April 27, 2026

Japan's Talent Hunt Goes Global

Companies Step Up Recruitment of Japanese Students Studying Overseas

Japan's competition for global talent is entering a new phase. Facing persistent labor shortages and an increasingly international business environment, Japanese companies are expanding recruitment efforts beyond the country's borders to attract Japanese students studying overseas.　One of the latest examples is Japan Airlines (JAL), which will launch its first overseas internship program this winter for Japanese students enrolled at universities in Honolulu, London, and Sydney. The initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in Japan's airline industry, allows students to complete internships locally without having to return to Japan.

The five-day program combines online business briefings with hands-on work experience at JAL's overseas offices. According to the airline, the program was designed in response to requests from students who found it difficult to participate in traditional internships held in Japan during the academic year. "Our goal is to present JAL as a globally minded Japanese company," said Katsuyasu Takahashi, who oversees recruitment. The airline plans to expand both the number of internship locations and the number of participating students in the future.

Competing with Global Employers

The move reflects intensifying competition for internationally minded Japanese graduates. Overseas career fairs, including the well-known Boston Career Forum, have largely recovered to pre-pandemic levels, attracting nearly 200 participating companies and around 9,000 students this year. The competition is no longer limited to Japanese employers. Global companies, including major technology firms, actively recruit at these events, forcing Japanese businesses to rethink traditional hiring practices.

Companies from a wide range of industries are joining the search. ONODERA Group, which operates luxury sushi restaurants and hospitality businesses worldwide, is participating in the Boston Career Forum for the first time and is seeking candidates with an international outlook who can bring fresh perspectives to the organization. Industry observers say companies increasingly view recruiting overseas Japanese students as a long-term investment in global competitiveness rather than simply filling vacancies.

A Shift Toward Japan

Interestingly, the talent flow may also be beginning to reverse. This summer, startup TKF Project organized a recruitment event in Tokyo for Japanese students temporarily returning from universities abroad. Fifty-one companies, including Toyota Motor and Dentsu, participated, attracting more than 1,200 registered students. According to TKF Project CEO Takeharu Yamashita, uncertainty surrounding U.S. immigration and employment policies has encouraged more students to consider building their careers in Japan after graduation.

For Japanese companies, this presents a timely opportunity. As demographic challenges continue to shrink the domestic workforce, recruiting globally experienced Japanese graduates is becoming an increasingly important strategy. Rather than waiting for talent to return home, companies are now reaching out directly to students wherever they study—reflecting a fundamental shift in how Japan competes for the next generation of global professionals.