Job description and Requirements
The job is for someone with specific skills related to Japanese visual novels (also known as "eroge"), which we license and translate from Japanese into English. The specific skills for this position would include:
- Good knowledge of the Japanese visual novel industry, including the major and minor companies creating visual novels. The ability to bring your own knowledge of visual novels and help us plan future licenses to pursue, or recommend import games to post to the site.
- Passion for visual novels in general, and the desire to see the medium brought to a more mainstream. The ability to be professional in the pursuit of this goal.
- Good computer skills, including knowledge of various versions of Windows (for help in debugging problems with games, or helping customers get games to run).
- Good writing and editing skills are important. You will often be editing translated scripts and polishing them for publishing, or writing blog posts or press releases related to our games.
- Japanese ability equal to level 2 of the JLPT test or higher.
Other skills would also be important for the position, including the ability to write well and bring a "voice" to the games side of our company is a plus (experienced bloggers are welcome). Familiarity with Twitter and blogging platforms (Wordpress), and the ability to interface with our customers using social media are important.
Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign and general graphic design would be beneficial. The ability to prepare presentations for our annual Anime Expo presentation, for example, would be important.
IMPORTANT: since J-List sells adult products, please do not apply for this position if you are offended by adult products in any way.
Other Details
J-List was founded in 1996 and has been an extremely successful venture, serving over 350,000 customers and bringing unique products to people outside of Japan. We strive to promote understanding of Japan through its poplar culture, and among other things, we publish regular emails about what it's like for a foreigner to live in Japan. The company is based in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, a small city of 200,000 located on the edge of the Kanto Plain near Tokyo (about 2 hours away by slow train, 45 minutes by Shinkansen). It's a nice city with many cultural points of interest, one of the lowest costs-of-living ratings in Japan, and fast access to mountains for many fun activities including hot springs. Because there's less public transportation here than in larger cities, a drivers' license is highly recommended.
We are looking for a native English speaker who is already in Japan and has a legal visa to work here (we will, of course, sponsor your future visa extensions). In some situations we may be open to discussing hiring someone from outside Japan (please contact for more information).
J-List has two websites, at http://www.jlist.com (which features all our products, including NSFW/18+ ones) and http://www.jbox.com (which only has "PG" products).
Salary
Salary is 270,000-300,000 yen per month depending on experience plus twice-annual bonuses based on personal and overall company performance, with annual raises and flexible vacation time. Additionally, a company car will be provided (gasoline and related costs being your responsibility), along with assistance with an apartment (key money).
How to Apply
To apply for the position, please download this application (PDF) and fill it out along with a Western-style resume, and fax it to 0270-21-9013 (+81 270 21 9033 from outside Japan). Files can also be send to peterpayne[at]gmail[dot]com.
Applicants inside Japan who we ask to come for an interview will need to bring a Japanese rirekisho resume with them. Transportation costs will be paid for (from Tokyo) for applicants who we contact.
If you have any questions, please feel free to address them to us at the above email address. This job is an immediate position, as we're looking for someone to start as quickly as possible.
Thanks for your interest in this rare position at J-List, and best of luck if you decide to apply!
J-List Co. Ltd.
42222-3 Hashie-cho
Isesaki-shi JAPAN 372-0001
Ready to work with us at J-List?
