Japan Weather Forecaster Exam: Application-Form Photo Spec and How to Create It
Make a Kisho Yohoshi (Certified Weather Forecaster) exam photo that meets the official spec set by the Japan Meteorological Business Support Center, from a smartphone shot, for ¥200. Covers written stages and the practical exam.
| Dimensions | 45mm × 35mm |
|---|---|
| Face length | Not specified |
| Top margin | Not specified |
| Background | Plain background — no official color specified; a light-colored, plain wall under even lighting is recommended |
| Shoot-by window | Taken within 6 months of application |
| Official issuer | Japan Meteorological Business Support Center (Designated Testing Body by the Director-General of JMA) |
View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-26)
Verbatim official spec
Below is the verbatim official spec from the Japan Meteorological Business Support Center exam guide, in the original Japanese.
- 「パスポート写真サイズ (縦45mm × 横35mm)、縁なしのもの、カラーまたは白黒で、申請前 6 か月以内に撮影した無帽、正面、無背景のもの」
- 「写真の裏側に氏名を記入してください」
Why this spec matters
The Kisho Yohoshi (Certified Weather Forecaster) is a national qualification registered by the Director-General of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Private weather companies licensed to issue forecasts must employ certified forecasters, and many TV weather presenters in Japan also hold this credential. The exam is held twice a year (January and August); the 65th sitting (January 2026) received 4,557 applications, with 3,932 candidates actually sitting the exam and 208 passing — a 5.3% pass rate (passers ÷ test-takers). There are no age, education, or nationality restrictions — past sittings have produced certified forecasters as young as 11, with school-age passers continuing to appear in recent exams. The exam has two stages: written (General + Specialist) and practical. The photo spec is 45×35mm passport size, and one detail is notably strict: the photo must be borderless. White-framed prints are rejected. Combined with the fact that applications are paper-only (registered mail, no online option), any photo defect creates a long re-submission cycle, so it pays to nail the spec on the first try.
How to create it for ¥200
With a smartphone and ¥200, you can prepare a spec-compliant Kisho Yohoshi exam photo in one go before sending your application.
- 1
Take the photo on your smartphone
Stand against a plain, light-colored wall in a bright room. Face the camera directly, no hat, no sunglasses, neutral expression, eyes on the lens. Clear-lens glasses can stay on. - 2
AI removes the background, fits the spec, and exports borderless
Upload the photo. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to 45×35mm. The output is borderless to meet the Kisho Yohoshi spec. Fine-tune face position to 0.1mm precision if needed. - 3
Print at a Japan convenience store via QR code, then glue onto the application form
After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print on L-size paper at any Japan conbini from ¥30, cut out the photo, glue it onto the application form, write your name on the back, and send it by registered mail (tokutei kiroku yubin).
Create a Spec-Compliant Weather Forecaster Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 45×35mm spec with no border. A QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed — glue the print onto your application form before sending by registered mail.
Create now — ¥200What Ramune AI ID Photo offers
Even for a tight spec like My Number, you can finish the entire shoot → process → print workflow in your browser.
0.1mm face position adjustment
Drag the hairline, chin, and face-width guides — or type the millimetre value — to fit inside even a 4mm-wide regulatory window like the My Number spec.
Auto-generated L-size print sheet
Multiple photos optimally arranged on L-size paper with cut marks. Print directly at home or at a convenience store.
AI removes the background automatically
Walls or objects in the original shot are auto-removed; AI converts the photo to the plain background the spec requires.
AI skin smoothing with a natural finish
Auto-reduces blemishes and uneven tone while keeping a natural look. Choose between the original and the smoothed version.
Print at 55,000 convenience stores nationwide
Scan a QR code at the multi-copy machine in 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — L-size prints from ¥30.
5-language support, no app required
Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese — works entirely in your smartphone browser without installing an app.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does "borderless" mean?
Color or black-and-white — which is better?
Is it really true that an 11-year-old can take the Weather Forecaster exam?
Do all TV weather presenters in Japan hold this qualification?
If I passed a written subject last time, can I reuse the same photo next time?
Related content
Create a Spec-Compliant Weather Forecaster Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 45×35mm spec with no border. A QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed — glue the print onto your application form before sending by registered mail.
Create now — ¥200