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DODA Career Fair 2026: A Comeback After Six Years

The DODA Career Fair, organized by Persol Career Co., is set to make a spectacular return on October 17, 2026, at the Tokyo International Forum. This event marks the first in-person gathering since 2020, and the application process for participating companies begins on June 29, 2023.

The Context of the In-Person DODA Career Fair

Over the years, recruitment practices and market dynamics have undergone significant shifts. According to DODA's survey conducted in 2025, more than 70% of businesses recognized limitations in traditional hiring methods and expressed a desire to explore new strategies. As recruitment costs continue to skyrocket, underlying issues such as weak motivation among applicants before applying and high dropout rates during selection processes have come to the forefront. Consequently, job seekers are facing increasing skepticism about the reliability of online information. They want to hear firsthand accounts from current employees before making application decisions.

On the flip side, companies are grappling with the challenges of expressing their workplace atmosphere and organizational culture through standard job postings. Many employers feel they are losing valuable opportunities by not conveying their unique qualities effectively—hence the quest for direct interaction without preliminary communication channels.

In response to these challenges, the DODA Career Fair will serve as a vital opportunity for both job seekers and employers to unite. This event allows potential candidates to engage directly with various companies in an informal setting, ensuring that all participants, regardless of the organization's size or recognition, can showcase their strengths equally. Furthermore, the event may foster spontaneous connections with job seekers that traditional methods might not facilitate.

The DODA initiative aims to promote informed decision-making by both candidates and employers, aspiring to create fresh matching opportunities.

Event Details

• - Date: October 17, 2026 (Saturday)
• - Time: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• - Location: Tokyo International Forum

Promotional Activities

Expect to see various promotional efforts leading up to the event, such as advertisements on trains, in stations, and online platforms.

Exhibitor Details

DODA is offering numerous booth options, including:

• - Premium Booth: ¥2.1 million
• - Standard Booth: ¥1.4 million
• - Minimum Booth: ¥700,000

Additional details can be found on the official DODA site, and interested companies must submit their applications by September 18, 2026, or until slots fill up.

Success Stories from Previous Fairs

Previous DODA Career Fairs have seen impressive engagement statistics, averaging over 42.3 interviews per company during the October 2019 event.

Feedback from exhibitors emphasized the need for human interaction:

• - "The goal was to engage as many candidates as possible. Over two days, we connected with 140 individuals!"
• - "It's difficult to convey the ethos and camaraderie of our employees through text, so showcasing our culture directly at the fair was pivotal."
• - "We emphasize authenticity and transparency. Some attendees appreciate our honesty about areas requiring improvement, demonstrating the impact of sincerity in hiring."

Insights from DODA Leadership

Kanako Ozawa, General Manager of DODA's Recruitment Solutions Division, remarked on the rapidly evolving hiring landscape. Simply listing job availability often fails to portray the intrinsic value of companies. With an overload of information accessible today, making reliable judgments is increasingly complex. The DODA Career Fair acts as a platform to illuminate and clarify these uncertainties by allowing meaningful face-to-face interactions and fostering connections that would be missed in a digital context.

Expect to see the DODA Career Fair as a pivotal shift in recruitment practices, challenging existing norms and ultimately striving to create a new standard in employer-employee relationships.

About DODA

DODA is committed to connecting prospective job seekers with their ideal employers through various services, including career fairs, recruitment sites, and personalized consulting. Passionate about enhancing the employment landscape in Japan, DODA firmly believes that they can empower individuals to transform their work-life experiences positively.

• - For more about DODA, visit: DODA

About Persol Career Co.

Persol Career aims to transition how talent finds opportunities, driven by their mission to provide tools that empower individuals within the workforce. They have expanded their offerings into various sectors, including high-level recruitment and freelancing, focusing on enhancing the employment market's overall value.

• - Discover more about their mission at: Persol Career