Japan Takken (Real Estate Specialist) Exam: Application Photo Spec and How to Create It
Make an application photo that meets the official spec of the Real Estate Transaction Improvement Organization (RETIO), from a smartphone shot, for ¥200. Supports the 3.2-3.6cm head-to-chin requirement.
| Dimensions | 45mm × 35mm |
|---|---|
| Face length | 32–36 mm |
| Top margin | Not specified |
| Background | Plain background required — shoot against a white or light-colored wall with even lighting, free from shadows, objects, or gradients (the official spec only mandates "no background", with no specific color) |
| Shoot-by window | Taken within 6 months of application |
| Official issuer | Real Estate Transaction Improvement Organization (RETIO), Japan |
View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-27)
Verbatim official spec
Below is the verbatim official spec from the Takken exam application guide and the prefectural registration application pages, published by the Real Estate Transaction Improvement Organization (RETIO), in the original Japanese.
- 「縦4.5cm、横3.5cm、頭頂からあごまでが長さ3.2cm以上3.6cm以下」
- 「指定したサイズ以外など不適切な場合は、差替えを指示」
- 「無背景、無帽、正面向き、カラー」
- 「縦3cm×横2.4cm（顔の大きさ2cm程度）」
- 「申請前6か月以内に撮影した、カラー、無帽、正面、上三分身、無地無背景の写真」
- 「写真専用紙以外にプリントしたもの・加工したものは受付できません」
Why this spec matters
The Japan Real Estate Transaction Specialist (Takken) exam is administered by the Real Estate Transaction Improvement Organization (RETIO), a body designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and roughly 300,000 candidates sit it each year — making it one of Japan's largest national qualifications. The governing law is the Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Act (enacted 1952), and passing grants the exclusive authority to deliver important-matter explanations and sign-and-seal contracts in real estate transactions. There is no eligibility restriction — anyone can sit it regardless of age, education, or nationality (the youngest recorded candidate was 12 years old) — yet the pass rate sits at around 15–17%. The exam is held once a year on the third Sunday of October as a 50-question multiple-choice paper test, with no CBT conversion (Reiwa 8 = 2026: scheduled October 18). The photo size is the same as a passport (45×35mm), but RETIO adds a strict requirement that the head-to-chin length must be between 3.2cm and 3.6cm, and the online application requires an 832×640 px JPEG. Note that the post-pass prefectural-governor registration photo is a completely different size: 30×24mm (driver's licence size), unified in practice across all 47 prefectures including the explicitly aligned Tokyo, Aichi, Kanagawa, Kyoto, and Osaka — so the exam photo and the registration photo must be prepared separately.
How to create it for ¥200
With a smartphone and ¥200, you can prepare a RETIO-compliant exam application photo for both the printed route (35×45mm) and the online route (832×640 px JPEG).
- 1
Take the photo on your smartphone
Stand against a plain wall in a bright room. No hat. Color photo, neutral expression, eyes on the lens. Avoid tinted lenses and sunglasses; clear-lens everyday glasses are fine. - 2
AI removes the background and aligns to spec
Upload the photo. AI removes the background and aligns it to the 45×35mm color spec with the head-to-chin length kept within the 3.2-3.6cm range. You can fine-tune face position to 0.1mm precision. - 3
Print at a Japan conbini via QR, glue to the application (or upload 832×640 px JPEG for online)
After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print L-size in color from ¥30 at any Japan conbini and glue it to the designated spot on the application form. For online application, the same photo data can be uploaded directly as an 832×640 px JPEG.
Create a RETIO-Compliant Takken Exam Application Photo for ¥200
AI auto-aligns your smartphone shot to 45×35mm while keeping the head-to-chin length within RETIO's 3.2-3.6cm range. Ready for both postal application and the 832×640 px JPEG online route.
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
Can I reuse the same photo for the post-pass prefectural registration?
How is the face size measured?
What upload format is required for the online application?
Is there any eligibility requirement to sit the Takken exam?
With 300,000 candidates a year, is the Takken exam moving to CBT?
Related content
Create a RETIO-Compliant Takken Exam Application Photo for ¥200
AI auto-aligns your smartphone shot to 45×35mm while keeping the head-to-chin length within RETIO's 3.2-3.6cm range. Ready for both postal application and the 832×640 px JPEG online route.
Create now — ¥200