Resignation Letter Japan: An Easy Guide to Leave Your Job
A resignation letter in Japan (退職届, taishoku todoke) is a formal written notice submitted to your employer stating your intention to resign, your desired last working day, and a standard personal reason phrase.
Under Civil Code Article 627, employees on indefinite contracts can resign with two weeks' notice, though most Japanese companies expect one month. This guide covers the legal notice period, the three types of resignation documents, how to write each one, and what documents to request before your final day.
Pre-resignation steps
If you are considering resigning soon, here are a few key things to know and do before you take that step.
What to do before resigning in Japan
1. Have a job before you resign.
If you want to change jobs, make sure you have a new job lined up before you hand in your resignation letter in Japan.
Having a job relieves visa stress, especially if you are a foreigner. If not, staying with your current job is best until you receive a job offer.
2. Use any leftover leave.
You're leaving the company soon. You might as well use up any paid leave you have left.
3. Inform your immediate supervisor.
At this step, you'll be transitioning out of the company. During this time, you'll fill out a proper notice, complete any necessary documents, and train or hand over any duties to the other employees.
4. Return all company property.
Before you do so, transfer any important or personal files from your work laptop to your personal e-mail address or laptop.
Other company property can include your employee ID, health insurance card, company phones and laptops, documents related to your work, etc. Check with your HR department for any other items you need to return.
Additionally, you can ask any of your former colleagues' contact information to keep in touch with them.
5. Request documents from your company.
There are important documents you need to request, such as:
Resignation certificate (退職証明書, taishoku shomeisho): Certifies your employment period, job title, and reason for leaving. Needed for visa procedures, new employer onboarding, and general proof of resignation.
離職票 (rishokuhyō): Issued by Hello Work (the public employment office) via a request from your employer. Required specifically to claim unemployment insurance benefits. Only relevant if you are not moving immediately to a new job.
Withholding tax slip
Unemployment insurance certificate and Basic Pension Number Notice (基礎年金番号通知書) or pension book (年金手帳) if you arrived in Japan before April 2022.
Certificate of health insurance coverage loss
Reference letter
These documents are important for your unemployment status, especially if you do not have a job lined up.
Can I use a resignation agency to quit my job in Japan?
Resignation agencies, known in Japanese as 退職代行 (taishoku daiko), are services that contact your employer on your behalf to communicate your intention to resign.
They became widely used in Japan because the cultural pressure to stay, endure confrontational conversations with management, or simply avoid the process entirely created genuine demand for an intermediary. As of 2025, over 100 companies provide some form of this service in Japan.
However, there is a critical legal boundary that anyone considering these services must understand: only agencies operated by licensed law firms (弁護士法人) can legally negotiate on your behalf.
General agencies not run by qualified lawyers can only communicate your intent to resign and answer basic questions from your employer.
The moment a conversation turns to severance, contractual obligations, or legal terms, a non-lawyer agency must step back entirely. Operating beyond that boundary violates Article 72 of Japan's Lawyers Act.
In early 2025, this line was tested publicly. Tokyo police raided the offices of Moody (モード), at the time Japan's largest resignation agency, and arrested its founder Tanimoto Shinji for operating outside these legal limits. The case drew national attention and placed the entire taishoku daiko industry under regulatory scrutiny. Several agencies subsequently restructured or shut down.
If you are a foreign worker who finds the resignation process in Japan genuinely difficult—whether due to a language barrier, an adversarial workplace, or visa-related pressure—a law firm-backed resignation service remains a legal option.
Avoid general agencies for anything beyond a straightforward notification. If your situation involves disputed pay, non-compete clauses, or a forced resignation, consult a licensed labour lawyer (社会保険労務士 or 弁護士) directly.
How much time do you need to give notice to quit a job in Japan?
According to Japan's Civil Code Article 627 Paragraph 1 , the legal notice period is 2 weeks.
However, depending on your company's policy, you might have to give a 1-3 month formal notice beforehand. It is recommended that you resign one month before to account for finding a new employee and the handover process during your last few weeks there.
What is the best timing for quitting a job in Japan?
Japan's major hiring cycle for new graduates runs from March to October, with all new hires typically starting on April 1. Mid-career job openings peak between October and February for April starts and again in September.
It would be best to resign from your job about a month before these periods, giving you enough time to update your resume and prepare to search for a job.
What happens to my unemployment benefits if I resign in Japan?
As of April 1, 2025, workers in Japan who resign voluntarily face a waiting period of one month before unemployment benefits begin. This was reduced from the previous two to three months under revised Employment Insurance rules. A standard seven-day waiting period applies first, after which the one-month restriction starts. If you completed or began an approved education or reskilling program within one year before or after leaving your job, benefits begin immediately after the seven-day wait with no additional restriction.
How to claim unemployment benefits
To claim unemployment benefits, you must register as a job seeker at your nearest Hello Work (ハローワーク) office and submit your 離職票 (rishokuhyō)—the separation notice issued by Hello Work via your employer.
Benefits are not available without this document, so request it from your company before your final day. If your employer delays or refuses to issue it, Hello Work and the Labour Standards Inspection Office can compel them to do so.
One important exception: if you have voluntarily resigned twice or more within the past five years without a legitimate reason or were dismissed for serious misconduct, the three-month restriction still applies.
If you do not have a new job lined up, the practical takeaway is this: under the new rules, most voluntary resigners in Japan can begin receiving unemployment benefits approximately five to six weeks after their last working day, provided they register promptly and meet the minimum contribution requirement of 12 months of employment insurance payments over the previous two years.
How does resignation work in Japan?
Each company will have a different resignation procedure in Japan. Check your employee handbook or your employee contract to see who to inform and by when.
Here are the general steps for when you want to resign in Japan:
Check your employee regulations and decide your date based on the information.
State your intention to your supervisor to submit the resignation request.
Once approved, set the date, make a plan to pass your work, and complete any offboarding steps.
Pass your work to the next person and submit your resignation notice.
Resign.
Different types of job resignation in Japan
There are three types of resignation documents that workers can use to declare resignation from their jobs:
Resignation requests: a document to fill out when you want to resign.
Resignation notices: when your resignation is approved with a fixed date, this notice notifies you of your resignation.
Resignation letters 辞表 (jihyō): used by executives, directors, and senior officers resigning from a formal position of authority, rather than regular employees.
How do I write a letter of resignation in Japan?
There is no specific resignation letter format that will fit every scenario, but we have a general format to follow here.
Resignation envelope
You'll need to create a resignation environment by writing "退職願" or "退職届" in the front.
On the back, write your department and your name.
7 things to include in a Japanese resignation letter
What to write in a resignation letter in Japan
If you work for a Japanese company, your resignation letter should be written in Japanese. If writing by hand for a traditional Japanese company, use vertical script (縦書き), which reads top-to-bottom, right-to-left column by column. Typed horizontal formats are widely accepted at modern and international workplaces.
1. Title: 退職届
You can also write 退職願 as both terms refer to a resignation notice in Japan. Additionally, at the top of the letter body, immediately after the title, you should include "私儀" or "私事" to express formally that this notice is a personal matter.
2. Reason for resigning: 一身上の都合
Simply writing, "一身上の都合" should suffice as your resignation for personal reasons, as you are not necessarily required to give personal details.
The phrase: "このたび一身上の都合により" translates to "due to personal reason."
3. Desired resignation date
Whether you are giving two weeks or a month's notice, state the date you want to resign. You can write the date format in Japanese or Western style; just be clear on the month and date, especially.
4. Resignation request
For a request resignation, write, "退職いたしたく、お願い申し上げます."
However, if it is a resignation notice, write "退職いたします."
5. Submission date
Write the date you are submitting this resignation letter in Japan.
6. Sender details
Write your name and department, and stamp it with your seal.
7. Recipient details
Write the official name of the company in one line. The next line should be the president's full name to whom you will submit this resignation letter in Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Can my employer refuse my resignation in Japan?
No. Under Civil Code Article 627, your resignation takes effect automatically two weeks after you submit your notice. An employer cannot legally block or reject a resignation, though they may ask you to stay longer for handover. If your employer refuses to accept your letter, you can submit it by registered mail to create a legal record.
Do I need to give a reason when resigning in Japan?
You are not legally required to explain why you are leaving. Writing 一身上の都合 ("due to personal reasons") is universally accepted and is the standard phrase used across Japanese workplaces. You do not need to share personal details.
What is the difference between 退職願 and 退職届?
退職願 (taishoku negai) is a resignation request — it implies you are asking for the company's agreement and can technically be rejected. 退職届 (taishoku todoke) is a formal resignation notification that does not require employer acceptance. For most employees, 退職届 is the appropriate document because it removes any ambiguity about whether the company must agree.
Can I use a resignation agency (退職代行) in Japan?
Resignation agencies (退職代行) contact your employer on your behalf. However, only agencies operated by licensed law firms (弁護士法人) can legally negotiate terms, severance, or contractual matters. General agencies can only communicate your intent to resign. In early 2025, Moody, Japan's largest resignation agency, was raided and its founder arrested for operating outside these legal boundaries. If you use such a service, use a law firm-backed one.
What happens to my unemployment benefits if I resign voluntarily?
As of April 1, 2025, voluntary resigners face a 1-month waiting period before unemployment benefits begin, reduced from the previous 2–3 months. A standard 7-day waiting period applies first. If you completed or started approved training within one year of leaving, benefits begin immediately after the 7-day wait. Register at your nearest Hello Work office with your 離職票 to start the process.
In closing
With this resignation letter Japan guide, you know how to resign from your job in Japan.
Writing your resignation letter in Japan doesn't require too much personal reason, but leaving on a positive note keeps you on good terms with your company, allowing you to move forward on your next career path.
Depending on your company, they may prepare small gifts for you to show their appreciation.
