Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become 和菓子製造、和菓子職人education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Food Service Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥3.97M
≈ $25,230
Top pay (est.)
¥6.47M
Top 10% ¥5.63M
Pay in 5 years
¥4.54Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥5.19Mest.
¥4.47M–¥6.03M
Outlook score
51/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
24%
Low
Labor demand
Average
Openings-to-applicants 1.67x

How to become 和菓子製造、和菓子職人

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
入職にあたって、特に学歴や資格は必要とされない。ただ、製菓系の専門学校のなかには和菓子のコースがあるところもあり、学校で学んでから入職するケースもある。
　和菓子職人となる上で、大切なことは和菓子を作る技術を習得することだが、和菓子は種類が多いため、多くの経験を積んで技能を身につけることが必要となる。
　取得すると有利な資格として厚生労働省の「製菓衛生師」や「菓子製造技能士」がある。製菓衛生師の有資格者は食品衛生協会主催の講習会を受講しなくても食品衛生責任者になることができる。
　また、食品衛生に関する知識、原材料の特性やその生かし方、製菓理論、販売との関わり、経営的知識などが必要とされる。
　和菓子に興味を持つことはもちろん、味覚を知る、デザイン、色彩、装飾など美的感覚を磨くことも必要で、常に幅広い知識の吸収に力を注ぐことが大切である。
　経験を積んでいく中で責任者や工場長という指導的立場になっていくが、独立開業を目指す場合には、何軒かの店を経験して多様な技術習得を行う場合もある。

Skills, education and requirements for 和菓子製造、和菓子職人

Key skills

Active Listening
3.3
Instructing
2.8
Speaking
2.8
Reading Comprehension
2.7
Monitoring
2.7
Social Perceptiveness
2.7
Active Learning
2.7
Coordination
2.5

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Production and Processing
2.8
Customer and Personal Service
1.5
Sales and Marketing
1.4
Administration and Management
0.9
Personnel and Human Resources
0.9
Mathematics
0.9
Administrative
0.8
Transportation
0.8

What the work involves

Handling and Moving ObjectsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming General Physical ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Important abilities

Finger DexterityManual DexterityProblem SensitivityVisual Color DiscriminationStatic StrengthWrist-Finger Speed

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as 和菓子製造、和菓子職人

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.