What first sparked your interest in Japan?
Since my childhood, I had a very strong interest in East Asian cultures, Japan in particular. There is not one specific event that sparked my interest in this beautiful country. My future decisions in life were tremendously influenced by the many encounters I had with the Japanese culture, its people and its customs.
Specifically, I was always amazed by how modern, yet traditional, Japanese society and its social values are. Japanese customs and business etiquettes here are very defined with a deep underlying meaning of how humans interact.
International Students Business Contest
Why is Meiji Internships extraordinary?
Meiji internships sees its role as a cultural mediator between the East and West in the 21st century. We do so by focusing on three main aims of our foreign students: studying, working, and living in Japan.
Our institution is well known for being very flexible in organizing our interns’ work placements, and also pays a lot of attention to customizing packages according their needs.
We see ourselves as the gateway into Japan and strive to continuously improve our services.
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
As the Managing Director, I am overseeing many operations within our organization and have many tasks that can change on a daily basis. Usually we have morning meetings that act as an orientation on what tasks we have, and also review the accomplished projects up to date.
Business Network Event with local and foreign students
After that, our staff will go back to their duties and keep other team members updated via several communication channels we use. I, or one of my fellow internship consultants, visit our interns on a regular basis to follow up on their placement. It is very important for me to deliver this personal service to our interns to ensure a positive experience during our programs.
How do you help ensure every program participant has a “first-class” experience?
Listening to our customer needs is a key component of our services. It is essential for us to understand what dreams, ambitions, and concerns our participants have, and how we can consult them accordingly.
We do not just simply sell a service; we make sure to individually tailor our packages to meet the needs of our students and interns. Therefore we also have on-spot local advisors at all our internship locations to deliver a much more personal experience.
Why do you think Fukuoka is a great place to learn about Japanese culture?
Fukuoka is Japan’s oldest city, yet one of the most modern economic powerhouses of the Japanese economy. It’s unique and close geographic location to South Korea, Taiwan, and China makes it the major trading port for the whole of Southeast Asia. Japan’s fifth largest city has a very vibrant and lively nightlife, combined with beautiful nearby beaches and mountains for hiking that can be reached in less than 30 minutes, via bicycle.
Moreover, the very friendly locals and affordable living costs make Fukuoka Japan’s third largest international student city.
Cooking Event with Meiji Students
What are the best fields for internships in Japan, in your opinion?
Japan has a lot of industry fields for young students to offer. In my opinion, the education, tourism, and marketing sector are the best industry fields for Non-Japanese speakers to get a foothold in this country.
How important is it for interns to know Japanese to be valuable in the workforce?
It depends on the industry. Knowing how to communicate with the locals in Japanese can be a huge advantage and can open many doors. It will give interns access to more specific industries, such as engineering and finance.
However, it is not just the language, but also the peculiar business etiquettes in Japan, that have a huge impact on business relationships. Thus we pay a lot attention in our Business Japanese course and also in our workshops to practice real life business situations in role-plays with our interns before we send them out into the Japanese corporate world.
Considering your own experience studying in Japan, what is your best piece of advice for individuals considering studying abroad in Japan?
When coming to Japan for the first time, you start all over as a baby again! Many things in Japan work completely different than in most Western countries, hence you should be non-judgmental towards new things, even if they might seem odd to you at first.
Friday Night Party with Students in Fukuoka
Japan is a wonderful country with many different facets. Some things seem obvious and logical, while other things won’t be easy to understand. The key to success is to accept that things work differently here and that the culture is something that some might not always understand, yet can experience regardless. When in Rome, do as the Romans!
How does Meiji Internships continue to evolve to meet the demands and needs of incoming participants?
Continuous improvement, and closely listening to the constructive feedback that our former interns gave us, is what shaped our success in the last five years.
What plans do you have for 2018? Is there anything we should keep an eye out for?
For sure there is! We are already the largest internship provider for West Japan and we hope to expand our internship placements to more rural areas in Japan. Cultural Immersion and Intercultural Awareness are two key areas that we want to place specific importance in this year’s agenda, before moving to even bigger projects.
