Glossary
Key terms related to technical intern training, in Japanese syllabary order.
い
- Transfer and abscondment いせきとりだつ
- Changing one's training placement through the proper procedure is called "iseki" (transfer); abandoning training without authorization is called "ridatsu" (abscondment).
- → Disappearance (going missing)Supervising organization
お
- Sending organization おくりだしきかん
- An organization accredited by the sending country's government, responsible for recruiting technical intern trainees, providing pre-departure training, and managing them locally.
- → Pre-departure trainingSupervising organization
か
- Comprehensive insurance for technical intern trainees がいこくじんぎのうじっしゅうせいそうごうほけん
- Voluntary insurance that covers the self-paid portion of public insurance and liability for damages. Enrollment is optional, but in practice nearly all trainees are enrolled.
- → Social insuranceLabor insurance
- Audit かんさ
- The procedure by which a supervising organization visits an implementing organization to confirm that training is being conducted in accordance with the technical intern training plan.
- → SupervisionSupervising organizationPeriodic guidance visit
- Audit result report かんさけっかほうこく
- A report submitted to the competent authority describing the results of an audit. This is one of the obligations of a supervising organization.
- → Audit
- Supervision かんり
- Refers to a supervising organization overseeing an implementing organization and providing guidance to ensure that technical intern training is conducted properly.
- → ManagementSupervising organization
- Management かんり
- Refers to an implementing organization and a sending organization managing a technical intern trainee's day-to-day skill acquisition and living conditions.
- → SupervisionLife guidance instructor
- Supervising organization かんりだんたい
- A non-profit organization that jointly accepts technical intern trainees and supervises implementing organizations. It is categorized as either a general supervising organization or a specified supervising organization.
- → CooperativeSupervisionAudit
き
- Skill assessment test ぎのうけんていしけん
- Written and practical tests that confirm the level of skill acquired at each stage. Passing is a requirement for advancing to the next stage.
- → Technical intern training plan
- Technical intern training plan ぎのうじっしゅうけいかく
- A plan document that sets out the content and duration of the skills to be acquired; training is conducted only after the plan has been certified.
- → Skill assessment testTechnical skills instructor
- Technical skills instructor ぎのうじっしゅうしどういん
- A staff member that an implementing organization is required to appoint, generally expected to have at least five years of experience in the same line of work.
- → Life guidance instructorTechnical intern training plan
- Technical intern trainee ぎのうじっしゅうせい
- A foreign national who comes to Japan under the "Technical Intern Training" status of residence and acquires skills under an employment contract.
- → Status of residenceMinimum wage
- Occupations eligible to accept technical intern trainees ぎのうじっしゅうせいうけいれかのうしょくしゅ
- The occupations and work operations for which transition to Technical Intern Training (ii) is permitted, As of July 29, 2026, 96 job categories and 174 operations are covered.
- → Technical intern training plan
- Trainee acceptance quota ぎのうじっしゅうせいうけいれにんずう
- The upper limit is set according to the number of full-time employees. Organizations certified as excellent receive an expanded quota.
- → Cooperative
く
- Cooperative くみあい
- An organization through which small and medium-sized enterprises jointly conduct business, serving as the entity that accepts technical intern trainees in its capacity as a supervising organization.
- → Supervising organization
こ
- JITCO (Japan International Trainee & Skilled Worker Cooperation Organization) こくさいけんしゅうきょうりょくきこう
- A public interest incorporated foundation that provides consultation, support, and information on the Technical Intern Training Program. In Japan, it is commonly pronounced "Jitsuko".
- → Supervising organization
さ
- Minimum wage さいていちんぎん
- The minimum wage rate set by each prefecture, which naturally also applies to technical intern trainees.
- → Technical intern traineeLabor-related laws and regulations
- Residence card ざいりゅうかーど
- An identification document issued to mid- to long-term residents, which they are required to carry at all times.
- → Status of residencePassport
- Period of stay ざいりゅうきかん
- The length of time a person is permitted to remain in Japan, as determined by their status of residence.
- → Status of residenceExtension of period of stay
- Extension of period of stay ざいりゅうきかんこうしん
- The procedure of applying before the period of stay expires in order to receive permission to continue residing in Japan.
- → Period of stayAuthorization to file applications on behalf of applicants
- Status of residence ざいりゅうしかく
- The legal qualification that allows a foreign national to engage in activities in Japan. "Technical Intern Training" is one such status of residence.
- → Residence cardCertificate of EligibilityVisa
- Certificate of Eligibility ざいりゅうしかくにんていしょうめいしょ
- A certificate that confirms in advance that a person satisfies the conditions for landing in Japan; it is required when applying for a visa.
- → Status of residenceVisa
- Change of status of residence ざいりゅうしかくへんこう
- The procedure of receiving permission to change from one's current status of residence to a different status of residence.
- → Status of residence
- Article 36 Agreement さぶろくきょうてい
- A labor-management agreement required in order to have employees work overtime or on holidays; it must be filed with the Labor Standards Inspection Office.
- → Variable working hour systemLabor Standards Inspection Office
し
- Pre-departure training じぜんきょういく
- Training in the Japanese language, customs, and technical terminology conducted in the home country before entry into Japan, generally lasting three months or more.
- → Sending organizationStatutory training course
- Disappearance (going missing) しっそう
- Refers to a technical intern trainee leaving their training placement without authorization and becoming unreachable. This must be reported promptly.
- → Transfer and abscondmentImproper conduct
- Social insurance しゃかいほけん
- A general term for health insurance and employees' pension insurance. Enrollment is legally mandatory except in certain cases.
- → Labor insuranceComprehensive insurance for technical intern trainees
- Periodic guidance visit じゅんかいしどう
- The supervising organization periodically visits the implementing organization to check on the progress of training and provide advice.
- → AuditSupervision
- Income tax しょとくぜい
- Also levied on the wages of technical intern trainees. Exemption may apply under a tax treaty.
- → Living expenses
- Authorization to file applications on behalf of applicants しんせいとりつぎしかく
- A qualification that allows a person to file residence-related applications on behalf of the applicant. Staff members of supervising organizations commonly obtain this qualification.
- → Extension of period of stay
せ
- Life guidance instructor せいかつしどういん
- A staff member that an implementing organization is required to appoint, responsible for guiding technical intern trainees in daily life and handling consultations.
- → Technical skills instructorManagement
- Living expenses せいかつひ
- The costs a technical intern trainee incurs to live in Japan, such as dormitory fees, utilities, and food.
- → Income taxMinimum wage
て
- Notification of moving in / moving out てんにゅうとどけ・てんしゅつとどけ
- The procedure for notifying the municipal government of one's place of residence; it must be completed within 14 days of moving.
- → Residence card
に
- Immigration Bureau にゅうこくかんりきょく
- The agency responsible for examining statuses of residence and managing entry into and departure from Japan. It now falls under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Services Agency.
- → Status of residenceForeign national residing illegally
は
- Passport ぱすぽーと
- An identification document and travel document issued by the holder's country of nationality. It must be kept in the possession of the holder.
- → Residence cardVisa
ひ
- Visa びざ
- A recommendation document for entry into Japan, issued by a diplomatic mission abroad. It is distinct from a status of residence.
- → Status of residenceCertificate of Eligibility
ふ
- Improper conduct ふせいこうい
- Acts such as violations of labor-related laws and regulations or false applications. If such conduct is found, the organization is barred from accepting trainees for a set period.
- → Labor-related laws and regulationsDisappearance (going missing)
- Foreign national residing illegally ふほうたいざいがいこくじん
- A foreign national who does not hold a valid status of residence, for example because they have overstayed their period of stay. Employing such a person is prohibited.
- → Immigration BureauImproper conduct
へ
- Variable working hour system へんけいろうどうじかんせい
- A system that keeps working hours within the statutory limit on average over a set period. It must be reported to the Labor Standards Inspection Office.
- → Article 36 AgreementLabor Standards Inspection Office
ほ
- Statutory training course ほうていこうしゅう
- Mandatory training conducted immediately after entry into Japan. If certain requirements are met, the required hours can be reduced from 320 to 160.
- → Pre-departure training
- Three statutory registers ほうていさんちょうぼ
- The employee roster, wage ledger, and attendance record — three documents that a business is legally required to keep on-site.
- → Labor Standards Inspection OfficeLabor-related laws and regulations
ろ
- Labor-related laws and regulations ろうどうかんけいほうれい
- A general term for the Labor Standards Act, the Minimum Wage Act, the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and similar laws, which also apply to technical intern trainees.
- → Minimum wageImproper conduct
- Labor Standards Inspection Office ろうどうきじゅんかんとくしょ
- An administrative agency that oversees compliance with the Labor Standards Act. It is also the office to which various required notifications are submitted.
- → Article 36 AgreementThree statutory registers
- Labor insurance ろうどうほけん
- A general term for workers' accident compensation insurance and employment insurance. Failure to enroll may be found to constitute improper conduct.
- → Social insuranceImproper conduct
