日の丸交通株式会社

Hiring Foreign Drivers! Being a taxi driver enables you to use your language skills to convey
the best of Japan and its great hospitality culture.
Hinomaru Kotsu already has a number of foreign national employees.
We look forward to welcoming you to become part of our at-home style workplace,
where senior employees and colleagues alike will be ready
to help you with any queries that you may have.

Country of Origin
for Foreign Drivers

  • Brazil

    Brazil

  • China

    China

  • Korea

    Korea

  • Austria

    Austria

  • Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

  • Russian

    Russian

  • Pakistan

    Pakistan

  • Iran

    Iran

  • France

    France

  • Kenya

    Kenya

  • India

    India

  • America

    America

  • Myanmar

    Myanmar

  • Taiwan

    Taiwan

  • England

    England

  • Italy

    Italy

  • Canada

    Canada

  • Vietnam

    Vietnam

  • Philippines

    Philippines

  • Australia

    Australia

  • mongolia

    mongolia

  • Ghana

    Ghana

  • Switzerland

    Switzerland

  • Indonesia

    Indonesia

  • Algeria

    Algeria

  • Hungary

    Hungary

  • Greece

    Greece

  • Thailand

    Thailand

Number of Employees
for Foreign Drivers 116 Drivers

Foreign Drivers Working
at Hinomaru Kotsu

  • A big decision, from caregiver to taxi driver.A job that lets you use your language skills Mrs. ROSALYN BARUA
    （from India）     More
  • No Class 2 or International License Required!This Taxi Driver Started After Acing the Test on the 5th Try Mr. MILLET MARTIAL CLAUDE MARCEL
    （from France）     More
  • Communication is More Important than Geography.You can be successful even if you don’t know Tokyo’s roads! Mr. LIPSON ALEXANDER PAUL
    （from Canada）     More
  • A job where you can enjoy the sightseeing mood with your customers.Other non-Japanese drivers in the company mean peace of mind! Mr. SUKRU CETIZ
    （from Turkey）     More
  • Making Customers Smile by Talking about Italy.Both training and practice went smoothly, thanks to thorough guidance Mr. CARTA FRANCESCO
    （from Italy）     More
  • Proactively Studying Kanji and Geography.Aiming to be a Driver Who Takes Full Advantage of being Trilingual Mr. LOGER WOLFGANG
    （from Austria）     More
  • There are no quotas, so I can work without feeling stressed.The kindness of my instructors and colleagues encourages me Mr. MUHAMMAD REHAN
    （from Pakistan）     More
  • I can control my objectives and schedule.I treat myself to a drink when I have multiple days off Mr. KIM KOOG CHOONG
    （from Korea）     More
  • I just do exactly what I’ve been taught,that’s the best thing I can do Mr. RICARDO ANDRE UEHARA
    （from Brazil）     More

Work Schedule

  • Alternate-day shift
  • Day shift
  • Night shift
  • 233 days off per year.
    Enjoy a fulfilling private life too.     The system based on working every other day requires you to work only 11 times per month, 12 times at the most. Including rest days after night shifts, you get two days off per week, and you can take four consecutive days off twice. This allows you to generate a lot of personal time, allowing you to enjoy a fulfilling private life. One of the advantages of being a taxi driver is the number of days off that you can get, a benefit that is not often seen in other jobs.
  • This shift style enables you to manage your work and home at the same time! The work style is day time only and it is administered precisely so that it enables you to have your lifestyle in an ordered manner. This is why so many drivers are balancing both work and home very well. Besides, there are hardly any drunk customers during the daytime. Female drivers can devote themselves to working at ease also. When you can enrich both work and home, you can become a first class crew member who can drive with excellent skills and spirits.
  • You can earn much more with the higher fare rate and long distance drives. At the same time, you can work more efficiently in the time zone that provides many reservations.
    Even though the night time driving has more concerns with safety, the entire company is working hard under our motto of “Safety First, Sales Second!” at Hinomaru Kotsu Co.,Ltd. This shift style will also let you take more private time during the day.

Daily workflow

  • 07:00Going to work/Roll call So that customers can ride our taxis with peace of mind, our drivers inspect their vehicles every morning with scrupulous care. All cars have built-in navigation systems, so it is important for them to be tested as well. Once the inspections are complete, then we do the roll call. We say "Good morning" and "Thank you very much" in a loud voice to put everyone in a business-like, professional frame of mind. The office then shares the notices for the day, such as important points to remember, reports, etc.
  • 10:00Business activities Once the inspections and the roll call are completed, the taxis leave the depot, setting the start of the working day. In the mornings, we operate our taxis mainly targeting customers commuting to work or housewives going shopping. This time is also busy with pick-ups and drop-offs at the airport. Hinomaru Kotsu offers a "Fixed Price Airport Taxi" service for transporting customers to and from Narita and Haneda Airport, so the company employs many drivers who can speak foreign languages.
  • 12:00Lunch Drivers can take a lunch-time break wherever they wish. Hinomaru Kotsu's motto is "Safety First, the Business Second," so breaks are also important. Once you feel properly refreshed, as a driver it is important to think about the route to take in the afternoon, by taking into consideration any events, etc. taking place on that day.
  • 13:00Business activities In the afternoon, we also have many customers using our taxis for sightseeing. Hinomaru Kotsu offers a "Tokyo Sightseeing Taxi" service with English-speaking drivers, which enables you to use your language skills. The company also offers a "Wagon Taxi" service that allows large groups of people to enjoy a leisurely sightseeing trip, allowing taxi drivers to take a step up in their duties.
  • 16:30Break / Dinner Before it gets properly busy in the evenings, we take a break and an early dinner. Also, if necessary, we use this time to go to a gas station to fill up the tank.
  • 19:00Business activities From the evening onward is the best time for taxi drivers to earn money. We operate our taxis targeting customers going back home from work, heading out to their evening shift work, on their way back home from drinking, those who have missed the last train, etc. From the evening to night-time, we pick up customers on the streets, but we also get dispatched to booked customers through the radio. The company has dedicated Hinomaru Kotsu taxi ranks, so we can also operate our taxis using them as a base.
  • 03:00Back to the garage Once the working day is done, we clean the cars. When doing the interior, we clean everything carefully, the window glass, seats, etc. We then record our mileage in our daily report, process credit card receipts, etc. Hinomaru Kotsu has a system for processing daily reports and payments automatically, aiming to reduce the paperwork to be done by the employees.

Training

  • Even if you are inexperienced, you can rest assured.
    We offer a minimum of 28 days of top-class training within the city.     The company offers full training on the local geography, driving skills, business revenue, etc. provided by former top-selling drivers, who are fully knowledgeable about the job.
    These training sessions also allow you to obtain your Ordinary Vehicle Class 2 Driver's License, which is essential for becoming a taxi driver. This requires taking a theory test and a practical test. Trainees are taught thoroughly to ensure that they can pass these exams, giving great peace of mind to those who do not yet possess an Ordinary Vehicle Class 2 Driver's License.
    Also, the training cost, which generally amounts to ¥300,000, is fully covered by the company.(with conditions)
    During training, acquiring good driving skills is important. However, as taxi drivers are also customer-facing, it is very important for them to learn how to communicate with customers. This is why Hinomaru Kotsu's instructors always place great importance on having good communication with their trainees. In particular, when teaching foreign drivers, they train them not only on how to ensure smooth communication with customers, but also on how to provide great Japanese-style hospitality.
    The training sessions are used to teach the trainees thoroughly, enabling them to make their debut as splendid taxi drivers. Even if you are inexperienced, please rest assured, and let us take care of everything.
  • Salaries are paid even during the training period.
    Daily salary: ¥10,000

Salary

  • Average salary
    1years since joining ¥302,276 3-5years since joining ¥329,306
    Annual income example (Monthly salary of ¥180,0000 + allowances + commission)
    4 years since joining 26 years old
    Annual income: ¥4,562,657     7 years since joining 46 years old
    Annual income: ¥5,849,580
  • For 12 months after being deployed, we guarantee a monthly salary of ¥300,000. We guarantee a monthly salary of ¥300,000.
    Of course, this salary can increase even more depending on how hard you work.

Application requirements

People with resident status, with no work restrictions.
Permanent resident: People who have been granted permanent residency from other types of residency, by fulfilling the appropriate criteria.
Spouse, etc. of a Japanese national: The spouse of a Japanese national or second-generation settler (people with a Japanese mother or father).
Spouse, etc. of a permanent resident: The spouse of a permanent resident, or children of a permanent resident.
Long-term resident: People who are third or fourth generation settlers, people not of Japanese descent who are married to a person of Japanese descent, the spouse or children of Japanese orphans remaining in China, etc.
”Designated activity” ・・・Those who majored in “Japanese language” and graduated from either a college or a graduate school in Japan as well as either obtained N1 level from the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or scored over 480 points from the Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT).
People who have had a Japanese Ordinary Vehicle Driver's License for one years or more.
People who have had a foreign driver's license for one years or more may be able to convert their license into a Japanese driver's license for the same time period. Please contact us for details.
JLPT N3 or above
Those who do not have JLPT certification will undergo Japanese language testing at the company when applying.
Those who have certification other than JLPT, please contact us.

A big decision, from caregiver to taxi driver
A job that lets you use your language skills

Mrs. ROSALYN BARUA(from India)
Former employment：Caregiver for the elderly
Hinomaru Kotsu stood out on all the recruitment sites.
It’s been 15 years since I started living in Japan. I used to be a caregiver for the elderly. my work would finish by the evening, so I started looking on job sites for foreign workers. I was looking for a part time job that would let me work 2 to 3 hours at night. That’s when I came across Hinomaru Kotsu. Jobs for foreigners tend to be limited to things like teaching English and translation. The only company looking for taxi drivers was Hinomaru Kotsu. I was quite drawn to it; I’d never seen job content like that before. I thought I would at least apply, so I sent my CV in and was invited to an interview.
It was somewhere I could use my skills. So, I switched jobs.
At the interview, my interviewer was very kind, and carefully explained what the job was about. My family lives in India, my home country, so I explained that I wanted to take longer holidays to go home; I was so happy when they agreed so graciously. Everyone was kind, and it looked like taking holidays was fairly straightforward, so I thought I would try working here. At the time, I was just looking for a part time job, but at the interview, they suggested that I try working alternate days. Driving a taxi, you get to meet all sorts of people, and you might get to use your English skills. As I listened, I really felt I could put my skills to good use, so I decided to work exclusively as a taxi driver.
“You’ll pass next time!” Passed, with my little daughter cheering me on!
After joining the company, I began my training. It was tough! There was a test of my knowledge of the roads, the Class 2 License exam, plus instruction on the road. Every day was full of new things. There were days I studied through the night, when I got told off by my instructor and cried. The instruction on the road was particularly hard. Driving, knowing the geography, dealing with customers…there’s so many things to do at once, there were times my brain just froze. There were days when I nearly gave up, when I said that “I just can’t do it”, but the instructors were very encouraging and explained exactly what I was doing wrong. I was able to pick myself up and carry on. When I got home, there was even a time my little daughter cheered me on. “Good luck Daddy! You can do it next time!” With so much support from everyone, I was able to pass my exams and begin my career as a taxi driver.
The good times, the bad times, the customers are always with you!
The best thing about this job is getting to meet customers, when they say, “thanks for driving safely!” or “keep the change!”. Out of my foreign clients, I’ve even had people who offered to pray for me, “let me pray that you have the strength to keep going”. Most of my clients are Japanese, but there are foreign people too. There are some who can’t speak much Japanese, so they’re very happy when I speak to them in English. I’ve had customers say how pleased they were to speak English since there’s usually so much Japanese flying around! It can be stressful dealing with a customer in a hurry, but whether it’s good or bad, it’s all made possible by the customers. As a driver, it’s my goal to learn more of the geography and be able to drive anywhere so I can offer my services with more confidence.
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No Class 2 or International License Required!
This Taxi Driver Started After Acing the Test on the 5th Try

Mr. MILLET MARTIAL CLAUDE MARCEL（from France）
Former employment：Courtesy Driver
Parlayed his experience in the Caribbean into a job as a taxi driver
Before this, I worked as a hotel courtesy driver in one of the French territories in the Caribbean. Eventually, I decided to leave that job and take some time to travel for a year or so. The country I traveled to was Japan. I wanted to go to Asakusa and Kyoto. During that time, I ended up marrying a woman from Japan, and as of this year, it's been 15 years since I first came to Japan.
In Japan, I've been a salesperson at a duty-free store and worked at a factory, among other things. We spent some time in Yamagata, where my wife's family lives, but we decided to make a new start as a family in Tokyo. When I started to think again about what I could do, what came to mind was my experience as a courtesy driver in the Caribbean. So, I started looking for work as a driver, and I saw a job ad from Hinomaru Kotsu.
Hinomaru Kotsu will hire drivers who do not have a Class 2 license
I also applied to a few other taxi companies and courtesy car service companies in addition to Hinomaru Kotsu, but the other companies all told me the same thing. They said they wouldn't be able to hire me if I didn't have a Class 2 license.
When I was being turned down repeatedly and lost my confidence, the person who reached out to me was the recruiter from Hinomaru Kotsu. They told me it was fine, because I could get my Class 2 license after they hired me. When it came to the training, they gave me a textbook I could read, and taught me what I needed to know. Hinomaru Kotsu was the company that gave me a chance, even when I didn't have a Class 2 or international license. I joined the company with a positive attitude, and the feeling that this would be a good place to work.
He passed the test with a perfect score, even with its tough Japanese requirements
After joining the company, I went through about four months of training. The textbook and the tests were both in Japanese. They did have ruby characters (small phonetic characters that help with the reading of more complex kanji characters), but it was difficult. There were trick questions, so I had to read them over a few times in order to make sure I understood them fully. Taking the time to do that made it impossible for me to figure out all of the answers within the time limit.
After that, I would start studying at 5:00 in the morning, and I also went to test prep lessons, studying until I understood what I was doing wrong. The teacher gave everyone one-to-one advice, which was also helpful. In the end, I got my Class 2 license and passed the geography test on my fifth try, so it was all worth it. On my fifth time taking the test, I went over my notes right before, and one of the things I reviewed at that time ended up being on the actual test. I was so glad to see that, and I thought, "It's my lucky day!" I got a perfect score on that test.
He wants to make use of his English ability and the experiences he has had in Japan
What I'm conscious of when I'm working is that I have to be careful when opening my door, so that I don't bump into a cyclist or pedestrian; to say something to the passenger as they're about to leave, so that they don't leave any belongings behind; and, when there's something I'm not able to do, to say clearly, "I can't do that." When a passenger asks me to do something that I'm not allowed to do, that can lead to problems, so I take care to let them know before they get in, and make sure that they understand.
The fun thing about working as a taxi driver is that I can act on my own judgment and be flexible. That's an advantage that other driver jobs with fixed schedules don't have. With the Olympics coming up next year, I'd like to put my language abilities and my experience of living in Japan for 15 years to use, to help visitors from other countries.
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Communication is More Important than Geography
You can be successful even if you don’t know Tokyo’s roads!

Mr. LIPSON ALEXANDER PAUL（from Canada）
Former employment：English teacher
Switching from English teacher to driver for the Tokyo Olympics
I came to Japan in 2006. The reason was to work in a Shizuoka high school as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). From that time I worked as an English teacher, but a turning point came 2 or 3 years ago. I received Japanese permanent residency. Receiving permanent residency removes the working restrictions, so in time I decided I wanted to try a different kind of work.
At that time I saw an article about Hinomaru Kotsu’s foreign drivers. The Tokyo Olympics is coming, so I thought this was my chance. When I went to the interview they told me frankly about the good and bad things about taxi work, and I felt Hinomaru Kotsu was a trustworthy company.
Learning Japanese culture from the customers
The enjoyable part about taxi driver work is the once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Around Tokyo Station or Otemachi the customers are businessmen and women, which is different from the customers in Shinjuku. The customer demography changes depending on the neighborhood and the time. I meet a much wider variety of people than I did when working in a school.
One group of customers I picked up in Ryokoku left a particular impression. They were sumo wrestlers. In the car they asked about my home country of Canada, so I happily told them about it. The reason I had come to Japan was because I was interested in Japanese culture. Driving a taxi has increased my opportunities to meet Japanese people and experience Japanese culture, which I really like.
Asking veteran drivers about interacting with customers
The foundation of my work is, of course, driving safely. For that reason, I check everything as early as possible, and even if I am using the navigation system, I make an effort to still ask the customer about the route. Even then, however, some people will suddenly tell me to change lanes. Avoiding trouble by politely declining to engage in risky driving is also part of providing satisfying service to the customer.
If there is something else I need to know, I often consult with the veteran drivers in the office. They always give me helpful advice, such as how to handle a certain situation or where is a good place to pick up customers during certain time periods. On my days off I often go out to eat with my coworkers, and I make an effort to indiscriminately interact with both veteran Japanese drivers and foreign drivers.
Communication ability is important thing for taxi work
If some people are hesitating to apply for taxi work because they have no experience and don’t know the Tokyo geography, then I want to tell them that, “You’ll be OK as long as you can communicate well.” From my first day I was driving the same roads as the veteran drivers, and when I was a new driver I would say, “I’m a new driver, is that alright?” and then the customers would treat me kindly, and if I could asked them which route they wanted to take, I could do my work smoothly.
I feel I can do the job even if from tomorrow I would be working in an unfamiliar city. That is just how important communication is for taxi work. In the near future I plan to receive tour guide certification and I will use this knowledge to expand the service I can provide.
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A job where you can enjoy the sightseeing mood with your customers
Other non-Japanese drivers in the company mean peace of mind!

Mr. SUKRU CETIZ（from Turkey）
Former employment：Management of herbal medicines company
The training is fun because you can learn about Tokyo at the same time
In Turkey, I set up a herbal medicines company, which I then managed. Partly because my wife is Japanese, I’ve been living in Japan since last year. When it came time to search for a job here in Japan, I was hoping to make use of my love of travel and find a job in the tourism industry. As I was applying for jobs in travel agencies and to be a tour guide, I heard about the sightseeing taxi jobs at Hinomaru Kotsu, and ended up joining the company.
While training for the job, I was also studying the Chinese characters used to write Japanese at the same time, so studying to pass exams in geography and a class 2 driver’s license was a lot harder than I had imagined. Even so, I was able to learn the names of roads and places in Tokyo that I had not known before, so it was more a fun experience than a tough one. When I was learning about Shinto shrines, I would sometimes make a mental note to “visit this spot when I next have time.”
You can enjoy traveling with tourists
Most taxi drivers have areas that they know really well. In my case, these are Harajuku and Shibuya. In parts of Tokyo that have a lot of companies, you often give a ride to company employees who are racing around, but in Harajuku and Shibuya, there are lots of tourists. I get to enjoy the laid-back sightseeing mood that my customers have.
The other day, I gave a ride to a foreigner in Harajuku, who said he/she wanted me to take him/her to Kawagoe. So, this was someone who was in Japan as a tourist. I love travel, and Kawagoe is a place that I had been wanting to go take a look at. We arrived safely in Kawagoe, and afterwards, I enjoyed a bit of a stroll around the place, taking a break at the same time. The best thing about this job is being able to go to sightseeing spots that I have never visited before.
A LINE group of non-Japanese drivers
There are non-Japanese drivers in all the offices, not just the Adachi office where I work. But as we generally don’t work the same hours, it's hard to find the time to talk. We have a LINE group for non-Japanese drivers, where we talk to each other about the job or information about licenses that we need. Currently, it’s a large group of about 13 people.
Being a taxi driver in Japan is a stable job
At the moment, I’m working every second day. This means that when I combine my time off with a public holiday, I can take more than two days a week off. I have plenty of time to spend with my family, whether I take the kids to a sightseeing spot on a day off or whether I go home to have dinner on work days. Taxi drivers in Japan get paid well and enjoy proper time off, in a way that just can’t be matched in other countries.
I’m still in my first year with the company, so I’ve started with general taxi driver work, but in the future, I’d like to do sightseeing taxi work. Further down the track, I’d like to set my sights on work that is tourism-focussed. I’m getting into it bit by bit, by doing things like volunteer guiding. I think that it’s doing a stable job that is allowing me to follow my dreams in this kind of way.
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Making Customers Smile by Talking about Italy
Both training and practice went smoothly, thanks to thorough guidance

Mr. CARTA FRANCESCO（from Italy）
Former employment：Student
Hinomaru Transportation, with its favorable environment, was the first choice
I first came to Japan when I was a university student. I came as an international student and studied at a Japanese school. After that I returned to Italy, but I wanted to learn more about Japan and so came back. While I was looking for jobs related to tourism to learn about culture, I came across Hinomaru Kotsu.
In job hunting, I applied to other companies as well, but Hinomaru Kotsu had a training system for foreigners and was the only company that thoroughly explained the steps in training. It eventually became my first choice.
Debuting with the help of senior drivers
In addition to the geography of Tokyo and two types of licenses, I also learned about customer service. I learned how to open and close the door and how to handle payment. The instructor played the role of a short-tempered customer, and there were simulations of how to handle this.
I was nervous on the first day when I was assigned to the sales office, but a senior driver sat in the passenger seat, and I was able to relax and take on the work. The purpose of the senior driver was to check my driving skills, but I passed that test safely as well. I had officially debuted as a proper driver. I received the sort of thorough instruction that I had been told about before joining, so I was able to undertake both training and work with confidence.
Satisfying difficult customers with talk about Italy
A joy of the job is the words that I get from customers. Just the other day, a customer commented "I was satisfied with the service."
I had taken that customer to a place where two intersections with similar names are connected. I made a turn at the intersection the customer had named, but apparently he had really wanted to turn at the other intersection. Although I explained it properly, the customer had a sour look. However, when the customer found out I was Italian, he started talking eagerly and left me with the sort of kind words I mentioned. He was someone who frequently went to Italy for work and loved Italy. Like this person, there are quite a few customers who talk happily when I tell them that I'm Italian.
The secret to earning is to change areas at the right time
As I continued to work, I found my own secrets for performing the job. One of these is to change the working area between day and night. In the day I drive in Chiyoda Ward and Chuo Ward where office workers come and go, but at night there's nobody there. But when I go to the Shinjuku area, where there are a lot of pubs, there are crowds of customers. I sometimes carry drunk customers, but I have never had a scary experience. In generally, the Japanese customers are nice.
Looking ahead, I have a lot of goals, but first I want to learn all of Tokyo's geography. Some customers name the building at their destination, and I want to be able to handle those requests, too.
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Proactively Studying Kanji and Geography
Aiming to be a Driver Who Takes Full Advantage of being Trilingual

Mr. LOGER WOLFGANG（from Austria）
Former employment：Chef
Wanting to know the parts in deep Tokyo and becoming a driver
It was about 30 years ago when I came to Japan. Without realizing it, I have spent more time in Japan than in my home country, Austria. After I arrived initially, I worked in Niigata as a chef for an Italian restaurant for about 26 years. Recently, however, my wife moved back to Saitama, where she grew up. As a result, I started looking for work in that area and came across a job ad by Hinomaru Kotsu.
I am applying for this position because I like driving; moreover, since I am working in the city, I want to use this opportunity to learn more about Tokyo. Although I have visited famous sightseeing spots, I want to try to venture into the deeper parts of Tokyo. I don't have any experience as a taxi driver. However, seeing that at my age, I will not be able to continuously take on new challenges, I want to give this job everything I have.
Meeting and Interacting with People make it Worthwhile
Being a taxi driver brought me the joy of meeting different customers each ride. When my customers find out I'm a foreigner, they actively engage me in conversations. Some of my customers even remember me and tell me that I've driven them before.
When driving customers, it's important to make sure you greet them and reply properly. If there's something you don't understand, then say so. Clearly telling them this in advance helps prevent potential problems. Ever since I've been driving my taxi, I've felt the desire to give my customers safe and pleasant rides. Getting praises like "You have a polite and great way of speaking" and "Pleasant service" bring me happiness.
Studying Kanji and Geography Without Missing a Single Day
I can have conversations in Japanese without any problems, but there are still some Kanji that I don't know. Because of that, I continue to study every day. I'm aiming to be able to read the names of roads and intersections. When I first tried doing so, I noticed that I was learning the names of tons of places for the first time. Driving along the roads also makes you notice that certain places are unexpectedly close to each other. This lets you get to places quickly by car instead of having to change trains several times. As for the geography, there are times the veteran drivers teach me, and times when I check the map. However, the most important thing for me is driving there myself and remembering the places. I believe actually experiencing it is the best way to learn.
Striving to be a Driver Who Takes Full Advantage of being Trilingual
Although there's an overwhelming number of Japanese passengers, there are also some who aren't. They'll be surprised at first that both of you aren't Japanese, but they usually open up in the end. If they're here to sightsee, there are times when I tell them about the places in English while driving. Doing so makes them very happy. I know German, English, and Japanese, and I'm going to take full advantage of this and aim to be a tourist taxi in the future. To that end, I'm making sure to cherish each and every customer, as well as remember the geography.
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There are no quotas, so I can work without feeling stressed
The kindness of my instructors and colleagues encourages me

Mr. MUHAMMAD REHAN（From Pakistan）
Former employment：Pakistan Embassy
Becoming a driver, from working in an embassy
In Pakistan, I worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, I came to Japan as I was transferred to the Pakistinian Embassy in Japan. It happened eight years ago. Afterwards, I married my Japanese wife. We have a son, who is 4 years old now. After the contract with the embassy ended, I looked for work on a website for foreigners in Japan. I wan to continue to live in Japan, and it's also the hope of my family. Subsequently, I found the recruitment ad by Hinomaru Kotsu. I have a Japanese driver's license and, thinking that this is a job that I can do, I applied.
Broad minded instructors helped me during the training period
fter I was hired, I could really feel a sense of warmth from the instructors and around the company. During training, I learned the rules and geography needed to be a taxi driver, and I had to pass the type two driver’s license exam in Japanese. The problems themselves were not that difficult, but it was tough for me to understand everything in Japanese. A Japanese person could complete the training in two months, but it took me four months. During this time, my instructors kept telling me to “go at your own pace” and “don’t worry,” and their kindness gave me the support I needed.
At the same time, the on the road training was strict. They constantly checked to make sure all of the rules were being followed, and there were times that I was scolded for breaking a rule. But, all of that helped me to learn so that I could perform this job, and as a result I now feel very comfortable when I am driving. I feel very lucky for the strict guidance I received.
There are no quotas, so there is no pressure or stress
When I was working at the embassy, I was swamped with work from morning till night, and even most holidays days became work days. Most importantly, there was a very high level of mental stress that was very taxing. Physical fatigue can be taken care of with a day of rest, but mental fatigue remains until the issue is fully resolved.
Because Hinomaru Kotsu does not have quotas, I do not feel any of that type of pressure or stress. One of my pleasures when driving is being able to act on thoughts such as“I’m going to try going down this road” or “I wonder how far I can follow this road.”
I am also very happy to be able to take more time off and have time to spend with my family. On holidays I go to see the shinkansen with my son who loves trains, or I visit famous places such as Tokyo Sky Tree or Tokyo Tower and spend some time there.
The first step to becoming a veteran driver is being accident free and violation free
When I first started driving, there were some times when I was not sure how to deal with a customer. After I returned to headquarters, I reported it to the staff, and they gave me advice on how to handle the situation in the future. The veteran drivers also talk with me, and I have asked for advice and been given tips on good places to pick up customers.
I am still new at this, so my current goal is to progress toward becoming a veteran driver as quickly as I can. In order to realize this goal, I am careful to avoid accidents and violations, and I really focus on prioritizing safety when I drive. There are some roads that are one way only and some places you cannot turn at certain times of day, so I want to continue to learn those little details.
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I can control my objectives and schedule
I treat myself to a drink when I have multiple days off

Mr. KIM KOOG CHOONG（from Korea）
Former employment：Software engineer
By learning from my customers,
I can continue to grow
Previously, I worked as a software engineer in South Korea. After coming to Japan because of circumstances at my former company, I started up my own company. However, I had an interest in the service industry, and I decided to change careers.
At first I was bewildered by the differences between how vehicles operate in South Korea and Japan. In Japan, when a person crosses the road, the vehicles stop. If there is an accident, regardless of how careless the pedestrian acted, the driver is to blame. However, in South Korea, that is not the case. Drivers do not really honk their horns very often in Japan, but in South Korea they are constantly blaring. Now that I’ve lived in Japan for over ten years, I have gotten used to how things work here.
The first time I picked up a customer, I was very nervous. It was a young man, and when I said, “You are my very first customer, so please help me with directions,” he kindly told me where to go. Thanks to my customers, now I know how to get around very well. When I had a problem, it was usually due to not knowing the area or taking the wrong road. In order to avoid that, I ask my customers for help.
I make it a point to not speak any more than necessary when I am driving. However, about 20% of my customers enjoy chatting. As I continued to speak with them, my Japanese kept improving. Early on I felt uneasy when I was driving down narrow roads or in difficult areas, but I now I am used to it. It is difficult to perfectly memorize all of the roads. My senior colleagues who are veteran drivers say that even after three years you can’t know everything. Over these past three years I have really focused on learning the roads, and I want to use that knowledge to get my customers where they need to go as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Working harder means more income
I can create my own work style
I believe that the key to picking up a lot of customers is to stay focused and keep moving. I have learned that if you wait around, it is often tough to find customers. It is also helpful to head to places that have designated loading spots for Hinomaru Kotsu. Doing that helps me increase my income.
I had a desk job at my previous company, so I do not feel at all uncomfortable sitting in the same position for an extended period of time. About five or six times a month I drive on the freeway and drop off a customer in a distant location. Recently I even made it all the way out to Zushi in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Being a taxi driver means you are pretty much in charge of yourself. It is great being able to adopt a work style that suits me.
I set monthly objectives for myself. It is easy to understand that “if I bring in this much money each month, then my take home pay will be this much.” I really enjoy setting clear objectives then working hard to meet them.
No stress.
Relaxing with consecutive days off every five days.
The work basically follows the pattern: work, day off, work, day off, work, day off, day off. I have two consecutive days off every five days. On these days, I let my hair down and go out for a nice drink. I might drink on my own at home, or go out in Shinjuku to have a drink with my friends. This is what I enjoy doing the most, so I work hard with this goal in mind.
As I am a taxi driver, I do not drink every day. However, by setting myself a reward like this, I can concentrate on my work without building any stress.
I love being at home on my own. I am really pleased with my job at Hinomaru Kotsu, as it allows me to continue with this lifestyle without pushing myself too much.
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I just do exactly what I’ve been taught,
that’s the best thing I can do

Mr. RICARDO ANDRE UEHARA（from Brazil）
Former employment：Bank employee
I moved to Japan when I was 23 years old.
From banker to taxi driver.
I was born and raised in Brazil. Both of my parents were also born in Brazil, but my grandfather is Japanese. The business conditions of Brazil have been getting worse recently, and so I came to Japan when I was 23 years old. After coming to Japan I started going to a Japanese language school, and worked for 10 years as an employee in a bank aimed at Brazilians. Most of my duties involved interacting with clients at the front desk. During that time I met my wife, and together we had two girls and the four of us are happily living together. My daughters are twins and are incredibly cute.
“Even now, I’m still learning about the geography every single day.”
For about half a year since joining the company, I found it really hard to get used to the language, communication, and local geography. Customers tend to notice if you are feeling uncertain, so I had to do my best not to show any of my uneasiness. However, in actual fact, all Japanese customers are very kind. I keep a daily journal to review all the establishment names and area names, making sure to study every day.
My most memorable encounter was with a customer on my first day of being deployed. I was extremely nervous. However, as the customer had worked in Brazil for three years, we got on really well. At the end, he said to me, "Good luck!" which I found very encouraging.
Being a taxi driver is similar to owning your own shop
I’ve had an interest in being a taxi driver for quite some time now. I was told by an employment company aimed at Brazilians that “You can do it even if you don’t have any experience” and so I decided to change my job and join the Hinomaru Kotsu company.
From the very first day of training, I strongly felt that this was a kind company that would teach me properly and reliably.
I have now been with the company for two years, and if I do the things just like how I was trained, then no claims ever actually come up.
What’s interesting about being a taxi driver is that it is similar to owning your own shop. Once you go out, everything is your own responsibility, but having your own freedom to move around is really nice and appealing. I’m also happy that I can take proper holidays and safely save money. After getting used to it I am even able to create more time for my children.
Every day I continue to work towards independence
When driving, I place the utmost importance on ‘No accidents and no violations.’ In my previous job I had to drive about 300km each day in my work car, so I have a quite a bit of confidence in my abilities. However, I still feel that I have to keep studying and learning. I input data into Excel, and check waiting times and such. Taxi drivers can save money reliably if they work their hardest, and they also have the freedom to decide their own schedules for the day. I will continue to work hard so that I can become independent someday!
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