Looking at a Japanese staff portal and wondering how to request a day off? Find your 有給休暇残日数 (remaining annual paid leave), choose the date and leave type, submit it through your workplace’s process, and check how the day is recorded afterward. The screen labels vary, but the Japanese below will help you find the right fields.
Annual paid leave is 年次有給休暇 (ねんじゆうきゅうきゅうか, nenji yūkyū kyūka), often shortened to 有休 or 有給 and called yūkyū. It is different from a regular day off, a company holiday, or an unplanned absence. This guide is for employees in Japan; if you work under a freelance contract, check your own agreement.
Common labels on a leave screen
| Japanese | Reading | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 有給休暇・年次有給休暇 | ゆうきゅうきゅうか・ねんじゆうきゅうきゅうか | Annual paid leave |
| 付与日 | ふよび / fuyobi | Date leave was granted or added |
| 付与日数 | ふよにっすう / fuyo nissū | Number of days granted |
| 取得日数 | しゅとくにっすう / shutoku nissū | Days taken |
| 残日数・残日数照会 | ざんにっすう・ざんにっすうしょうかい | Days remaining / balance lookup |
| 申請日・取得希望日 | しんせいび・しゅとくきぼうび | Submission date / date you want to take off |
| 休暇区分 | きゅうかくぶん / kyūka kubun | Type of leave selected |
| 申請・取消・承認 | しんせい・とりけし・しょうにん | Submit / cancel / approval status in the system |
Some systems show a separate balance by grant year, or a half-day or hourly option. Do not assume that selecting a button means the date has been recorded: check the resulting status and attendance calendar. Ask payroll or HR if the balance differs from your records.
Request a planned day off in four steps
- Check your balance and the applicable process. Read your workplace’s instructions for a portal, form or contact person. Confirm the day you want is a scheduled workday.
- Specify the date and leave type. Select annual paid leave, not a generic absence category. If asking for part of a day, check which options your workplace actually offers.
- Tell the person who plans the work. If you teach scheduled lessons or cover a shift, a practical handover can help the team plan. Keep student or customer details in approved channels.
- Keep the record. Save the request and later verify the attendance entry and remaining balance.
Useful message: ［日付］に年次有給休暇を取得したいです。申請方法と残日数を確認していただけますか。
[Date] ni nenji yūkyū kyūka o shutoku shitai desu. Shinsei hōhō to zan-nissū o kakunin shite itadakemasu ka?
“I would like to take annual paid leave on [date]. Could you confirm the request procedure and my remaining balance?”
If the date is discussed: この日の勤務調整について、担当者と確認します。 — “I will check the work arrangements for this day with the person in charge.” This is a coordination message, not a statement that statutory leave depends on finding your own replacement.
What are the basic entitlement rules?
Under Japan’s Labor Standards Act, a worker who has worked continuously for six months and attended at least 80% of scheduled working days generally becomes entitled to annual paid leave. Part-time workers can qualify too; the number of days depends on their schedule and length of service. The MHLW’s worker Q&A explains these conditions and the applicable tables. Check your own grant date and balance rather than using someone else’s number of days.
A worker generally specifies when to take annual paid leave. In limited circumstances where the requested timing would interfere with normal business operations, the employer may change its timing. The MHLW’s explanation of timing gives the legal framework. A portal button labelled “承認” is a workflow status; it should not be read as a complete statement of your legal rights. If a requested date is disputed, ask for the specific reason and an alternative date in writing.
Planned leave and a sudden illness
If you wake up unwell on a workday, first use the workplace’s absence contact procedure so the right person knows. Our guide to reporting absence or lateness has short Japanese phone and message examples. Then ask how the day should be entered; do not assume the system will automatically change it to annual paid leave. A day shown as 欠勤 is not the same label as 有給休暇.
If the day affects your pay, compare the attendance record with the relevant payslip. Your notice of working conditions and workplace rules can also point you to the leave procedure. Keep copies of the dates and messages when seeking clarification.
Questions to ask HR
- 有給休暇の残日数を教えていただけますか。 — Could you tell me my remaining paid leave balance?
- この申請は勤怠に反映されていますか。 — Has this request been reflected in my attendance record?
- 半日単位・時間単位で取得できますか。 — Is half-day or hourly leave available here?
- 取得日の変更が必要な場合、理由と候補日を教えていただけますか。 — If the date needs to change, could you explain why and suggest alternative dates?
The Osaka Labour Bureau’s English annual leave leaflet is a short official overview. For a disagreement about entitlement or timing, consult your local labour bureau or qualified adviser with your actual employment documents.
