Japan Ham Radio Exam Explained (English)
Japan's amateur radio license exam is a national government test administered by the Japan Wireless Association (公益財団法人 日本無線協会, nichimu.or.jp) — not JARL. JARL is the national ham society; the 国家試験 (national exam) is a separate MIC-regulated process.
This guide explains how the exam works, where to download real official questions, and walks through sample 4th-class (第四級) questions in English — translated from the Japan Wireless Association's published 例題 (sample exams). For licensing context, see Japanese ham radio guide and USA vs Japan license comparison.
Exam Tiers at a Glance
| Class | Japanese | Format | Official materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 第四級 (4-ama) | CBT, year-round | Sample exams (3 sets × 法規 + 工学) |
| 3rd | 第三級 (3-ama) | CBT, year-round | Sample exams + written Morse in 法規 (no live keying) |
| 2nd | 第二級 (2-ama) | Paper, May & November | Full past papers (~1 year) |
| 1st | 第一級 (1-ama) | Paper, May & November | Full past papers (~1 year) |
4th class is the practical entry point for residents: ~12 法規 (regulations) + ~12 無線工学 (radio engineering) questions, ~1 hour, ¥5,100, pass/fail on combined score. 2nd class unlocks HF — ~30 questions per section with real calculation problems, twice-yearly written exams.
Everything is in Japanese. Technical kanji, Radio Law vocabulary, and circuit diagrams assume fluency.
Where to Download Real Official Questions
4th and 3rd class — CBT sample exams (例題)
The Japan Wireless Association publishes three full sample sets for each subject. Answers are marked by gray shading on the correct choice in the PDF.
Official page: CBT sample questions
Direct PDF examples (4th class):
- 法規 No.1 — regulations sample set 1
- 法規 No.2 — regulations sample set 2
- 無線工学 No.1 — engineering sample set 1
- 無線工学 No.2 — engineering sample set 2
Important: Your actual CBT exam draws from a question bank. Sample questions show format and topics — your exam may use different numbers, wording, or choice order.
1st and 2nd class — past exam papers
Full 問題 (questions) and 解答 (answers) PDFs for recent May and November sessions:
Official page: Exam questions and answers → アマチュア無線技士 → 第一級 / 第二級
2nd-class engineering typically runs 125 points (pass ~87); regulations 150 points (pass ~105). Expect trigonometry, logarithms, and circuit calculations — not memorization alone.
How to apply
Register through the Japan Wireless Association exam application system (Japanese). CBT slots are available at test centers nationwide; 1st/2nd class applications open ~2 months before each session.
4th-Class Regulations — Explained Sample Questions
These questions come from the official 法規 No.1 and 法規 No.2 sample PDFs. Japanese originals are paraphrased in English; verify wording against the official PDF when studying.
Q1 — Definition of amateur service
Japanese (summary): Fill in the blank: Amateur service is radio communication conducted not for financial gain, motivated by personal interest in radio technology, for self-training, communication, and other work designated by the Minister — specifically technical research (技術的研究).
Choices: (1) Technical research (2) Public welfare (3) Disaster relief (4) Social welfare
Answer: (1) Technical research
Why: Japan's Radio Law defines amateur service around personal technical interest — not commercial or general public-service purposes. This mirrors ITU concepts but uses specific Japanese legal phrasing you must recognize on the exam.
Q2 — When you need prior permission
Question: When must an amateur station licensee obtain advance permission from the regional telecommunications bureau?
Choices: (1) Changing licensee name (2) Suspending operation (3) Changing equipment installation location (4) Abolishing the station
Answer: (3) Changing installation location
Why: Station location changes affect interference analysis and registration. Name changes follow different procedures; suspension and abolition have their own notification rules.
Q3 — Emission designators (appears often)
Question: What is the emission designator for single-channel analog FM voice?
Choices: (1) F3E (2) A3E (3) J3E (4) F2D
Answer: (1) F3E
Why: Memorize the common set:
| Designator | Mode |
|---|---|
| F3E | FM voice (most VHF/UHF FM) |
| A3E | AM voice |
| J3E | SSB (single sideband) |
| F2D | FM data |
This question appears in nearly every sample set. FM ham radio = F3E.
Q4 — 4th-class frequency privileges
Question: What frequencies may equipment operated by a 4th-class licensee use?
Choices: (1) 21 MHz and below (2) 21 MHz and above OR 8 MHz and below (3) 8 MHz and above (4) 8 MHz to 21 MHz
Answer: (4) 8 MHz to 21 MHz
Why: 4th class covers HF segments in that range plus VHF/UHF bands allocated to the class — the exam tests the 8–21 MHz boundary specifically. HF operation at the General-equivalent level requires 2nd class.
Q7 — Third-party traffic
Question: May an amateur station send messages on behalf of others (third-party traffic)?
Choices: (1) Only if unavoidable (2) Only if content is simple (3) Yes (4) No
Answer: (4) No
Why: Japan prohibits most third-party messaging — unlike US amateur practice. Exceptions exist for disaster relief and specific emergency traffic defined in law. This is a common exam topic and a major US/Japan operating difference.
Q8 — Broadcast interference (TVI)
Question: If your signal interferes with TV or radio broadcast reception, what must you do (outside of emergency communications)?
Choices: (1) Transmit carefully (2) Stop transmitting on that frequency promptly (3) Assess then act (4) Reduce antenna power only
Answer: (2) Stop transmitting promptly
Why: Operators must cease immediately and fix the underlying cause — harmonic radiation, poor filtering, antenna issues. "Turn down power and continue" is not acceptable.
Q10 — Calling again after no answer
Question: If you call repeatedly with no response, how long must you wait before calling again?
Choices: (1) 3 minutes (2) 5 minutes (3) 10 minutes (4) 15 minutes
Answer: (1) 3 minutes
Why: Operating rules require minimum spacing to reduce channel congestion. Know the specific intervals — exams love procedural numbers.
Q10 (Set 2) — Test transmission time limit
Question: During equipment testing/adjustment, how long may you continuously send "本日は晴天なり" (Tenki wa kyō wa seiten nari — the standard test phrase) plus your callsign?
Choices: (1) 5 seconds (2) 10 seconds (3) 20 seconds (4) 30 seconds
Answer: (1) 5 seconds (per official sample PDF shading)
Why: Test transmissions use the fixed phrase and callsign to identify adjustment activity. Time limits prevent abuse of spectrum. Download the official PDF and confirm the shaded answer — rules are tested as specific numbers.
Q11 — Phone response format
Question: What is the correct 応答事項 (response sequence) in phone communication?
Answer: (4) — (1) Other station's callsign 3 times or fewer (2) Kochira wa ("this is") once (3) Own callsign once
Why: Japanese phone procedure differs from US "W1ABC portable" habits. The exam tests the formal three-part response structure. Practice the Japanese phrases even if you think in English.
4th-Class Engineering — Explained Sample Questions
From official 無線工学 No.1 and No.2 sample PDFs.
Q13 — Ohm's law and power
Question: A 4 Ω resistor dissipates 100 W. What voltage is applied?
Choices: (1) 0.2 V (2) 5 V (3) 20 V (4) 400 V
Answer: (3) 20 V
Explanation: P = V²/R → V = √(P × R) = √(100 × 4) = √400 = 20 V. Basic power math appears repeatedly. Memorize P = VI = V²/R = I²R.
Q16 — How FM works
Question: In an FM (F3E) transmitter, how does the audio signal affect the carrier?
Choices: (1) Interrupts transmission (2) Changes amplitude (3) Changes frequency (4) Changes both amplitude and frequency
Answer: (3) Changes frequency
Why: FM varies carrier frequency with audio; amplitude stays constant. AM (A3E) varies amplitude. SSB (J3E) suppresses carrier and one sideband.
Q17 — Superheterodyne selectivity
Question: What most affects adjacent-channel selectivity in a superheterodyne receiver?
Choices: (1) IF amplifier (2) RF amplifier (3) Frequency converter (4) Voltage regulator
Answer: (1) IF amplifier
Why: IF filter bandwidth largely determines how well the receiver rejects nearby signals. RF stage affects front-end overload; IF chain shapes selectivity.
Q19 — Harmonic interference to FM broadcast
Question: Your transmitter on 28 MHz causes interference to FM broadcast reception. What is the likely cause?
Choices: (1) Half-frequency harmonic (2) Coax broken (3) Squelch too tight (4) Strong 3rd harmonic
Answer: (4) 3rd harmonic
Explanation: 28 MHz × 3 = 84 MHz, which falls inside Japan's FM broadcast band (76–95 MHz). A strong third harmonic from HF transmitters can cause broadcast-band interference even when the fundamental is on 10 meters. Low-pass filters and proper shielding reduce harmonic radiation.
Q20 — Sporadic-E on 50 MHz
Question: On a summer afternoon on 50 MHz, you interfere with a receiver hundreds of km away on the same band. Most likely cause?
Choices: (1) Static crashes (2) Sporadic-E propagation (3) Ground wave (4) Harmonic radiation
Answer: (2) Sporadic-E propagation
Why: 6-meter band opens via Es propagation in summer, carrying signals far beyond normal line-of-sight. The scenario describes unexpected long-distance propagation, not equipment fault.
Q21 — Half-wave dipole length
Question: A half-wave dipole for 21 MHz is approximately how long?
Choices: (1) 14.3 m (2) 7.2 m (3) 3.6 m (4) 1.8 m
Answer: (1) 14.3 m
Explanation: Wavelength λ = 300/21 ≈ 14.3 m. A half-wave dipole is λ/2 ≈ 7.15 m per leg (total ~14.3 m end-to-end). Watch whether the question asks total length or one element — exam diagrams clarify this.
Q22 — VHF propagation path
Question: In the VHF diagram showing paths A (direct) and B (via ionosphere), which describes direct wave propagation?
Answer: (4) Direct wave
Why: VHF/UHF is normally line-of-sight. Ionospheric reflection is an HF phenomenon (with rare exceptions). Know which propagation mode applies at which frequency.
Q24 — SWR meter
Question: What does an SWR meter measure?
Choices: (1) Frequency (2) Resistance (3) Standing wave ratio (4) Modulation depth
Answer: (3) Standing wave ratio
Why: SWR indicates antenna system matching. Values near 1:1 mean good match; high SWR risks damage to modern transceivers. Connect after reading best Japanese radio for beginners when building your first station.
2nd-Class Past Exams — What to Expect
When you need HF privileges in Japan, target 2nd class. Official past papers include problems like:
- Resonant circuit calculations (impedance at resonance)
- Receiver block diagrams — identify clarifier/RIT purpose, squelch behavior
- Antenna gain and radiation patterns (Yagi direction)
- Complex regulatory scenarios under the Radio Law
Study approach:
- Work through 5+ years of official past papers from nichimu.or.jp
- Use a Japanese textbook (オーム社 and others publish 2-ama problem sets)
- Free annotated PDFs exist on community sites — search めざせ!! 上級ハム for engineering explanations
- Budget 3–6 months if starting from 4th class; math is the hurdle, not memorization alone
Sample pass thresholds (verify current official notices): 2nd-class engineering ~87/125, regulations ~105/150.
Part 2 — 3rd Class: Morse Code on the Written Exam
Important correction: Since October 2005, 3rd class has no live Morse sending or receiving test. Morse was moved into the 法規 (regulations) written section as decode-and-procedure questions — typically 2 extra Morse questions added to the regulations portion (~16 questions, 150 points, pass ~125).
1st and 2nd class still require live Morse receiving — about 25 characters per minute for ~2 minutes of plain English at the exam session (separate from the written papers). That is a major step up from 3rd class.
What 3rd class actually tests
| Topic | Exam format |
|---|---|
| Morse alphabet and digits | Match a callsign/word to dot-dash pattern (visual, not audio) |
| Q-signals | QRZ, QSL, QTH, QRM, etc. — meaning and usage |
| Procedural signs | HH (error), DE, AR, SK |
| Operating rules | When to respond, how to call CQ in Morse |
You do not need to copy 20 WPM by ear for 3rd class. You do need to recognize patterns on paper and know procedural rules cold.
Official 3rd-class sample PDFs: 法規 No.1 · 法規 No.2 · 無線工学 No.1
JARL's Morse reform notice documents the 2005 change from practical Morse to written understanding questions.
Morse reference — letters and digits you must know
| Character | Morse | Character | Morse |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | ·− | N | −· |
| B | −··· | O | −−− |
| C | −·−· | P | ·−−· |
| D | −·· | Q | −−·− |
| E | · | R | ·−· |
| F | ··−· | S | ··· |
| G | −−· | T | − |
| H | ···· | U | ··− |
| I | ·· | V | ···− |
| J | ·−−− | W | ·−− |
| K | −·− | X | −··− |
| L | ·−·· | Y | −·−− |
| M | −− | Z | −−·· |
| 1 | ·−−−− | 6 | −···· |
| 2 | ··−−− | 7 | −−··· |
| 3 | ···−− | 8 | −−−·· |
| 4 | ····− | 9 | −−−−· |
| 5 | ····· | 0 | −−−−− |
Prosigns and abbreviations that appear constantly:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DE | "from" (between callsigns) |
| CQ | General call |
| AR | End of message |
| SK | End of work (silent key) |
| HH | Error — correction follows |
| 73 | Best regards |
| 88 | Love and kisses |
| QRZ? | Who is calling me? |
| QSL | Acknowledge receipt / will send QSL card |
| QTH | Location |
| QRM | Interference from other stations |
3rd-class Morse sample Q1 — Decode a callsign
Official question (法規 No.1, Q15): Which Morse pattern represents 2AGIRO?
Answer: (4) ··−−− ·− −−· ·· ·−· −−−
Walkthrough — encode letter by letter:
| Char | Morse |
|---|---|
| 2 | ··−−− |
| A | ·− |
| G | −−· |
| I | ·· |
| R | ·−· |
| O | −−− |
Concatenated: ··−−− ·− −−· ·· ·−· −−− — matches choice (4). Exams often use callsign-like strings mixing digits and letters. Practice encoding both directions.
3rd-class Morse sample Q2 — Longer string
Official question (法規 No.1, Q16): Which pattern represents QVXMZBE8?
Answer: (1) −−·− ···− −··− −− −−·· −··· · −−−··
Verify key letters: Q = −−·− ···− = V ·−−·− = X −− = M −−·· = Z −··· = B · = E −−−·· = 8. Match the full string against choices — do not guess from the first two letters alone.
3rd-class Morse sample Q3 — Error correction procedure
Official question (Q11): During manual Morse sending, you realize you sent an error. What must you do?
Choices: (1) Send HH then re-send from the erroneous character (2) Send HH then re-send from the last correct character (3) Send SN from erroneous (4) Send SN from last correct
Answer: (2) HH, then continue from the last correctly sent character
Why: HH (equivalent to modern ???? in phone) signals error. You back up to the last good character and resend forward — not from the mistake mid-word without marking the error.
3rd-class Morse sample Q4 — Uncertain call
Official question (Q12): You receive a call that might not be for your station. What do you do?
Answer: (2) Do not respond until the call is repeated and you are certain it is for you
Why: Answering uncertain calls causes QRM and false contacts. Wait for clarity — unlike casual phone where you might ask "was that for me?"
3rd-class Morse sample Q5 — Calling procedure
Official question (Q13): Fill in the blank for calling one station in Morse:
[Opponent callsign] ___ DE [own callsign up to 3×]
Answer: (4) Opponent callsign sent 3 times or fewer
Why: Standard format: opponent's call (≤3×), DE once, your call (≤3×). Memorize the Japanese legal phrasing — the exam tests exact counts.
3rd-class beyond Morse
3rd class adds HF privileges and harder engineering (FETs, ionospheric propagation, international regulations). CBT format: ~16 regulations + ~16 engineering, ~1 hour 10 minutes, ¥5,463. Score 125+ on the 150-point scale is widely treated as a safe pass margin.
After 3rd class, 2nd class is the next hurdle for full HF phone privileges at higher power — and it reintroduces live Morse receiving at the exam venue.
Part 3 — 2nd Class: Worked Calculation Examples
2nd-class 無線工学 is a 2-hour, 25-question paper: 20 type-A problems (5 points each) + 5 type-B multi-part problems (5 points each). Pass: 87 / 125.
Download real papers:
- Engineering questions — Nov 2025 (令和7年11月期)
- Engineering answers — Nov 2025
- Engineering questions — May 2026 (令和8年5月期)
- Engineering answers — May 2026
Below: four problems from official past papers with full English walkthroughs.
Worked example 1 — Capacitor stored energy (A-1)
Source: 令和8年5月期 工学, problem A-1
Question: A capacitor is charged to 40 V DC. Stored charge is 0.2 C. What energy is stored?
Choices: (1) 2 J (2) 4 J (3) 10 J (4) 20 J
Solution:
Step 1 — Find capacitance: C = Q / V = 0.2 / 40 = 0.005 F (5 mF)
Step 2 — Find energy (pick either formula):
E = ½CV² = ½ × 0.005 × 40² = ½ × 0.005 × 1600 = 4 J
Check: E = Q² / (2C) = 0.2² / (2 × 0.005) = 0.04 / 0.01 = 4 J ✓
Answer: (2) 4 J
Exam tip: Energy questions appear almost every session. Memorize E = ½CV² = Q²/2C = ½QV.
Worked example 2 — PLL frequency synthesizer (A-7)
Source: 令和8年5月期 工学, problem A-7
Question: A PLL synthesizer has reference oscillator 2 MHz, fixed divider M = 8, variable divider N = 32. What is output frequency f₀?
Choices: (1) 0.5 MHz (2) 1.0 MHz (3) 2.0 MHz (4) 4.0 MHz (5) 8.0 MHz
Solution:
Phase-locked loop synthesizers compare divided VCO output to the reference:
f₀ = (N / M) × f_ref
f₀ = (32 / 8) × 2 MHz = 4 × 2 = 8 MHz
Answer: (5) 8.0 MHz
Why it matters: Modern Japanese rigs — Icom IC-7300, IC-7610 — use PLL/synthesizer architecture. 2nd-class exams test the math behind the block diagrams.
Worked example 3 — Electromagnetic induction (A-2)
Source: 令和8年5月期 工学, problem A-2
Question: A conductor of length l moves at speed v perpendicular through magnetic flux density B. Fill in the blanks:
(1) An ___ appears across the conductor — this is the ___ phenomenon.
(2) The voltage magnitude equals ___.
Answer: (3) — EMF (起電力) · electromagnetic induction (電磁誘導) · Blv
Solution:
Moving a conductor through a magnetic field cuts flux lines, inducing voltage. The classic formula:
e = B × l × v
where B [tesla], l [meters], v [m/s], e [volts].
Exam tip: 2nd-class papers mix calculation problems (A-1 energy, A-7 PLL) with fill-in-the-blank physics (A-2 induction, A-8 SSB block diagrams). Build vocabulary for both — the Japanese kanji terms appear in every regulations and engineering session.
Worked example 4 — Parallel branches (A-3 method)
Source: 令和8年5月期 工学, problem A-3
Question type: A 30 V source feeds a network of resistors. Find total current I. (Official answer: 0.50 A — choice 3 on that paper.)
Method (always the same):
- Redraw the circuit from the diagram — exam diagrams are easy to misread under time pressure
- Identify series groups (resistances add) and parallel groups (1/R_eq = Σ1/R)
- Collapse to one equivalent resistance R_eq
- I = V / R_eq
- Verify against the official answer PDF for that session
For the May 2026 (令和8年5月期) topology shown, equivalent resistance resolves to 60 Ω, giving I = 30 / 60 = 0.50 A (official answer: choice 3).
Do not skip step 1. Misreading parallel vs series is the most common reason strong candidates miss A-level problems worth 5 points each.
2nd-class Morse receiving (live exam)
When you sit 2nd class, expect:
- Written 工学 + 法規 papers (May or November, exam hall)
- Separate Morse receiving test: plain English at ~25 characters/minute for ~2 minutes
- No Morse sending requirement for 2nd class (only receiving)
Plan Morse ear training separately from written past papers — apps, daily copy practice, or club Elmers. US operators who learned CW for enjoyment have a head start, but exam speed and format differ from on-air ragchewing.
2nd-class study checklist
- Download 5+ years of official past papers
- Work engineering first — math is the fail point
- Review regulations separately (150 points, pass ~105)
- Start Morse receive practice at 15–20 WPM, build to 25 WPM before exam day
- Budget 3–6 months from 3rd-class pass to 2nd-class ready
After 2nd class, you can operate HF in Japan — the point where an Icom IC-7300 or IC-7610 becomes legally usable on domestic HF bands at full class privileges.
Study Tips for English Speakers
The exam language is the main barrier — not RF theory. Many concepts overlap with US Technician material (Ohm's law, FM vs AM, basic propagation). What is new:
- Japanese Radio Law procedures and exact time limits
- Emission designators (F3E, A3E, J3E)
- Prohibited traffic (third-party rules stricter than US)
- Formal phone procedures in Japanese
- Kanji vocabulary for regulations
Practical study path:
- Download all three 4th-class 例題 PDFs from the official site
- Use this guide's English explanations to understand topics
- Flashcard the Japanese terms for answers that repeat (F3E, 3分間, 技術的研究)
- Take CBT when scoring consistently on all three 4th-class sample sets
- For 3rd class, add Morse decode flashcards and Q-signal meanings
- For HF, plan 2nd class separately — written papers plus live Morse receiving
Alternative: If you are a US resident, getting your US license first may be faster. Long-term Japan residents benefit from a Japanese license for legal domestic operation.
How This Compares to the US Exam
| Factor | US (Technician) | Japan (4th class) |
|---|---|---|
| Question pool | Full public pool | Sample questions only (CBT bank) |
| Language | English | Japanese |
| Study apps | HamStudy, etc. | Official PDFs + Japanese books |
| Third-party traffic | Allowed (with rules) | Mostly prohibited |
| Exam fee | ~$15 | ¥5,100 |
| HF access | Limited (Technician) | Requires 2nd class |
See the full USA vs Japan comparison.
Official Sources (Bookmark These)
- Japan Wireless Association — exam info
- CBT sample questions (4th/3rd class)
- Past exam papers (1st/2nd class)
- JARL — national ham society (membership, clubs, operating — not the exam body)
Sample questions in this guide are educational translations of publicly published 例題 from the Japan Wireless Association. Always verify answers against the current official PDF (gray-shaded choices). Rules and exam formats change — check nichimu.or.jp before registering.
Next Steps
| Goal | Action |
|---|---|
| Understand Japan ham radio broadly | Japanese ham radio guide |
| Compare US and Japan licensing | USA vs Japan license comparison |
| Get licensed in the US | Ham radio license guide (USA) |
| Choose your first radio | Best Japanese radio for beginners |
| Study Icom HF gear | IC-7300 vs IC-7610 |
Passing the Japanese exam opens domestic operating on your own terms. The official 例題 PDFs are the real thing — this guide helps English speakers understand what they are looking at.