International student in Tokyo struggling to find part-time work

Hi everyone,

I’m posting on behalf of my older brother, who recently moved to Tokyo for his studies. He’s been there for a little over a month now and has a valid work permit. He’s been actively looking for part-time work so he can support himself without relying too much on savings.

He has reached out to quite a few places and was invited for a few trial shifts, but unfortunately he hasn’t heard back afterward.

He has a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, so ideally he’d love to find something related to that field. At the moment though, he’s open to general part-time work too.

His Japanese level is JLPT N5, so he has basic communication ability, but he’s still improving and understands that this may limit some customer-facing roles.

I wanted to ask:

  • Are there any tips he should keep in mind while job hunting in Tokyo?
  • Are there specific websites, areas, or types of businesses that are more open to hiring international students with beginner-level Japanese?
  • Is there anything cultural, practical, or communication-related that might affect his chances after trial shifts?

He’s not really the type to ask for help himself, so I thought I’d post here on his behalf.

Any advice or suggestions would really mean a lot. Thank you.

by smolcatfis