Agriculture Skills Exams for Japan in Season!
Japan is known around the world for its delicious food, but local farms need help getting their produce to the table. Over the next five years, Japan will be accepting up to 36,000 foreign workers under the new ‘Specified Skills’ visa to work in the agriculture industry. Employers are searching for hard workers to aid in crop cultivation and livestock raising on farms across beautiful Japan.
All that you need are some basic Japanese language skills (our beginner courses) and some knowledge of farming. If you think you are ready to take your career abroad and work in one of the most attractive and comfortable countries in the world, let’s take a look at what you will need to get there!
The Agriculture Skills Exams are now underway. If you are able to pass the evaluation, you will be eligible for the ‘Specified Skills Visa’ (特定技能), which will allow you to work in Japan for up to five years. See the details about the new Japanese visa here.
The test relating to agriculture is currently taking place in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Indonesia until mid-March. More countries and dates are expected to be added as the program grows. Multiple testing locations are available in each country. The Philippines, for example, will hold the exams in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Please check the table below to find the location and date that works best for you.
Agriculture Skills Exam Details
Only a general knowledge of faming and the Japanese language will be necessary to pass the exam. Here are some details of the exam that will help you prepare and pass the evaluation so you can live and work in Japan as a farmer.
The test was originally prepared in Japanese, but it is available in English, Khmer, and Indonesian. It is computer based exam provided by Prometric that contains 70 questions. The test is only 60 minutes long, so do your best to answer as quickly and accurately as possible. An additional 10 minutes will be added to the testing period for explanations and questions on how to take the exam.
The questions will be a True/False or Multiple Choice format and cover two categories of the agriculture industry:
crop cultivation (1) and livestock raising (2)
Category 1: Crop Cultivation
General Knowledge of Crop Farming
Growing Crops
Farming requires knowledge related to a wide range of plants. For the exam, you will be evaluated on your general knowledge of crop development. This includes the technical terms of common crops and their individual organs.
Cultivation Methods
Regarding cultivation, you will need to be familiation with common methods of sowing, seedlings and planting, and irrigation.
Cultivation Management
Finally, you must know how to manage the crops under a number of conditions. This section requires technical knowledge related to maintaining and harvesting crops.
- Type of soil
- Acidity of soil
- Elements of fertilizers
- Fertilization
- Fertilization improvement
- Pinching
- Artificial pollination
- Flower Picking/Fruit thinning
- Training/pruning
- Fuit covering
- Harvest
- Breeding and production of nursery stocks
Health and Safety
Health regulations are not only important to keep you safe while on the job. They are also to protect consumers from contracting and illness from the produce. It is absolutely necessary to have a strong understanding of the health and safety regulations regarding crop farming jobs in Japan. Have a quick look at this summary and start studying for this portion of the exam so that you can pass the evaluation with ease.
- Inspection method of safety devices before starting work
- Organization skills
- Method of checking machinery and surroundings for safety
- How to wear safety equipment and check for malfunctions
- Emergency measures and evacuation plans
- Avoidance of hazardous materials
Rice Cultivation
Rice is obviously an important crop for Japan. The grains are used in a variety of dishes and products including alcohol. All across the Japanese countryside, stunning rice fields make up a major part of the landscape. Japanese people take great pride in their country’s delicious, fluffy rice, so cultivation of rice requires special attention. Here are some points to prepare for.
- Cultivation environment
- Temperature
- Sunlight
- Water
- Nutrition
- Soil
- Covering materials
- Facilities and equipment
- Harvesting methods
Category 2: Livestock
Overall Knowledge of Livestock Raising
Dealing with live animals is always a challenge, but with some preparation, you will be ready for the job. The evaluation will consist of an academic examination and practical questions. The livestock category of the exam will cover the following topics.
- Breeding
- Healthy and safety
- Animal physiology
- Feeding Management
- Handling of Animals
Japanese Language Evaluation
Basic Japanese is necessary to live and work in Japan, and language skills will be tested in the exam. Many of the Japanese questions on the exam will be related to farming and other words that will be useful for a job in agriculture. A major portion of the Japanese Language exam will evaluate listening skills. To prepare for the Japanese language evaluation, check out our courses which are narrated by native Japanese speakers. It is sure to improve your comprehension skills. The JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese) is another important milestone that you must prepare to pass to live and work in Japan. Read more about it here.
Good luck!
Let us know if you have any questions!
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2 Comments
I been working in Japan before.. Japanese people are very polite have a good manners and most of all Japanese people didn’t discriminate human …
I love the place clean and beautiful..
That’s why watashiwa nihon iketai…..
I want work in your company please accept me