https://jftsensei.com/blog Straight answers about JFT-Basic and JLPT: passing scores, registration, study timelines and test day. en Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-10-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-10-answers All 48 questions of Mock Exam 10, the final rehearsal across work, shops, transport, clinic and city hall, with answers and the traps explained. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-9-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-9-answers Answers and explanations for all 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 9, a set on paperwork and the neighbourhood: city hall, the bank and rubbish days. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-8-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-8-answers All 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 8 answered and explained. The theme: getting around and staying well - trains, buses, the clinic, the pharmacy. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-7-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-7-answers All 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 7 answered and explained, with listening transcripts. This set leans on hotel and accommodation work. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-6-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-6-answers All 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 6 answered and explained. This set is themed on farm and fishery work, from greenhouses to the port. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-5-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-5-answers Answers and explanations for all 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 5, a set built around construction sites and building cleaning. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-guessing-words-from-context https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-guessing-words-from-context You will meet words you do not know on JFT-Basic. The kanji, the particles and the sentence around them usually tell you enough to answer anyway. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-4-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-4-answers All 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 4 answered and explained, with a food service theme: orders, menus, allergies and the shift rota. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-listening-changes-of-plan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-listening-changes-of-plan Many JFT-Basic listening items change their mind halfway through. The words that signal it, and how to track who finally does what. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-3-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-3-answers Answers and explanations for all 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 3, set in a care home: residents, meals, baths, handovers and families. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-2-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-2-answers Answers and explanations for all 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 2, a set built around the factory floor: shifts, safety gear and hygiene. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-numbers-and-prices-in-listening https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-numbers-and-prices-in-listening Numbers are easy on paper and hard at speaking speed. The sound changes, prices and corrections that cost marks in JFT-Basic listening. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-1-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-mock-exam-1-answers Answers and explanations for all 48 questions of JFT-Basic Mock Exam 1, the gentle set on your first weeks in Japan: shops, rubbish days, the station. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-emails-and-messages https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-emails-and-messages Message and email texts on JFT-Basic come down to three questions: who wrote it, what they want, and the deadline. How to find each one fast. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-set-phrases https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-set-phrases The set phrases of Japanese working life, when each one is used, and what you say back. The Conversation and Expression section tests all of them. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-kanji-reading-traps https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-kanji-reading-traps Kanji reading questions are lost on one sound: a missing dakuten, a short vowel, a dropped っ. The five traps, with original examples. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-how-wrong-options-are-built https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-how-wrong-options-are-built Wrong options on JFT-Basic are not random. Most follow five patterns. Learn them and you stop falling for the answer that was written to catch you. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-tables-and-schedules https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-tables-and-schedules Some JFT-Basic reading texts are tables. You do not read them top to bottom - you search them. How to handle timetables, shift rotas and price lists. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-workplace-announcements https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-workplace-announcements Some JFT-Basic listening items have only one speaker: a briefing, a safety talk, a voicemail. Here is what to listen for, with original example lines. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/free-jft-basic-mock-exams https://jftsensei.com/blog/free-jft-basic-mock-exams Ten free full-length JFT-Basic mocks, each built around a different working life in Japan. What each set stresses, and how to fit them into 8-10 weeks. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-for-older-learners https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-for-older-learners There is no upper age limit, and the real obstacles are time and method rather than memory. What changes, and what does not. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/bringing-family-to-japan-ssw https://jftsensei.com/blog/bringing-family-to-japan-ssw Not on SSW (i). Yes on SSW (ii). That single difference is the reason Type 2 matters, and it should shape your plan from before you arrive. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/certificate-of-eligibility-explained https://jftsensei.com/blog/certificate-of-eligibility-explained The COE is applied for in Japan by your employer, takes months, and is largely outside your control. Here is what it is and how to keep it moving. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/changing-jobs-on-ssw https://jftsensei.com/blog/changing-jobs-on-ssw Yes — within your field, and with immigration paperwork. Here is how it works, and why it is the most important right the SSW visa gives you. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/choosing-a-japanese-language-school https://jftsensei.com/blog/choosing-a-japanese-language-school This market has good schools and bad ones, and the bad ones advertise harder. Here are the questions that separate them. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/choosing-jlpt-study-materials https://jftsensei.com/blog/choosing-jlpt-study-materials Most people buy too much and use too little. Here is what a working set actually looks like, and what to be sceptical of. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/cost-of-moving-to-japan-ssw https://jftsensei.com/blog/cost-of-moving-to-japan-ssw A realistic breakdown of the costs between deciding to go and your first payday, and the one line that ruins people. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/free-vs-paid-japanese-resources https://jftsensei.com/blog/free-vs-paid-japanese-resources Almost everything you need to pass these exams is free. Here is the short list of things that are genuinely worth paying for, from a school that sells one of them. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-long-to-study-for-each-jlpt-level https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-long-to-study-for-each-jlpt-level Honest ranges for N5 to N1, what makes the difference between the fast and slow end, and why the gaps widen as you climb. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-to-register-for-jft-basic https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-to-register-for-jft-basic Registration happens on Prometric, not on the Japan Foundation site. Here is the whole process, the two places people get stuck, and what to check before you pay. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-to-use-jft-basic-mock-tests https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-to-use-jft-basic-mock-tests Most candidates take mock tests the way they check the weather. Here is how to make them the thing that actually moves your score. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-counters https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-counters You cannot just say "three" in Japanese. Counters decide exam answers and confuse every learner. Here are the ones you actually need. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-numbers-and-time https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-numbers-and-time Numbers and times decide more exam questions than any other category, and they are full of irregular readings. Here is what to drill. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-particles-guide https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-particles-guide Particles carry who did what, when and by when. They are short, unstressed, and they decide more questions than any vocabulary item. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-te-form https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-te-form More grammar attaches to the て-form than to any other verb form. Learn it properly and a large part of the language opens up at once. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-verb-groups https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-verb-groups Every conjugation in Japanese depends on which of three groups a verb belongs to. Here is how to identify them quickly and reliably. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-a1-result-what-to-do https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-a1-result-what-to-do An A1 result means 145 to 174 points. It is not a near miss, and treating it like one is the most expensive mistake available to you. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-cbt-interface https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-cbt-interface If you have never sat a CBT, the interface itself can cost you points. Here is how the test behaves on screen, and what to rehearse before the day. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-certificate-validity https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-certificate-validity Your JFT-Basic result has a validity window for visa purposes, and it is shorter than most candidates assume. Here is what that means for your timing. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-checking-your-result https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-checking-your-result You get a provisional score immediately and an official result within about five business days. Here is the difference, and which one anyone else will ask for. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-conversation-and-expression-section https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-conversation-and-expression-section This section tests whether you would say the right thing in a real situation. Here is what it asks, and why politeness level decides most of the answers. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-exam-fee https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-exam-fee The JFT-Basic fee is set per country and paid to Prometric, not the Japan Foundation. Here is how to find your real number, and the costs around it people forget. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-for-complete-beginners https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-for-complete-beginners What to do in your first month if you have never studied Japanese, and the two mistakes that cost beginners the most time. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-free-resources https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-free-resources You can prepare for JFT-Basic on almost no budget. Here is what is genuinely free and genuinely useful — and what to be careful of. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-grammar-you-need https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-grammar-you-need A2-level grammar, used rather than recited. Here are the structures that decide answers on JFT-Basic, and the ones you can safely leave alone. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-how-many-words https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-how-many-words There is no official word list. Here is the realistic vocabulary size for a 200-point pass, and why which words matters far more than how many. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-bangladesh https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-bangladesh Bangladesh is a growing source of Specified Skilled Workers. Here is what to check, and why verification matters more in a newer market. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-cambodia https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-cambodia Cambodia is among the smaller JFT-Basic markets, where the scarce resource is sittings rather than seats. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-india https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-india India is a growing JFT-Basic market with published fees and a very large geography. Here is what to plan for. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-indonesia https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-indonesia Indonesia is one of the largest sources of Specified Skilled Workers, with test centres across a very large country. Here is what to plan for. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-mongolia https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-mongolia Mongolia is a small JFT-Basic market with concentrated infrastructure. Here is what that means for planning. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-myanmar https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-myanmar Myanmar candidates face more logistical uncertainty than most. Here is how to build a plan that survives disruption. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-nepal https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-nepal Nepal has some of the heaviest JFT-Basic demand anywhere, which makes booking early the single most important thing you can do. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-sri-lanka https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-sri-lanka Sri Lanka has fewer candidates and fewer sittings than the largest markets, which changes what you should worry about. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-thailand https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-thailand Thailand offers JFT-Basic, and the calculation for Thai candidates is different from most sending countries. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-the-philippines https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-the-philippines Filipino candidates have a real advantage in this process and one specific risk. Here is what to know about sitting JFT-Basic here. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-uzbekistan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-uzbekistan Uzbekistan is a growing participant in the SSW route and the main Central Asian JFT-Basic market. Here is what to check. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-vietnam https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-vietnam Vietnam sends large numbers of workers to Japan, and the competition for seats and for placements is correspondingly strong. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-kanji-requirements https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-kanji-requirements Less than you fear, and in one direction only. JFT-Basic asks you to recognise kanji, never to write it — which changes how you should study. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-near-miss-175-199 https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-near-miss-175-199 An A2.1 result is a genuine near miss, and it is usually caused by a single underperforming section. Here is how to find it and close the gap. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-order-with-skills-test https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-order-with-skills-test The language test and the sector skills test are separate requirements with separate schedules. Which to sit first, and why it usually matters. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-question-types https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-question-types A walk through the question formats in all four sections, so that nothing on the screen is unfamiliar on the day. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-section https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-section JFT-Basic reading is not essays. It is the notices and messages you meet at work in Japan, and it is where careless readers lose points. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-retake-rules https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-retake-rules JFT-Basic runs roughly monthly and you can sit it again, but the useful question is not how soon you may — it is how soon it is worth paying for. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-scaled-scoring-explained https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-scaled-scoring-explained JFT-Basic uses scaled scoring, not a percentage. Here is what that means, why you cannot get an easy paper, and why counting questions misleads you. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-script-and-vocabulary-section https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-script-and-vocabulary-section Script and Vocabulary is the section where study hours convert to points fastest. Here is what it asks, and why it deserves your last four weeks. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-self-study https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-self-study Yes — and for some people it is the wrong choice anyway. Here is an honest account of when self-study works, and the specific point at which it usually fails. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-three-month-study-plan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-three-month-study-plan Twelve weeks from no Japanese to a 200-point pass, at ten to twelve hours a week. Month by month, with the checkpoints that tell you it is working. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-time-management https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-time-management The sections are not separately timed. That single fact causes more lost points than any grammar gap, and it is fixable in two practice sessions. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-vs-nat-test-and-jtest https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-vs-nat-test-and-jtest Several Japanese proficiency tests exist. Only some are accepted for the SSW visa, and the difference matters before you pay a fee. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-what-to-bring https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-what-to-bring A short list, because getting it wrong means being turned away at the door with no refund and no appeal. Identification is the part that matters. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-who-can-take-it https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-who-can-take-it The eligibility rules are simpler than most candidates expect, but there are conditions worth confirming before you book. Here is what to check. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-common-mistakes https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-common-mistakes Most JLPT failures come from a short list of avoidable errors, and only some of them are about Japanese. Here they are, in order of frequency. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-for-university-in-japan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-for-university-in-japan Japanese-taught degrees generally want N2 or N1, English-taught programmes may want none. Here is how to work out your actual requirement. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-for-work-in-japan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-for-work-in-japan N2 is the line most employers draw, and N4 is the visa requirement. Here is what each level realistically opens, and what the JLPT does not prove. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-grammar-by-level https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-grammar-by-level Grammar is not what makes the higher levels hard, but it changes character. Here is what each level adds and where the real difficulty sits. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-how-to-register https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-how-to-register Registration opens months ahead, closes early, and works differently in every country. Here is the process and the two deadlines people miss. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-kanji-by-level https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-kanji-by-level The commonly cited numbers, why none of them is official, and what actually matters more than the count. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-levels-explained https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-levels-explained What each JLPT level means, roughly how long each takes, and which level is worth your time depending on why you want it. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-listening-strategy https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-listening-strategy Listening is where the sectional minimum bites hardest. Here is why, and the practice that actually moves it rather than feeling like it does. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n1-guide https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n1-guide N1 is the top of the JLPT. It is a serious commitment, and for many people it is the wrong goal. Here is how to tell whether it is yours. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n2-guide https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n2-guide N2 is the level Japanese employers ask for by name. Here is what it covers, how long it really takes, and why the jump from N3 is the hardest on the ladder. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n3-guide https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n3-guide N3 is where textbook Japanese meets real Japanese. Here is what it covers, why it is harder than the jump to N4, and who actually needs it. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n3-vs-n2 https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n3-vs-n2 N2 is the level Japanese employers ask for. N3 is the step before it. Here is the gap, why it is the hardest on the ladder, and how to plan for it. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-guide https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-guide N4 is one of the two ways to meet the Specified Skilled Worker language requirement. Here is what it covers, and how it compares with JFT-Basic. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-vs-n3 https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-vs-n3 N4 gets you the visa. N3 gets you taken more seriously. Here is the real size of the gap between them, and when to attempt it. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-guide https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-guide N5 is the entry level of the JLPT. Here is what it tests, how long it takes to reach, and the honest case for and against sitting it at all. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-vs-n4 https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-vs-n4 N4 is the level that counts for the SSW visa; N5 counts for very little. Here is how to decide, and the test that answers it honestly. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-passing-scores https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-passing-scores Every JLPT level has a total pass mark and a minimum for each scoring section. Miss one section and you fail regardless of your total. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-reading-strategy https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-reading-strategy At N2 and N1, most reading failures are candidates who did not finish. Here is how to train for the constraint that actually fails people. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-results-and-certificates https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-results-and-certificates Results come roughly two months after the test, with a section breakdown that is genuinely useful for a retake. Here is how to read yours. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-test-day https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-test-day A paper exam, a long morning, and a schedule you do not control. Here is how the day runs and what costs people points that they had already earned. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-time-management https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-time-management You cannot carry time between JLPT sections, and reading is where people run out. Here is how to pace each part of the paper. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-vocabulary-by-level https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-vocabulary-by-level The usual estimates, why they are estimates, and why which words you learn matters more than how many. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/kanji-for-beginners https://jftsensei.com/blog/kanji-for-beginners Kanji is less of an obstacle than its reputation suggests, provided you learn the right thing. For exam purposes that means recognition, in words. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/keigo-basics-for-work https://jftsensei.com/blog/keigo-basics-for-work Full keigo is a long project. The set phrases that get you through a Japanese workplace are not, and they are what the exams test. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/learning-hiragana https://jftsensei.com/blog/learning-hiragana Hiragana is the two weeks of work that everything else depends on. Here is how to get it to automatic, and why "good enough" is not. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/learning-katakana https://jftsensei.com/blog/learning-katakana Katakana feels less important than hiragana and is not. It carries a large share of the Japanese you meet in daily life and at work. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/online-vs-in-person-japanese-classes https://jftsensei.com/blog/online-vs-in-person-japanese-classes The format matters less than class size and teacher quality. Here is what each genuinely does better, and the one thing that decides it for most people. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/registered-support-organisation https://jftsensei.com/blog/registered-support-organisation Every SSW worker is entitled to a defined set of support. Knowing what it covers is how you tell a functioning placement from a bad one. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/retaking-the-jlpt https://jftsensei.com/blog/retaking-the-jlpt A failed JLPT costs you half a year, so the gap matters more than the retake. Here is how to read your result and what to do with the time. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/shadowing-method-for-japanese https://jftsensei.com/blog/shadowing-method-for-japanese Repeating Japanese aloud immediately after you hear it trains comprehension speed better than passive listening. Here is how to do it properly. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/spaced-repetition-for-japanese https://jftsensei.com/blog/spaced-repetition-for-japanese Vocabulary is the bottleneck at every level. Spaced repetition is how you keep thousands of words without spending your life reviewing them. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-accommodation-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-accommodation-route Accommodation is customer-facing from day one, which makes it the SSW field where the language minimum is least sufficient. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-agency-red-flags https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-agency-red-flags This system attracts intermediaries, and some of them are predatory. Here are the specific warning signs, and the questions that separate the two. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-agriculture-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-agriculture-route Agriculture has steady SSW intake and a working pattern unlike any other field. Here is what to understand before choosing it. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-building-cleaning-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-building-cleaning-route Building cleaning has steady demand, a comparatively approachable skills test, and urban placements. Here is the realistic picture. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-construction-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-construction-route Construction was among the first fields to offer SSW (ii), which makes it one of the strongest routes to staying in Japan long term. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-food-service-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-food-service-route The food service field hit its cap and stopped accepting new applications in April 2026. Here is what that means if it was your plan. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-i-vs-ssw-ii https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-i-vs-ssw-ii Type 1 is capped at five years with no family. Type 2 has no cap, allows family, and counts towards permanent residency. Here is how to get from one to the other. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-manufacturing-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-manufacturing-route Industrial product manufacturing and food and beverage manufacturing take large numbers of SSW workers. Here is what factory work in Japan actually involves. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-nursing-care-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-nursing-care-route Care work needs an extra Japanese test most candidates miss, has no SSW (ii), and offers a better long-term route than any other field. Here is how it works. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-salary-and-deductions https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-salary-and-deductions The advertised wage is not what reaches your bank account. Here is what gets deducted, what is legitimate, and what should worry you. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-sectors-list https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-sectors-list Sixteen fields at present, with more proposed and at least one closed to new applications. Here is the list and what to check before you commit. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-skills-test-explained https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-skills-test-explained Passing JFT-Basic is the language requirement. The skills test is separate, runs on its own schedule, and is what usually decides your timeline. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-to-permanent-residency https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-to-permanent-residency Time on SSW (i) does not count. Time on SSW (ii) does. Here is the honest shape of the route, and how long it really takes. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-visa-explained https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-visa-explained What the SSW visa is, the four things you need to get one, and the difference between SSW (i) and (ii) that decides whether you can stay. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-vs-technical-intern-training https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-vs-technical-intern-training Technical intern training is being replaced. Here is how the two systems differ, and why SSW is the better route for almost everyone starting now. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/staying-consistent-with-japanese-study https://jftsensei.com/blog/staying-consistent-with-japanese-study Most people who fail these exams did not study badly. They stopped. Here is what makes a habit survive week five. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/studying-japanese-on-your-phone https://jftsensei.com/blog/studying-japanese-on-your-phone For most people preparing for these exams the phone is the only device available. Here is how to use it well, and what it cannot do. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/studying-japanese-while-working-full-time https://jftsensei.com/blog/studying-japanese-while-working-full-time Most people preparing for these exams are working. Here is how to build a study habit that survives a real week rather than an imagined one. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/why-japanese-learners-plateau https://jftsensei.com/blog/why-japanese-learners-plateau Nearly everyone stalls somewhere between N4 and N3. The causes are specific and fixable, and none of them is talent. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/why-people-fail-jft-basic https://jftsensei.com/blog/why-people-fail-jft-basic Most failures are not caused by weak Japanese. They are caused by four specific, fixable things — and knowing which one is yours is most of the fix. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-score-plateau https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-score-plateau Scores that sit at the same level for a month mean the study method has stopped matching the gap. Four diagnoses and what each one needs. Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/restarting-japanese-after-a-break https://jftsensei.com/blog/restarting-japanese-after-a-break You stopped for three months. Here is how to come back without starting from zero, and why most of what you learned is still there. Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-study-partner https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-study-partner A study partner doubles your listening practice and halves your dropout rate - if you use the time for the things solo study cannot do. Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-renewing-your-status https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-renewing-your-status SSW (i) is renewed periodically up to a five-year total. What is checked, what causes problems, and when to start. Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-cefr-levels-explained https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-cefr-levels-explained Since August 2026 JFT-Basic reports a CEFR level alongside your score. Here is what each band means, why it matters for a near-miss, and what it does not change. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-kanji-look-alikes https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-kanji-look-alikes Distractors in the vocabulary section are built from shared components and similar shapes. These are the pairs that do the damage. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-and-the-ssw-visa https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-and-the-ssw-visa N4 satisfies the SSW language requirement, and so does JFT-Basic. Which to sit depends on your timeline more than your ability. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/studying-on-shift-work https://jftsensei.com/blog/studying-on-shift-work Rotating shifts break every study routine that depends on a fixed time. What works instead, from students who did it. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-katakana-words https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-katakana-words Workplace Japanese is full of loanwords, and they are only easy if you can read katakana fluently. The list that recurs in the exam. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-safety-vocabulary https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-safety-vocabulary Signs, shouted warnings and safety briefings use a small, fixed set of words. Learn them before you need them. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-for-daily-life https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-for-daily-life Not exam Japanese. The words for rubbish day, the post office, the pharmacy and the town hall - the things you need in week one. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-time-per-question https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-time-per-question The section timings, divided by the question count, give a per-question budget. Knowing it in advance is what stops the reading section collapsing. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-question-words https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-question-words なに, どこ, いつ, だれ, いくら, どう. Catching the question word is what turns a listening clip you half understood into a correct answer. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-test-centres-by-country https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-test-centres-by-country JFT-Basic is held in fourteen countries plus Japan. Here is where it runs, how to find your nearest Prometric centre, and what to do when none is close to you. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-workplace-culture https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-workplace-culture Not the stereotypes. The specific habits that surprise new SSW workers, and the three that matter most in the first month. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-scanning-for-answers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-scanning-for-answers The information-retrieval questions are not comprehension tests. They are search tasks, and searching is a different skill from reading. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/reading-japanese-menus-and-labels https://jftsensei.com/blog/reading-japanese-menus-and-labels One of the most immediately useful reading skills in Japan, and one of the easiest to practise before you arrive. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-dates-and-days https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-dates-and-days The days of the week, the irregular dates, and the counting patterns that appear in schedules, notices and announcements. Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-housing-and-rent https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-housing-and-rent Most SSW employers arrange accommodation. What is normal, what is not, and the questions to ask before you accept an offer. Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-pronunciation-basics https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-pronunciation-basics Japanese pronunciation is easier than most languages, with four exceptions that change meaning. Get these right and you will be understood. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-listening-speed-training https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-listening-speed-training Listening improves slowest and is scored with its own minimum. Four training methods that work, in the order to add them. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/after-you-pass-jft-basic https://jftsensei.com/blog/after-you-pass-jft-basic Passing JFT-Basic clears the language requirement for the SSW visa — and that is one of four steps. Here is the rest of the route to working in Japan. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-time-expressions https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-time-expressions から, まで, までに, ごとに. The listening and reading sections are decided by these small words far more often than by vocabulary. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-sending-money-home https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-sending-money-home Remittances are the point of the job for many SSW workers. How the transfer actually works, what it costs, and the records to keep. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-mistake-notebook https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-mistake-notebook One page per week of your own errors is worth more than any textbook chapter, because it is targeted at exactly what you do not know. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/speaking-practice-alone https://jftsensei.com/blog/speaking-practice-alone Most JFT-Basic candidates have no Japanese speakers around them. Four methods that genuinely build speaking without a partner. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-giving-and-receiving https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-giving-and-receiving Three verbs for one action, chosen by who benefits and who is speaking. It confuses every learner, and JFT-Basic tests it. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-tax-basics https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-tax-basics Income tax, residence tax and the year-end adjustment - explained in plain terms, including the bill that surprises people in year two. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-using-past-papers https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-using-past-papers Official papers are a limited resource. Used carelessly they become memory tests. A method for getting the most from a small supply. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-laos-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-laos-step-by-step Laos has a memorandum of cooperation with Japan on SSW. A smaller corridor, and what that means for your preparation. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/using-a-japanese-dictionary https://jftsensei.com/blog/using-a-japanese-dictionary Looking up a word is easy. Looking up an unknown kanji, or a conjugated verb you cannot identify, is the skill worth learning. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-polite-requests https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-polite-requests May I, could you, shall I. Four patterns cover almost every request question in the exam, and choosing between them is the whole test. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-health-insurance-and-pension https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-health-insurance-and-pension Two deductions appear on every payslip. What they pay for, why they are compulsory, and what you can claim back if you leave. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-japanese-textbook https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-japanese-textbook Three mainstream options, three different purposes. Which one fits which goal - and why the choice matters less than finishing one. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-app-vs-notebook https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-app-vs-notebook Apps schedule review better; paper makes you process the word more deeply. Which to use, and the hybrid most of our students end up with. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-pakistan-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-pakistan-step-by-step Pakistan has a memorandum of cooperation with Japan on SSW. The route, the Bureau of Emigration requirement, and what to verify. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-transport-japanese https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-transport-japanese Station announcements and directions are a listening staple. The vocabulary is small, and the questions turn on two or three words. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-first-month-japanese https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-first-month-japanese The gap between passing a language test and functioning at work is real. Here is what fills it, and how fast. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-after-n3 https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-after-n3 N3 is the level where the ladder stops being the obvious plan. Three routes - N2, work, or consolidation - and how to choose. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/learning-japanese-from-anime https://jftsensei.com/blog/learning-japanese-from-anime Yes, as a supplement, with two specific cautions. What it is genuinely good for and what it teaches that you should not repeat at work. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-mongolia-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-mongolia-step-by-step The Mongolian route, what the memorandum with Japan covers, and the practical preparation that matters most. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-hospital-japanese https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-hospital-japanese Explaining where it hurts, understanding an instruction from a nurse, reading a pharmacy label. Useful for JFT-Basic and essential in Japan. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-employment-contract-check https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-employment-contract-check The contract is the only enforceable description of your job. Ten things to check, and the clauses that should stop you signing. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-podcasts-for-beginners https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-podcasts-for-beginners Podcasts are free, plentiful and mostly too hard. How to choose material at the right level and what to do with it. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-listening-section https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-listening-section Listening is the section you cannot re-read, cannot slow down, and cannot cram. Here is what it actually tests, and the study that moves the score. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-in-six-months https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-in-six-months Six months at an hour a day takes most beginners to N4 - the level that satisfies the SSW language requirement. Month by month. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-uzbekistan-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-uzbekistan-step-by-step Uzbekistan has a memorandum of cooperation with Japan and an active migration agency. The route, and what to prepare first. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-shopping-vocabulary https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-shopping-vocabulary Buying something, asking for a bag, understanding a price change. The exam tests the transactions you will make in your first week in Japan. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-interview-questions https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-interview-questions Most SSW interviews are short, in Japanese, and built from the same dozen questions. Prepare these and the rest follows. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/building-a-personal-word-list https://jftsensei.com/blog/building-a-personal-word-list Published lists are generic. A list built from the words you actually meet is targeted at your gaps and your life. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-in-three-months https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-in-three-months For most people starting from zero, yes - at about an hour a day. Here is the month-by-month plan and the two things that derail it. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-thailand-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-thailand-step-by-step The Thai route through the Department of Employment, and why the timeline is often shorter than candidates expect. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-workplace-vocabulary https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-workplace-vocabulary The exam is built around working life in Japan. These are the words that keep appearing - shifts, breaks, instructions, equipment and reporting. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-what-employers-look-for https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-what-employers-look-for The exams make you eligible. They do not get you hired. Five things that decide between two candidates with the same certificates. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-reading-vs-writing-kanji https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-reading-vs-writing-kanji The JLPT is entirely multiple choice, so handwriting is never tested. That has consequences for how you should study kanji - and its limits. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-cambodia-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-cambodia-step-by-step The Cambodian route through MLVT-licensed agencies, and the questions to ask before you commit to one. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/textbook-japanese-vs-real-japanese https://jftsensei.com/blog/textbook-japanese-vs-real-japanese Your first real conversation in Japan will sound nothing like your textbook. Here is exactly what differs, and why none of it means you wasted your time. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-notices https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reading-notices Rubbish schedules, shift changes, machine instructions. The reading section is built from practical texts, and they are read differently from prose. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-railway-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-railway-route Railway work joined the SSW fields in 2024, covering maintenance, station work and rolling stock. What each stream involves. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-sentence-order https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-sentence-order Japanese sentences are built back to front compared with English. Once you accept that, particles do the rest of the work. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n2-for-work https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n2-for-work N2 is the level employers name most often. Here is what it opens, what it does not, and when N3 plus experience is the better investment. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-india-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-india-step-by-step India has a memorandum of cooperation with Japan on SSW. The route, the eMigrate requirement, and the realistic timeline. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-guessing-strategy https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-guessing-strategy No negative marking means a guess is free and a blank is a guaranteed zero. How to guess well, and when to stop thinking and move. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-road-transport-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-road-transport-route Driving work was added to the SSW fields in 2024, and it carries requirements the other fields do not - including a Japanese licence. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-transitive-and-intransitive https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-transitive-and-intransitive あきます and あけます are different verbs, and choosing the wrong one changes who did it. A guide to the pairs and the pattern. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-8-week-study-plan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-8-week-study-plan A realistic week-by-week plan for reaching 200 points in eight weeks at around ten hours a week, written for people studying around full-time work. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-sitting-in-japan-vs-abroad https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-sitting-in-japan-vs-abroad The exam is identical; the logistics are not. Dates, seats, ID rules and results timing all differ depending on where you sit. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-sri-lanka-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-sri-lanka-step-by-step The Sri Lankan route, the SLBFE registration requirement, and the sequence that avoids wasted months. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-headphones-and-audio https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-headphones-and-audio The listening section gives you one pass at each clip. Sorting out volume and headphones before the test begins is free points. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-timber-industry-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-timber-industry-route Sawmills, plywood and wood product manufacturing - a 2024 addition to the SSW fields. What the work is and what it asks of you. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-conditionals https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-conditionals Four ways to say "if", each with its own job. The simplest reliable guide, with the one you should learn first. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-application-photo-and-id https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-application-photo-and-id Applications are refused for small, avoidable reasons. A checklist for the photo, the identification and the voucher. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-bangladesh-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-bangladesh-step-by-step The route from Bangladesh, the BMET requirements, and why the language test should start before anything else. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-practising-on-a-phone https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-practising-on-a-phone Your phone is the study tool you actually carry. Here is what it is good for in JFT-Basic preparation, and the one thing it cannot rehearse. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-forestry-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-forestry-route Forestry was added to the Specified Skilled Worker programme in 2024. What the work involves, and who it suits. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-potential-form https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-potential-form Two ways to say "can" in Japanese, and the particle change that catches everyone. A short guide with the forms that matter. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-sectional-minimums https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-sectional-minimums Every JLPT level has a minimum score in each section. Clear the total but miss one minimum and the result is a fail. This changes how you revise. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-myanmar-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-myanmar-step-by-step The order of operations from Myanmar, the documents involved, and where the delays usually come from. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-second-attempt-plan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-second-attempt-plan A structured six-to-eight week plan for a second attempt, built around what your first score band actually tells you. Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-shipbuilding-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-shipbuilding-route Welding, painting, fitting and machining in Japanese shipyards. A field where existing trade skills transfer and pay tends to reflect them. Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-ta-form https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-ta-form The plain past tense, built exactly like the て-form. Three patterns make it one of the most useful forms to know. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-mock-test-schedule https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-mock-test-schedule Mock tests are measurement, not study. Too few and you are guessing; too many and you are spending study time on measurement. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-the-philippines-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-the-philippines-step-by-step The Philippine route is government-administered through DMW-accredited channels. What that means for your timeline. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-exam-nerves https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-exam-nerves Nerves cost real points on a listening test. Here is what reduces them before the day, and what to do when the first question goes wrong. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-food-manufacturing-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-food-manufacturing-route Factory work producing food and drink: what the job is, what the skills test asks, and why hygiene Japanese matters more than you expect. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-nai-form https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-nai-form One form, three of the most useful patterns in daily Japanese - must not, do not have to, and must. How to build it and use it. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-listening-note-taking https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-listening-note-taking You are allowed to write. What you write, and what you do not, makes a measurable difference on the longer questions. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-vietnam-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-vietnam-step-by-step The Vietnamese route runs through licensed dispatch companies. The order of steps, and the fee questions to ask early. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-night-before https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-night-before What to do the evening before the exam, and the four things worth checking before you sleep. Cramming is not one of them. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-fishery-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-fishery-route Fishing vessels and aquaculture farms are two very different working lives inside one SSW field. What to expect from each. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-plain-form https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-plain-form Plain form is not rude - it is the base of half of Japanese grammar. What it is, how to build it, and when to use it. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n3-reading-speed https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n3-reading-speed Most candidates who fail N3 reading understand the passages. They just do not finish. How to read faster without reading worse. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-indonesia-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-indonesia-step-by-step The Indonesian route, including the official placement system, and the order that saves the most time. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-final-two-weeks https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-final-two-weeks The last fortnight is not for learning new grammar. Here is what actually moves a score in fourteen days, and what to leave alone. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-aviation-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-aviation-route Two quite different jobs sit inside one SSW field. What each involves, what the tests ask, and who each suits. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-adjectives https://jftsensei.com/blog/japanese-adjectives い-adjectives and な-adjectives conjugate differently, and mixing them up is one of the most visible beginner errors. A short, complete guide. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-grammar-checklist https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n4-grammar-checklist A single list of the grammar N4 expects, grouped so you can tick off what you know and find the gaps quickly. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-nepal-step-by-step https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-from-nepal-step-by-step The order of operations from Nepal, the Nepali government requirements in the middle, and where candidates most often lose time. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reviewing-a-mock-test https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-reviewing-a-mock-test Sitting a mock is an hour. Reviewing it properly is two, and it is where the points come from. A method you can repeat after every test. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-automobile-maintenance-route https://jftsensei.com/blog/ssw-automobile-maintenance-route What the automobile maintenance field covers, what the skills test asks, and what the work actually looks like in a Japanese garage. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-japan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-in-japan The test is held in Japan as well as overseas. Who sits it there, how it differs, and what to check before booking. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-vocabulary-plan https://jftsensei.com/blog/jlpt-n5-vocabulary-plan N5 needs roughly 800 words. Here is how to get them in twelve weeks without burning out, and which ones to learn first. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-how-to-use-the-free-mock https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-how-to-use-the-free-mock A free mock is only worth the 60 minutes you give it. Here is how to sit ours under conditions that make the result mean something. Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-test-day https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-test-day What happens from arrival to result on JFT-Basic test day, how to manage the single 60-minute clock, and the mistakes that cost people earned points. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-long-to-pass-jft-basic https://jftsensei.com/blog/how-long-to-pass-jft-basic Three to six months from a complete beginner, at 8–12 hours a week. Here is what changes that estimate, and how to tell when you are genuinely ready to book. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-vs-jlpt https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-vs-jlpt JFT-Basic is faster and gets you the SSW visa. JLPT is the certificate employers ask for by name. Here is how to tell which one your plan requires. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-passing-score https://jftsensei.com/blog/jft-basic-passing-score You need 200 of 250 points to pass JFT-Basic. Here is what that score represents, why there is no section minimum, and how to tell whether you are close. Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT