Why Chinese language ability is an advantage

For a period of roughly 40 years, Japan’s GDP was the world’s second highest after the US, but in 2010, China overtook Japan as the world’s second-largest economy. Moreover, predictions persist that China will replace the US over the next 20 years to become the largest economy.

According to statistics obtained from a corporate marketing company, approximately 13,200 Japanese companies have entered the Chinese market as of the end of May 2015.

Furthermore, approximately 4.99 million Chinese tourists visited Japan in 2015, a number that is 207% of the previous year’s figure, comprising roughly one quarter of all foreign visitors to Japan. According to a consumer behaviour survey of foreign visitors to Japan in 2015 carried out by the Japan Tourism Agency, the total amount of consumption by foreign visitors in that year was 3.4771 trillion yen (170% vs. the previous year), of which expenditure by Chinese tourists on shopping was a major factor. It can thus be said that today, the relationship of China to the Japanese economy is inextricable.

Is the Chinese language an advantage when changing jobs?

Today, with China in place as the world’s second-largest economy, Chinese is arguably the second most important language in the business world following English.

Until several years ago, it was typical for those assigned to China to start learning the language after they arrived, but with the rise in the number of Japanese companies entering the Chinese market, the number of companies that expect some degree of Chinese language acquisition before assignment is on the rise as well.

What occupations need Chinese language ability?

Companies such as manufacturers and trading companies are good examples of the kinds of businesses where employees can use their Chinese language skills. In addition to companies with local production or sales facilities in China, numerous companies are working to expand their markets in the country. There is also an increase in the number of companies that employ Chinese nationals due to the rise in Chinese exchange students in Japan. Additionally, there are cases where Chinese language ability is required as a tool for internal communications.

Finally, the rise in Chinese tourists visiting Japan means there is increasing demand for language proficiency in the hospitality industry, such as hotels. The citizens of China are not the only speakers of the Chinese language. There are many for whom Chinese is their native language in countries such as Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore, and thus it is said that roughly 60% of visitors to Japan are Chinese speakers. Therefore, Chinese language proficiency is a strong advantage when changing jobs in the hotel industry.

With China as the world’s second-largest economy, and considering the consumer behaviour of Chinese visitors to Japan, it would not be an overstatement to say that China is the key to the Japanese economy. As few Chinese are fluent in English, it is safe to say that Chinese language proficiency can be seen as a strength when changing jobs.