Quitting a Job in Japan: Taishoku Daiko (Resignation Agency) Guide for Foreigners

Quick answer (30 seconds): A taishoku daiko (退職代行) is a service that tells your employer you're quitting, so you never have to face your boss. The key thing to know: you already have the legal right to resign. For an open-ended (permanent) contract, the Civil Code lets you quit with two weeks' notice — your employer's permission is not required. An agency just delivers that message for you. But there's a catch: only a lawyer- or labor-union-run service can legally negotiate (your leaving date, unused paid leave, unpaid wages). A plain private company can only convey your decision — anything more may be illegal. If you're a foreigner, you also have immigration steps within 14 days of leaving.

Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. For unpaid wages, overtime, harassment, or contract disputes, consult a lawyer (弁護士) or your local Labour Standards Inspection Office (労働基準監督署). Confirm visa matters with the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁).

You can already quit — what the law actually says

• Open-ended / permanent contract (無期雇用): Under the Civil Code (Article 627), you can resign by giving two weeks' notice. You do not need the company's approval, and a company rule demanding "30/60 days" cannot override this right.
• Fixed-term contract (有期雇用): Different — you generally stay until the term ends, unless there is an unavoidable reason (やむを得ない事由) or you've been employed beyond the period the law allows for early resignation. Get advice if you're mid-term.

So a resignation agency does not give you a new right. It removes the confrontation: it tells the company for you, which is exactly what people with controlling bosses, "black companies," harassment, or (for many foreigners) a language barrier are paying for.

The most important distinction: who can negotiate

This is where many cheap services cross a legal line. Under the Lawyers Act (Article 72), a non-lawyer who, for a fee, handles legal matters — including on your behalf — commits The Tokyo Bar Association is explicit: a non-lawyer " your intention to resign" is fine, but the terms is not.