Internship in Japan by Asia Internship Program

10 years! It was 10 years since I've been back in Japan and it looks even better than before. I first came here with my family and I instantly fell in love with the place. Every aspect of Japan when it comes to the culture, food, art just screams beauty. I already knew that this was the place that I want to end up in the future and I would like to thank AIP for making it come true. Not only did they find me an internship here in Japan, but they also found the right company for me to work with in the future. I still keep in touch with my colleagues and supervisor and are already in the discussion of a potential full time position. Things couldn't have been more clear to me and I have AIP to thank.

I had the opportunity to participate in AIP's newly introduced "Remote Internship" program. I've had my eyes on Japan for the longest time but the timing was just disappointing with the whole coronavirus attacking the whole word.

Nonetheless, my parents found out about AIP and introduced the opportunity to me, skeptical at first, I saw it as a great chance to actually get something done during this stay-at-home scene. My point of contact was very helpful and guided me throughout everything and made sure I was satisfied with my choices. They even took the time to check up on me from time to time just to see how I was doing, and I really appreciated that. The company I worked for gave me the necessary training and was actually kind enough to give me enough time to complete the tasks given considering the time zones. It would obviously be better if I was there in person, but this was good enough for me.

Safe to say, I have something to put onto my CV for the future.

Japan is a very interesting place and AIP did their very best to assist me with the transition of being a fresh graduate to finding and securing my first internship within Asia.

At first, it didn't look good with the amount of time it took to find one but once things started getting going it was very quick in regards scheduling and the feedback provided from my Rep.

Once I was in Japan things went by so fast in terms of the work as the company I was interning at had a few projects going on and they dropped me into the heart of everything. (joining in on Meetings and conference calls, shadowing my supervisors and assisting with daily tasks and of course my own personal projects.)

A few things could be different as the accommodation isn't the best but I felt comfortable after a while. For the people who are picky eaters, I would recommend Bareburger in near Sukiya Dori street.

Japan is a very interesting place and AIP did their very best to assist me with the transition of being a fresh graduate to finding and securing my first internship within Asia.

At first, it didn't look good with the amount of time it took to find one but once things started getting going it was very quick in regards scheduling and the feedback provided from my Rep.

Once I was in Japan things went by so fast in terms of the work as the company I was interning at had a few projects going on and they dropped me into the heart of everything. (joining in on Meetings and conference calls, shadowing my supervisors and assisting with daily tasks and of course my own personal projects.)

A few things could be different as the accommodation isn't the best but I felt comfortable after a while. For the people who are picky eaters, I would recommend Bareburger in near Sukiya Dori street.

You may think that Japan is only known for their cultures of manga, and weird shows. However, Japan has more than that to offer. Night and day are like a different culture where you may question yourself if you are in the right place.

As a product design intern, I would have to learn all about the culture. I was required to know how the products are manufactured. After that, I have to understand how the product’s appearance can affect the usability. Is it too big? Does it feel weird to hold it, or use it?

I gained insight on how to gather and analyze data from customer’s feedback. I was really surprised by the fact that you can sleep during working hours and nobody gives you a bad remark. I soon later learned that it was normal because people would work late, and go back to sleep for a couple of hours and get ready for work.

I really enjoy eating sushi. It was freshly served with raw fish that is only prepared when your order has gone through. Although, it may seem like sushi is a common food from series, or restaurants outside of Japan; it is not really common. I ate sushi using wooden chopsticks and the chief was staring at me as though I did something wrong. It was later when I understood why he was acting that way. Sushi was meant to be eaten with your hands.

If you don’t like sushi or raw fish; you can go for noodle-based food. Yakisoba and ramen are more commonly eaten. It’s fast, and filling for people that just want to get a quick bite and continue with their work.

I really haven’t traveled outside of Tokyo as I was really busy with my internship. With this internship experience; it taught me to manage my time better.

AIP does a good job with their services. I really enjoyed my time with the company they connected me with. The internship provided me with what I was looking for, international work experience in an international company in Tokyo. I chose to go to Japan for two reasons; firstly, Japan is one of the world’s leading countries in IT. Secondly, the Japanese work culture is one that is unique. Incredibly disciplined and focused in nature, entwining myself with the same discipline, I believe, would only be of benefit to me and my own work ethics.

AIP’s best feature, in my opinion, was their 24/7 emergency availability. With AIP’s guidance, I was able to get to know a little bit of the culture before arriving which made transitioning a lot easier. Their guidebook and welcome pack were definitely useful for someone new to the country. It was also great knowing they were always contactable for any troubles I may have whilst abroad.

Having the opportunity to intern at a digital marketing agency in Tokyo, Japan was one of the coolest experiences I've had. I did a 3 month internship over the summer and it couldn't have been possible without AIP. So I have never been outside of North America and at first the thought of going overseas was pretty intimidating. I've been to Mexico and the Dominican Republic with my family but going on the other side of the world by myself was a HUGE step for me. The reason I wanted to go to Japan is because I'm so interested in the culture. I absolutely love the food and always go for Sushi on the weekends with my sister. My parents wanted me to have a reason to go to Japan before they would help me pay and when I told them about AIP, they were surprisingly supportive. When I was interviewing with AIP, they were very helpful in giving me guidance. I wanted to do something with social media marketing and they suggested that I pursue an internship with a digital marketing agency. It was a really interesting experience because my supervisor would take me to client meetings and they would discuss what kind of marketing plan they needed for their particular services. It was very eye-opening to see what actually goes on behind the scenes for marketing plans and strategies. My main duties were to assist the creative teams with the content and also analyzing data. Outside of my internship I was able to travel to some other places like Mt. Fuji, Osaka, and Kyoto. I'm a crazy foodie so I was so excited to try all of the real Japanese food and not the westernized stuff. I totally fell in love with those cute ramen shops where you fill out the little menu and the server brings your ramen through a little window (you don't even get to see what they look like). That was pretty interesting and cool at the same time. My time in Japan went by so fast and I can't wait to go back and visit some other places.

The idea of going to Japan has always appealed to me, I started reading Manga in about 2015 so it’s been in my head at least since then. I had lived in Thailand for a year before this experience but I didn’t want to live there again, I wanted to live somewhere new.

The reason I decided to apply to the AIP programme as opposed to other internship companies is because they were one of the only companies that offered Japan and the flexibility of dates really boded in my favour.

My organisation and planning kinda let me down. I should have learned off a few everyday phrases and words, even just asking for the bathroom would have been handy to be able to say. I picked up bits and pieces here and there but nothing significant.

Naturally, I was super nervous flying there, I didn’t sleep a wink the night before. Sure, it wasn’t my first time moving to Asia but it was my first time doing something like this on my own. I booked a hostel

(Space Hostel) for a couple of days while looking for an apartment, another instance my organization let me down, it would have been more ideal to have my apartment sorted before arriving.

My company was great, I acted as a content creator for their blog and their social media platforms. I also did a lot of proofreading which maybe wasn’t the most exciting but I think it’s good experience to see the common mistakes made by Japanese people. I was delighted to make my own promotional blog series while I was there also.

I got on great with my colleagues too, they were super lovely and welcoming people and very helpful whenever I had any questions and they showed me some great little holes-in-the-walls to eat at for lunch time!

Japan is such a great place, my favourite part being the food, good lord I miss the food! Special thanks to AIP for helping me on my journey!