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Cosmetic service workers (except beauticians)

How to become a Beauty Therapist

Also called: Facial therapist

Gives full-body beauty treatments, such as facial and body care.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say vocational college (senmon gakko) or high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but it helps to gain the knowledge and skills needed, such as knowledge of skin and how to handle cosmetics and beauty equipment, at a beauty therapy training school or senmon gakko (vocational college). Holding a qualification such as the certified esthetician qualification from the Japan Esthetic Association serves as proof of knowledge and skill. During the training period after starting, many beauty salons teach on the job. Nimble arms and hands are an advantage in learning the skills. You need good powers of observation to judge customers' skin, which changes with their health and mood on the day. It is also important to treat customers with kindness and care so they feel comfortable. After gaining experience as a beauty therapist, you can open your own salon. Depending on the treatments, a national qualification such as anma massage and shiatsu therapist may be needed, so it is best to check with your local public health centre before giving treatments or opening a business.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Beauty Therapist?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but it helps to gain the knowledge and skills needed, such as knowledge of skin and how to handle cosmetics and beauty equipment, at a beauty therapy training school or senmon gakko (vocational college). Holding a qualification such as the certified esthetician qualification from the Japan Esthetic Association serves as proof of knowledge and skill. During the training period after starting, many beauty salons teach on the job. Nimble arms and hands are an advantage in learning the skills. You need good powers of observation to judge customers' skin, which changes with their health and mood on the day. It is also important to treat customers with kindness and care so they feel comfortable. After gaining experience as a beauty therapist, you can open your own salon. Depending on the treatments, a national qualification such as anma massage and shiatsu therapist may be needed, so it is best to check with your local public health centre before giving treatments or opening a business.

How much does a Beauty Therapist earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥3,538,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Beauty and bathhouse service workers (except hairdressers), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Beauty Therapist?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 11% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Vocational college (専門学校) course: Beauty.

Will AI change the work of a Beauty Therapist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026