What is the BJT, the Business Japanese Proficiency Test?
Who runs the BJT, what it measures, its 80 questions in three parts, the 0–800 score, the ¥8,000 fee in Japan, and where it counts for visas.
Short answer
The BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test is a computer-based test of the Japanese used at work, run by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (Kanken) and taken at Pearson VUE test centres. It has 80 questions, takes about two hours, and gives a score from 0 to 800 with a level from J5 to J1+ instead of pass or fail. Japanese immigration rules count BJT 400 like JLPT N2 for some visas.
- 80 questions, all multiple choice
- About 2 h including instructions and a questionnaire
- 0–800 score, with levels J5 to J1+
- ¥8,000 fee in Japan, tax included, applications from 1 April 2026
What BJT measures
BJT measures how well you communicate in the Japanese used in business settings, in the words of the organiser. According to the Kanken brochure, the questions measure not only your knowledge of Japanese and of business, but also whether you can use that knowledge to communicate. Every question is multiple choice with four options.
Its full name is the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJTビジネス日本語能力テスト). Anyone who is not a native speaker of Japanese can take it.
Key facts
- Organiser
- The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (Kanken). JETRO created the BJT in 1996; Kanken took it over from 2009.
- Delivery
- A computer-based test since April 2017, taken at Pearson VUE test centres.
- Dates
- No fixed dates. You can apply any time and sit on a day and time when the test centre is open.
- Result
- A paper score report at the centre as you leave; a score certificate you print from your Pearson VUE account three days later.
- Retakes
- After a test you must wait 3 months before you can sit it again.
- Fee
- ¥8,000 in Japan, tax included, for applications from 1 April 2026; outside Japan the fee is set per country.
The three parts
| Part | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Listening | about 45 min | 25 |
| 2. Listening and reading | about 30 min | 25 |
| 3. Reading | 30 min | 30 |
Each part has three question types, nine in total. The three parts add up to about 105 minutes of questions; with the test explanations and a questionnaire at the end, the whole test takes about two hours. Every question type, with one to try, is in BJT test format.
How the score works
BJT has no pass or fail. Kanken converts your answers into a score from 0 to 800 with item response theory, so harder questions count for more, and gives you one of six levels, J5 to J1+. In fiscal year 2025 the average score was 420.0 across 7,630 scored test takers (Kanken results, published June 2026).
BJT and JLPT at a glance
| JLPT in Japan | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Next date | 6 December 2026; applications closed on 7 September | Any day the test centre is open |
| Result | Online in late January 2027, for the December session | Score report at the centre on the day |
| Result form | Levels N1 to N5; N1 is the most difficult | Score 0–800, levels J5 to J1+ |
| Fee in Japan | ¥7,500, tax included | ¥8,000, tax included |
Which test fits your situation is in BJT or JLPT for your visa.
Where BJT counts for visas
Japanese immigration rules name BJT scores next to JLPT levels. A score of 400 counts like JLPT N2 for the Business Manager visa, for 10 Highly Skilled Professional points, and, for applications from 15 April 2026, for some Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services cases. A score of 480 counts like N1 for 15 points and for the Designated Activities status for graduates of Japanese universities. The rules, visa by visa, are in which Japanese tests count for a Japan visa, and the April 2026 rule in the Engineer visa guide.
Some older pages describe BJT with 35, 30 and 35 questions per part. The current Kanken brochure lists 25, 25 and 30 questions, and Kanken has run the test since 2009. Kanken's FAQ says the BJT is offered at Pearson VUE test centres; it does not mention taking the test from home.
Who BJT suits
- You need proof of Japanese soon and your visa rule names BJT: you can book a date and leave with a score report.
- You use Japanese at work. The questions are built on business situations, so your daily work is practice.
- You may need more than one try. You can sit again three months after each test.
- Not a fit if an employer asks for JLPT by name, or if your rule does not list BJT.
The booking steps are in How to book BJT in Japan, and the centres in Japan and abroad in where to take BJT.
Questions people ask
What does the BJT measure?
In Kanken's words, it is a test of "your proficiency in communicating in the Japanese language required in business settings". Every question is multiple choice with four options, answered on a computer.
Are there any special qualifications needed to take the BJT?
No. Kanken's FAQ says the BJT is open to all non-native Japanese speakers.
Who runs the BJT?
The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (Kanken). JETRO created the test in 1996, Kanken took it over from 2009, and since April 2017 it has been a computer test delivered through Pearson VUE.
Can I take the BJT outside Japan, for example in India?
Yes. The Pearson VUE BJT page listed test centres in 21 countries and regions outside Japan on 10 November 2026, India among them, and Kanken's April 2026 fee list gives 37 USD for India. The full list is in where to take BJT.
Is the BJT a pass or fail test?
No. You get a score from 0 to 800 and a level from J5 to J1+ based on that score. What each level means is in what your BJT score means.
See what a business situation in Japanese feels like.
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