Jan G.
Internship Program: Unpaid Internship
Company/Type: Tsumikiya Wood Toys
Nationality: German
Today we are asking Jan G. about his internship at Tsumikiya Wood Toys. Will some traditional Japanese wood toys and games be soon available in Germany?
Why did you choose Asahi Nihongo?
I have planned to do an internship in Japan in my semester break in summer. I have been to Fukuoka once as an exchange student, so I really wanted to go there again. As I saw the many companies Asahi Nihongo offered to a reasonable price, I had no reason to hesitate and applied.
Why did you pick this internship?
I wanted to do an internship with relation to foreign trade. Tsumikiya was also the first company to accept my application. When I heard that they want to import and export wooden toys, I was quite interested and was eager to take their offer.
What were your tasks?
Tsukimiya wants to export more of their wooden toys to Germany. Because of this, I was asked which products would be popular in Germany and I had to think about methods how to send the Japanese products to Germany. For this I had to plan and research a lot. We were planning to cooperate with Amazon, but it was a bit difficult. We will still have to send them by ourselves, but at least we can put one offer on Amazon’s page.
Were there any (cultural) problems you had to overcome during your internship?
I did not have any problems.
What do you like the most about your internship?
The internship was a great experience for me to get to know the Japanese business world. I want to work in Japan in the future, so I think it is quite important to know as much as you can about the Japanese way of working. I learned especially a lot about import and export in Japan, about the way of reporting and the looking for solutions. My colleagues were also very nice and helped when I had any problems.
And how do you like Fukuoka?
Fukuoka is a very nice place to live. Compared to other big cities in Japan, the living expenses are not so high. The public transportation is also very convenient and although Fukuoka is a big city, there are enough green parks to make you forget about the stressful everyday life. Fukuoka also offers a lot if delicious foods and leisure time facilities.
Do you have any tips or recommendations for people who might want to do an internship?
My advice is to calculate the possible costs wisely. Japan can be an expensive place, especially if you are planning to stay longer. I personally would recommend a longer internship (at least two or three months), because time goes by very fast and as you have got used to your work and Japan, you have to leave soon. That is a bit unfortunate. That is why you should definitely use your time and go out and get in contact to other Japanese. If you are not confident enough, you should try a language course before you come to Japan or start your internship.
Program: Unpaid Internship
http://www.japanese-school-asahi.com/
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