What inspired you to work for Internship in Tokyo?
There is a Japanese saying, “Seeing is believing.” I believe that actually seeing, experiencing, and doing something can change your perspective in a way that simply reading or hearing about it cannot.
As I became an adult, I had more opportunities to travel abroad for work, and those experiences had a major impact on the way I see the world, work, and myself. I often wondered: What if I had been able to have those experiences when I was a student?
That question became one of the reasons my co-founder and I created "Internship in Tokyo." We wanted to create opportunities for young people to come to Japan, work on real projects, experience successes and failures, and spend an incredibly meaningful period of time that becomes part of who they are.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell myself to stop trying to predict what the experience was going to be like. Before going abroad, we often create an image of what we think a place, a culture, or a workplace will be like. But reality is usually much more interesting than that image.
I would also tell myself not to compare my experience too much with other people's. Everyone has a different reason for going abroad, and everyone's experience will look different. Some days will be exciting, while others may feel ordinary or even frustrating. Both are part of the experience.
Most importantly, I would tell myself to pay attention to the small things. A conversation with a colleague, figuring out how to solve a problem at work, getting lost somewhere, or discovering a place you would never have found as a tourist can become surprisingly memorable.
You don't need to come back with a perfect story. You just need to be present enough to notice what is happening around you.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is seeing how participants change through their experience. At the beginning, some students are nervous about working in a foreign environment. But after spending time in Japan, working with Japanese colleagues, and taking responsibility for real projects, I can see their confidence grow.
The most rewarding moment is when they realize, “I can actually do this.”
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My international experiences have taught me that there is rarely only one correct way to think, communicate, or work. That perspective is very useful in my current role because I work between international participants and Japanese companies.
I try to understand both sides and help them communicate effectively. Sometimes what feels completely normal to one side can feel unusual to the other. Understanding that difference is essential to creating a successful experience.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is bridging cultural and communication differences between international interns and Japanese companies. It is easy to talk about “internationalization,” but actually working together is much more complicated.
Expectations around communication, initiative, responsibility, and workplace behavior can be very different. We try to address this through preparation, clear communication, and continuous support. At the same time, we believe that experiencing those differences firsthand is itself an important part of international education.
Why should someone choose Internship in Tokyo over competitors?
I think the biggest difference is that we look at the experience from both sides: the participant and the host company. For a student, choosing an internship abroad is a big decision. We don't want to treat that decision as simply choosing a destination or checking a box on a resume. We want to understand what the participant is interested in, what they want to learn, and what kind of environment would allow them to contribute.
At the same time, we take the needs of Japanese host companies seriously. A company is not simply a place where we send an intern. They are our partners. Their time, resources, and trust are important. That balance is a big part of how we approach Internship in Tokyo. We want students to have opportunities to take on real responsibilities while also making sure the experience makes sense for the host company.
Tokyo itself is also a major part of what we offer. It is a city where traditional culture, global business, technology, hospitality, creativity, and countless industries exist side by side. We want participants to experience that environment from the inside rather than simply observe it from the outside.
What is Internship in Tokyo's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to connect international talent with opportunities in Japan and create meaningful cultural and professional exchange. We work toward this by building relationships with Japanese companies, understanding what students are looking for, and continuously improving our programs based on feedback from both participants and host companies.
Our mission is to create valuable connections between international young people and Japan through real work experiences. Japan is increasingly popular among international visitors, while relatively few Japanese people go abroad.
We cannot change that situation overnight, but we can create small opportunities for meaningful international exchange. By bringing young people from around the world to Tokyo and connecting them with Japanese companies, we hope to create a deeper understanding on both sides.
What makes Internship in Tokyo special?
I think what makes us special is that we believe internationalization should be experienced, not simply talked about. It is easy to say, “We should become more global.” But once an international student actually joins a Japanese workplace, both sides begin to see things differently. The student learns about Japan, while the Japanese company also learns about different perspectives, communication styles, and expectations. That two-way learning is at the heart of what we are trying to create.
What hopes do you have for the future for Internship in Tokyo?
I hope "Internship in Tokyo" can become a small but meaningful bridge between Japan and the next generation of global talent. I want more young people to experience Tokyo not just as tourists, but as people who live, work, contribute, and build relationships here. At the same time, I hope Japanese companies can discover new perspectives through these relationships and become more comfortable working with international talent.
Are there any developments with Internship in Tokyo that you would like to share with us?
We are continuing to expand our network of Japanese host companies and international university partners. We are also working to create more opportunities for participants to experience different industries, professional environments, networking, and Japanese culture. Our goal is not simply to increase the number of participants, but to improve the quality and depth of the experiences we provide.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope participants leave with a better understanding of what they are capable of when they are placed in an unfamiliar environment. You may arrive in Tokyo thinking you know exactly what kind of career you want. Then you work on something completely different, meet someone unexpected, or discover an industry you had never considered. That can change the direction of your thinking.
I also hope they learn how to work with people who don't necessarily communicate or approach work in the same way they do. In an increasingly international workplace, knowing how to navigate those differences is incredibly valuable. But I don't think every participant needs to have some dramatic life-changing moment. Sometimes the most valuable takeaway is much simpler: “I tried something I was nervous about, and I managed to do it.”
If participants return home with greater confidence in their ability to adapt, communicate, and take initiative, I consider that a successful experience.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Because there is a limit to how much we can understand through information alone. We can read articles, watch videos, study history, and follow people from other countries online. But being physically present somewhere changes the way you process information. Suddenly, the things you previously learned about become real people, real conversations, real streets, and real situations.
You also start noticing your own culture differently. When you are in Japan, certain things feel completely normal because you grew up with them. When someone from another country reacts to those same things differently, it can make you stop and think, “Why do we do it this way?” That is something I find particularly valuable about international experiences. They don't only teach you about another country; they can also make you question assumptions you have about your own. And when that experience happens through work, the learning becomes even more practical.
You are not simply observing how another culture operates. You are participating in it, making decisions, communicating with people, and figuring things out as you go.
How do you help support participants?
We support participants before, during, and after their internship. Before they arrive, we help them prepare for their internship and understand what to expect from working in Japan. During their stay, we remain available to answer questions and help resolve challenges. We also communicate closely with host companies because supporting the participant means supporting the relationship between the participant and the company.
If you could participate on one of Internship in Tokyo's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would choose a program where I could work on a real project with a Japanese company while also interacting with the local community. I would especially be interested in hospitality, tourism, or international business because these industries allow you to see firsthand how Japan is perceived by people from around the world, and how Japanese businesses respond to an increasingly international environment.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a language gives you another way of seeing the world. You don't just learn words. You begin to understand how people communicate, what they value, and how they express themselves. Even learning some Japanese can completely change the experience of living in Japan. It allows you to connect with people in a way that you simply cannot achieve as a visitor.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is not about how many places you visit or how many photos you take. It is about how deeply you experience the place and the people around you.
As a tourist, you can see famous places, try local food, and experience things you planned in advance. But when you stay somewhere longer, especially when you work there, you begin to experience the everyday side of a country. You have colleagues, responsibilities, routines, and conversations that you simply cannot have as a visitor. I think those ordinary moments are often the most valuable.
A conversation with a colleague after work, figuring out how to solve an unexpected problem, or becoming familiar with a neighborhood can stay with you much longer than a sightseeing spot. Meaningful travel also doesn't mean everything has to go perfectly. Sometimes being confused, making mistakes, or finding yourself outside your comfort zone becomes the most memorable part of the experience.
For me, meaningful travel is when you leave a place knowing that you didn't just visit it, you actually experienced a small part of its everyday life. And when you return home, you carry those people, experiences, and perspectives with you.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Don't wait until you feel completely ready. Going abroad can be intimidating, especially when you are going to live and work in a culture that is different from your own.
But you don't need to have everything figured out beforehand. Be curious. Be respectful. Ask questions. Make mistakes. Try things that feel slightly uncomfortable. Some of the experiences that challenge you the most may eventually become the stories and lessons you value the most.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don't line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
One issue I see is when international education becomes too transactional. Sometimes the focus can become numbers, how many students participate, how many destinations are offered, or how attractive a program looks, rather than the quality of the relationships being created.
For us, the local community and host companies should not simply be a backdrop for an international student's experience. If we ask a Japanese company to welcome an international student, we also have a responsibility to make sure that relationship creates value for the company. International education should be a two-way exchange. Students should learn from the local community, but the local community should also have the opportunity to learn from them.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
To me, ethical global engagement means approaching another culture with humility, respect, and a willingness to learn. It means understanding that we are not simply bringing international students into Japan.
We are creating relationships between people who may have very different backgrounds and perspectives. That requires transparency, preparation, respect for local communities, and a genuine willingness to listen. I also believe that ethical engagement does not mean removing every challenge from the experience. Students should be supported, but they should also be encouraged to take responsibility, adapt, and learn from situations that are unfamiliar to them.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope international education becomes less about simply sending people abroad and more about creating meaningful relationships between people and communities. Japan is a good example. More and more people from around the world want to experience Japan, while relatively few Japanese people go abroad. I don't think one organization can change that situation overnight. But I believe small, meaningful exchanges can gradually create change.
For us, bringing international young people into the heart of Tokyo is one way to start that process. We can learn how the next generation of global talent thinks, how they approach work, and what they think about Japan. At the same time, Japanese companies can learn how they are perceived from outside Japan and discover how they can evolve.
Ultimately, I hope international education creates more than globally experienced individuals. I hope it creates people who are more curious, adaptable, empathetic, and willing to understand perspectives beyond their own.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
Trust, communication, respect, and mutual benefit are essential. We don't believe that an international internship should benefit only the student. The host company should also gain something from having an international participant. The student brings a different perspective and energy, while the company provides professional experience and insight into Japanese business culture.
When both sides are willing to learn from each other, the relationship becomes much more meaningful than a simple internship placement.
