Publisher
source

Nippon Life Insurance Foundation

Postdoctoral-equivalent Researcher Position in Japanese Language Proficiency Test Question Development Japan Foundation in Japan

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Education

Funding

Fixed-term contract employee position with annual income of 4 million to 6 million yen. Basic allowance is determined by education and experience, with commuting allowance, overtime allowance, special allowance/bonus twice a year, dependent allowance if applicable, and housing allowance if applicable. Social insurance is provided, including health insurance, employment insurance, employee pension insurance, and workers' compensation insurance.

Deadline

Oct 19, 2026

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Country

Japan

University

Nippon Life Insurance Foundation

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Keywords

Education
Communication Studies
Japanese Language
Linguistics

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About this position

The Japan Foundation Japanese Language Testing Center is recruiting a Researcher / postdoc-equivalent fixed-term contract employee to work on Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) question creation and related tasks in Tokyo, Japan.

This opportunity is especially relevant for candidates in Japanese language education, Japanese linguistics, linguistics, and language proficiency measurement. The role focuses on developing test questions for the JLPT, one of the world’s largest Japanese language tests, and contributing to the test production process across areas such as literacy and vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension.

Eligibility highlights: a master’s degree in Japanese language education or a related field is required; applicants who expect to complete the master’s degree by the time of application may also apply. Candidates who are not native Japanese speakers or who do not hold Japanese nationality must have a high level of Japanese proficiency sufficient for examination-question creation and must be legally eligible to work in Japan before starting employment. Preferred experience includes at least three years of Japanese teaching experience, test/material development, and expertise in language assessment.

Funding and conditions: annual income is listed as approximately 4 million to 6 million yen, with basic allowance determined by education and experience. Additional benefits may include commuting allowance, overtime pay, bonus twice a year, dependent allowance, housing allowance, and full social insurance coverage. The appointment is fixed-term, with possible renewal up to five years in total.

Work location: Japan Foundation Japanese Language Proficiency Test Center, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The position starts on 2027-04-01 (subject to consultation).

Application window: documents must arrive between 2026-08-17 and 2026-10-19, with the final deadline at 12:00 PM on 2026-10-19. Selection includes document screening, an assignment/aptitude test, and an oral examination. Overseas applicants may be considered for web-based interviews.

Funding details

Fixed-term contract employee position with annual income of 4 million to 6 million yen. Basic allowance is determined by education and experience, with commuting allowance, overtime allowance, special allowance/bonus twice a year, dependent allowance if applicable, and housing allowance if applicable. Social insurance is provided, including health insurance, employment insurance, employee pension insurance, and workers' compensation insurance.

What's required

Applicants must have a master's degree in Japanese language education or a related field such as Japanese linguistics or linguistics; applicants expected to complete the master's degree at the time of application are also eligible. Non-native Japanese speakers and non-Japanese nationals must have a high level of Japanese proficiency sufficient for creating examination questions and must be legally qualified to work in Japan before employment. Preferred qualifications include at least three years of Japanese teaching experience at a university or Japanese language school, experience creating teaching materials and tests, and expertise in language proficiency measurement.

How to apply

Prepare the designated resume, statement of purpose, publication/achievement sample, and recommender contact details. Submit by mail to the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Proficiency Test Center recruitment office, or apply by email to [email protected]. Applications must arrive by 2026-10-19 at 12:00 PM.

More information can be found here

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