Two Thai individuals seek employment in Japan's logistics sector due to workforce deficiency in the country.
In a bid to alleviate severe labor shortages in the logistics industry, the Tohoku region of Japan has taken a significant step by hiring foreign workers, specifically two Thai men, to work as truck drivers.
On August 4, 2025, Tomita Transport, a company based in Yamato, Miyagi Prefecture, announced the hiring of 32-year-old Nontawat Sunawapong and 33-year-old Theeraphong Siripattathorn. The two men do not currently hold large truck driving licenses but will undergo training, with all costs covered by the company, to obtain their licenses and begin driving trucks by the end of the year.
This hiring marks a first for the Tohoku region, as it is the first time foreign workers have been recruited to work in the logistics industry. The decision to hire foreign workers follows a policy change in March 2024, which added the automobile transport industry to the list of sectors allowed to hire foreign workers under the specified skilled worker type 1 visa category.
The logistics sector in Tohoku has been grappling with labor shortages exacerbated by restrictions on working hours and overtime. The hiring of the two Thai men is a response to these challenges, aimed at helping the industry cope with the so-called "2024 Problem."
Tomita Transport has previously hired foreign workers for vehicle maintenance but is now extending foreign hiring to truck driving due to an aging workforce and ongoing shortages in that division. The company president acknowledges the challenge of training foreign workers but considers it essential to address the labor crisis.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that the two Thai drivers will undergo driving school training to obtain their large truck driving licenses, with the aim of starting work by the end of the year. This initiative is part of Tohoku's efforts to attract and integrate foreign workers to address its labor shortages and contribute to the region's economic growth.
[1] The Asahi Shimbun, "Tohoku's logistics sector hires first foreign workers to address labor shortages," August 4, 2025. [4] The Japan Times, "Japan's labor shortages worsen as restrictions on working hours and overtime take effect," March 1, 2024.
In this context, the hiring of Nontawat Sunawapong and Theeraphong Siripattathorn by Tomita Transport represents a strategic move for the Tohoku region's economy, potentially boosting the transport business within the automobile industry. As the region faces persistent challenges in the sports of sport (specifically, sport meaning industry or activity here) due to labor shortages, the integration of foreign workers could be a step towards solving the "2024 Problem."
