In Japan, the official language is Japanese, but English is the primary foreign language and is taught in schools and used in some businesses.

When applying for a position in Japan, the jobseeker has a choice of two acceptable types of résumé/CV. When approaching a Japanese company, the first type of resume, the rirekisho, is a simple date and location Japanese resume, and should be handwritten by the job seeker in Japanese, if possible. Increasingly, computer generated rirekisho are accepted, especially if the job seeker is not claiming to be proficient in the Japanese language. For applicants who are not fluent in the language, the information must be translated.

The primary purpose of the rirekisho is to explain the candidate's education and whether he/she comes from an environment that gives him/her a propensity for long-term success in a company. The rirekisho uses the traditional two-page format, divided into personal information, and work experience, and requires an attached photo. This official form is readily available in stationery stores in Japan.