The Hardest Market

The Hardest Market is an English-language resource for people hiring or leading teams in Japan. Published by Yan Sen Lu of Makana Partners K.K., an executive search firm in Tokyo and Yokohama, it brings together workforce data, employment-law updates and practical analysis of Japan’s talent market.

Its Japan Human Capital Data covers 30,364 employers: 3,789 listed companies and 26,575 unlisted employers. Users can explore information on pay, women in management, fathers’ parental leave and the gender pay gap, with data available in English and Japanese. The Labour Law Tracker explains employment-rule changes, their effective dates, the employers affected and required actions. A glossary clarifies Japanese HR and employment terms and how they apply to hiring and workplace practices.

The brand also publishes a newsletter every other week, interpreting developments in Japan’s talent market and workplace. Its offerings include The State of Japan HR report and The Hardest Market in the World, a field guide to executive recruitment in Japan.