Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has partnered with Yamaguchi Sangyo to recruit foreign workers for Japanese companies, starting with skilled professionals from Kenya. On 18 August, two Kenyans arrived in Japan under the program, working as a systems engineer and a generalist in recruitment and management planning.
Yamaguchi Sangyo is a general trading company with a core focus on petroleum distribution, and which has recently expanded into the field of overseas recruitment.
The initiative, part of MOL’s “Project Link” launched in 2024, aims to address Japan’s labour shortages while providing employment opportunities for highly educated Kenyan workers. The program is supported by the US non-profit “Labor Mobility Partnerships”.
There was a seminar at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development on 19 August at which the skills and potential of Kenyan employees were highlighted. The Kenyan ambassador-designate to Japan attended and emphasised the workforce’s technical skills, adaptability, diligence and English-language ability.
MOL has experience introducing foreign workers to Japan, including around 150 employees from Southeast Asia since 2020. With rising competition for skilled workers in Southeast Asia, the company has turned its focus to recruiting from Africa. As of August 2025, five Kenyans have been employed by Japanese companies through this program.
The alliance with Yamaguchi Sangyo will also include support for foreign workers’ lives in Japan, such as Japanese language education and assistance with multicultural integration, while coordinating with local communities and companies.
