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Be a real estate agent in Japan. Take the Takken”宅建” exam! 【Information for Foreigners】

HOME > Be a real estate agent in Japan. Take the Takken”宅建” exam! 【Information for Foreigners】

Be a real estate agent in Japan. Take the Takken”宅建” exam! 【Information for Foreigners】

The “Real Estate Agent-宅地建物取引士” is a very important qualification for those who are thinking of working in the real estate industry in Japan. If you are a foreigner interested in taking the exam, or just want to know what the exam is like, JAPANBOX has compiled an easy-to-understand explanation of what it means to be a certified real estate agent and what the exam entails.

This is the qualification that will give you an advantage when you are thinking of finding a job in the real estate industry in Japan.

What is the real estate certification “Takken”?

ジャパンボックス| ,What is the real estate certification "Takken" | JAPANBOX

“Takken” refers to a qualification that must be obtained when establishing a company whose business is to act as an intermediary for the sale or lease of real estate such as residential land. Those who have obtained the certification have a broad knowledge of real estate. Moreover, since it is a national qualification, it is a qualification that can be used anywhere in Japan.

What only a certified real estate agent can do

The following are examples of transactions in which a certified real estate agent is required to be present.

  • ・Contracts related to real estate (sale and purchase, lease, etc. of residential land and houses)
  • ・Explanation of a contract related to real estate and affixing a seal to a document

etc.

If you are looking for a job in the real estate industry in Japan, having a Takken certification is a great advantage!

When you start a real estate company or office, you must have at least one certified real estate agent for every five employees. This is a very advantageous qualification if you want to work in the real estate industry. There are also many real estate companies that offer different salaries if you have a Takken certification.

Qualifications for the Takken exam – Can foreigners take the exam?

ジャパンボックス| Qualifications for the Takken exam | JAPANBOX

What are the qualifications for taking the Takken exam?

You can take the exam regardless of your age, educational background, or nationality. You must be registered as a resident in Japan at the time you apply for the exam. Regardless of your nationality, you can take the exam in the area where you are registered as a resident. The test is given in Japanese only. There are no restrictions on eligibility, but you must not be under any disqualification clause (minor, criminal record, ward of adult, etc.) when you register your eligibility with the prefectural government after passing the exam.

Subjects of the Takken exam

ジャパンボックス| 宅建Subjects of the Takken exam | JAPANBOX

In this section, you will find out what kind of subjects will be covered in the actual Takken exam.

What will be covered in the Takken exam?

The following are the four main areas that will be covered in the exam.

  • ・Rights (Civil Code, Land and House Lease Law, Real Estate Registration Law, Building Unit Ownership Law)
  • ・Legal restrictions (City Planning Law, Building Standards Law, and other legal restrictions)
  • ・The Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Law
  • ・Taxes and prices (income tax, stamp law, real estate acquisition tax, fixed asset tax, appraisal, etc.)

There will be 50 questions about each of the above. The format of the exam is multiple choice from four options. Among these, the “Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Law” section contains many questions about basic items, so scoring well in this subject is a shortcut to passing the exam.

Time of the exam

ジャパンボックス| 宅建 | JAPANBOX

Registration for the exam is usually in July.

The examination is held on the third Sunday of October.

Click here for the schedule of the Real Estate Agent Qualification Examination for the year 2021.

Before taking the exam, it is common to spend several months to several years studying reference books and past exam questions, or attending correspondence courses or a school specializing in home construction examinations.

How to Study for the Takken Exam for Foreigners

ジャパンボックス| How to Study for the Takken | JAPANBOX

When a foreigner tries to take the Takken exam, the biggest problem is the language. If you have insufficient understanding of Japanese, it can be an overwhelming disadvantage. However, there are many such foreign candidates who have passed the Takken exam. Here are some of the methods they have used to study.

Learning Japanese first

For foreigners, Japanese is very difficult to learn. In the case of Chinese people, most of the legal terms are written in Chinese characters, and some people say that it is relatively easy for them to learn on their own when studying for the Takken exam. When studying on your own, it is important to memorize the meanings of sentences, rather than memorizing the whole Japanese language. If you memorize words one by one, it will be difficult to grasp the meaning of the sentences.

Using correspondence courses and online courses

If you use correspondence courses or online courses, it is easier to study in the spare time you have between work and housework. It has the advantage of making it easier to plan your studies.

Studying on your own

There are many high quality reference books available in the market. Many people who have passed the exam say that past exam questions were the best learning material. Studying on your own will not only save you money, but will also allow you to study at your own pace.

Areas that you should study to pass the exam

Again, among the four areas that are given on the exam, the “Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Law” is a subject where it is easy to get a good score because there are many questions about basic content. The number of questions in “Rights” is the largest, with 14 out of 50 questions, so it cannot be neglected. These two areas should be prioritized when studying.

Summary

ジャパンボックス| real estate license | JAPANBOX

The Takken qualification is a national qualification and can be taken by people of any nationality. Passing the Takken exam will certainly give you an advantage in finding a job at a real estate related company. We hope this article will be useful to foreigners who are thinking of establishing a real estate company or finding a job in the real estate industry in Japan.

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