025. Older judgments may use choeki (懲役) or kinko (禁錮). If an entry is necessary, check the actual record and instructions instead of automatically replacing the original terminology with today's term.
- A field says only “awards and penalties”: Clarify what it covers.
- An application asks a specific question: Check its exact wording and scope.
- You cannot assess an earlier criminal penalty: Seek advice on the judgment, date, and legal treatment.
- You have an internal sanction or traffic-related matter: Distinguish the facts from criminal penalties and review the question.
- You have submitted an inaccurate entry: Check promptly whether and how it should be corrected.
Check the resume format itself
The JIS resume sample was removed in July 2020, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides a resume sample. Do not assume a resume must contain an awards-and-penalties field because someone calls it a JIS format. Check whether the employer requires its own form.
Before submitting
- Read the required format and instructions.
- Distinguish awards, qualifications, and internal evaluations.
- Verify official names and dates.
- Clarify unclear requests.
- Make sure you can explain the entries accurately in an interview.
References
Information was checked on October 1, 2026. Sources are in Japanese.
