Pursuing a Medical Writing Career in Japan

There was a voice inside me, whispering, "Now is the time to achieve your childhood dream." It felt like a wake-up call, warning me that this might be my last chance to achieve my goal in Japan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan restricted foreigners from visiting the country for an extended period. It seemed as though the country would never lift its border restrictions due to its culture of risk aversion. After receiving an internship to conduct research at the prestigious scientific research institute RIKEN, I decided to embark on my journey to work in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Finding medical writing opportunities in Japan was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Reaching the summit of Mount Fuji is an arduous task, and finding a medical writing position in Japan without native Japanese language proficiency was no different. Eventually, I received my first opportunity at Edanz, a contract research organization (CRO) based in Fukuoka. While working at Edanz, I wrote press releases and publication reports detailing research conducted at prestigious universities in Japan, such as Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Osaka University.

As my journey in Japan neared its end, I came to realize that most companies in Japan are not particularly welcoming to foreigners due to the strict requirement of fluency in Japanese. Additionally, Japanese work culture is drastically different from that in America, largely due to the well-known factor, 残業 (zangyou), or overtime work. Japanese companies often expect their employees to work overtime every day without additional monetary compensation. While most Japanese workers have adapted to this culture, it remains a shocking adjustment for foreigners, sending shivers down their spines as if a crime against humanity has been committed. For many foreigners, this culture shock is difficult to overcome, especially for Americans who are unaccustomed to regularly working overtime.

However, the Japanese government is making efforts to reform work culture to align more closely with Western approaches to work-life balance. It seems the government has recognized the toll of this rigid work culture, as reflected in Japan’s high suicide rates and low birth rates. By encouraging workers to return home earlier and take more days off, the government hopes to foster a better work-life balance and encourage families to have more children. Of course, this may come as heartbreaking news to the managers of Japan's famous love hotels.

If you plan to pursue medical writing in Japan, I recommend brushing up on your Japanese language skills and preparing to work overtime. LOL!

Cover Image created by Jessica Lewis