Free Japanese Resume Templates: MHLW Excel and PDF Downloads

You can obtain free Japanese rirekisho templates through Hello Work’s official links to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) format examples. The table below links directly to four Excel and PDF files. Check the employer’s required form, paper size and submission method before choosing one: an official example does not override an employer’s instructions.

These are Japanese-language forms, not English CV templates. A rirekisho summarizes education, employment and other personal application information. A shokumu keirekisho gives more detail about your work. If both are requested, do not assume that expanding the resume’s work-history section replaces the second document.

Official free downloads

The following links appeared on the official Hello Work distribution page when checked on October 7, 2026. The A3 PDF has one page and the A4 PDF has two. For Excel, inspect the page settings after opening the .xls file in your software.

We checked the contents of both PDFs. We confirmed the two Excel links on the official listing, but did not verify editing or printing the downloaded workbooks. Test them with your own device and software. If a direct link does not open, return to the official listing. A link check is not a guarantee of compatibility with every application.

Write down the submission requirements

Read the vacancy notice and application form before entering your details. The requirements may be in different places: an attachment field might accept only PDF even where the general instructions say “resume.” Record the following points so that you do not finish the wrong document.

If something is unclear, ask a focused question. For example: “May I use the MHLW A4 example and submit the completed two-page document as a PDF?” This is a fictional inquiry example, not a universal requirement. Check the information already supplied before contacting the employer.

Choose a format you can complete and check

Excel can be useful when you expect to revise entries. However, column widths, line wrapping, picture position and page breaks may change when a workbook is opened in different software. Opening the file successfully does not prove that its print layout is correct. Preview every page after entering your information.

A PDF can be printed for handwriting. Do not assume these files are fillable forms. If you want to type directly into a PDF, confirm what your software supports. If a completed PDF is required, export or capture the completed document in a way the employer accepts, then reopen that final file and inspect the text.

A3 and A4 are available layout sizes, not different levels of professionalism. Keep both pages of the A4 version together; check that your printer supports the A3 version. Choose according to the employer’s instructions and readable output. There is no general evidence here that either size improves screening results.

The official listing checked on October 7, 2026 did not contain Word or Pages download links. If you use another provider’s template, check that provider and its terms separately. This page does not offer an official MHLW Word file.

What is distinctive about the ministry example?

The ministry created the example with fair recruitment in mind. Its comparison with the former example identifies an optional gender field and the removal of four fields concerning commuting time and family circumstances. You may leave the gender field unfilled. The photo space also refers to cases where a photo is needed; first establish the employer’s requirement.

Complete and submit it in six steps

1. Keep the original download and make a clearly named working copy.
2. Enter actual dates and full names for education, employment and qualifications.
3. Adapt your motivation and requests to the particular job.
4. Save in the requested format; do not change the delivery method simply because PDF is convenient.
5. Check all pages for missing text, displaced photos, awkward page breaks and blank pages.
6. Check the file name, size, recipient and submission deadline.

A fictional file name such as “Rirekisho_HanakoYamada_20261007.pdf” identifies the document without adding an address or phone number. Use the employer’s naming convention where one is supplied. Keep the final submission separate from working versions to avoid attaching an earlier copy.

The final review

• Are all required pages present and readable?
• Have you replaced every sample name and date?
• Do the dates match your records?
• Is the photo requirement satisfied?
• Have you removed another employer’s name or motivation text?
• Can you open the actual attachment you will send?

If you need help with the content rather than the file format, Hello Work’s application-document guidance also describes document advice services. Choose the required format first, then make the information accurate and easy to follow.

Related guides

• Education on a Japanese Resume: Examples and Enrollment/Graduation Year Checks (Japanese)
• Japanese Resume Photos: Requirements, Size, Attire and Submission (Japanese)
• From Part-Time Work to a Regular Employee Role in Japan: 5 Job Search Steps (Japanese)

The linked Otame4 guides are in Japanese.

Sources and further reading

• Hello Work: preparing a Japanese resume and work history document
• MHLW Japanese resume example: A4 PDF
• MHLW: differences between the former JIS example and the ministry example
• MHLW Japanese resume example: A3 PDF
• MHLW Japanese resume example: A3 Excel
• MHLW Japanese resume example: A4 Excel