Dear future intern,

If you are reading this and have accepted the internship, first of all, congratulations! You are about to embark on a journey not available to many. You will gain so many new experiences, have countless adventures, and explore food, language, and culture.

As you accepted this internship, I’m fairly confident you know a little about Japan’s norms and practices. But this experience will be different from a sightseeing trip in Japan. You’ll get to see a side of Japan that you won’t be able to experience as a tourist. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are a few pieces of advice and things to remember.

Know Key Phrases

There are a few phrases that you should know as you’ll be hearing and saying them frequently. Of course, you should know everyday phrases such as thank you and good morning, but here are some phrases you’ll hear and use in professional environments.

お疲れ様です、お疲れ様でした (Otsukare-sama desu/deshita): This phrase is used commonly in work environments, and is used to express gratitude for the other person’s efforts. Most often, it is used at the end of the workday. Remember to say this to your supervisor at the end of the workday!

よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku-onegai-shimasu): This phrase is often used when you first meet someone as a way to express that you look forward to working with them. This phrase can also be used to thank someone for continued assistance.

お世話になりました (osewani-narimashita): This phrase is used when you want to thank someone for their cooperation or assistance. The translation is closer to “taken care of”, so you could say this if you’ve been a guest or visitor somewhere and you want to thank the host.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure when and in what context to use these phrases. You’ll learn as you go and listen to what other people are saying. Listening and observing will help you learn tremendously.

Explore Japan

I highly encourage you to take this opportunity to explore Japan. Japan has very diverse cultures within such a small country. There are differences in food, linguistics, and so many historical and cultural sites across the country. Travelling and exploring Japan will help get a better understanding of Japan’s history and society. During my internship, I travelled to Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Tokyo, and it was interesting to reflect on the different linguistic practices, food, and regional culture.

Buy Souvenirs

This may seem like a trivial piece of advice, but trust me! Souvenir shopping in Japan is an experience in itself. Stations, malls, and airports have enormous stores with various souvenirs. Often, you can get a good idea of the location’s speciality from the souvenirs, as they act as tourist promotion. Also, buying and giving each other souvenirs (or お土産 omiyage) is a common practice in Japan. You’ll most likely receive souvenirs if a friend or close co-worker travels somewhere. If you get the opportunity to travel for work or personal reasons, buy souvenirs for friends and co-workers that you want to express gratitude to! It doesn’t have to be anything grand or expensive; it’s the gesture and thought that count the most.

Alchohol Culture

Drinking is a part of the work culture in Japan. Getting drinks with co-workers is a common practice in Japan, and it’s how you bond and socialize with your co-workers. You’ll most likely be invited to dinners and gatherings, where you will be offered to drink. Don’t feel pressured to drink if you don’t want to, and you can politely decline.

You are a visitor, and you need to come to terms with that

Although this may sound obvious to some, I felt the need to preface. Japan is not Canada; it is not a country of immigrants. Japan has no government policy of multiculturalism. Japan has been a largely homogeneous country for all of history. You, fellow intern, are there for 3-4 months, which is a very short amount of time considering. Whether you are half Japanese, have Japanese ancestry, or have no connection to Japan, you grew up in Western society and are accustomed to Western customs. You are a visitor in Japan, and you will (to a certain extent) be seen and treated as such. I say this not to discourage you, but to set realistic expectations. I grew up in Japan and spent 8 years of my life there. Japanese is my first language, and I have Japanese citizenship. Still, I was a visitor. I felt the need to “prove” my Japanese identity, which I did through speaking the language and stating I had a Japanese passport and citizenship. However, to most of the locals, initially, I was closer to a foreigner than another Japanese citizen. Expect niceness from locals, but don’t expect to be one of them.

Being out of your comfort zone

There will be times during the internship when you will be pushed out of your comfort zone. You may feel uncertain, nervous, and tired, but I challenge you to still say “yes” to many of the opportunities you will be granted, whether that be special lectures, dinners, or networking events. These experiences will help you learn about your environment, but also yourself. If you feel discouraged at times, remember you are most likely not alone in this feeling. There were many past interns who were in the same position as you, and there will be many after. Remember, if you ever want advice or further information, know that I am happy to support you!

So dear future intern, if you want to explore a country I am lucky enough to call one of ‘homes’, then I hope you have the best time in Japan, and make the most of your time there.

– Mirai 海萊