So what kind of companies can I intern at? Below is a list of companies who participated in past years of the program.

(Please be advised that this year’s list of participating companies has not yet been determined. The following is to give students a general idea.)

YAMAOKA SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.
Field: Presswork, press molding
http://www.yamaoka.co.jp/

SAIJO INX, Co., Ltd.
Field: Metal prototyping, laminate sheet metal, laminate metalworking
http://www.saijoinx.com/

Asahi Godo, Co., Ltd.
Field: Wholesale production of containers, wholesale import of ingredients for supplements
http://www.asahigodo.co.jp/

TAKARA SEIKA, Co., Ltd.
Field: Food production
http://takara-seika.co.jp/index.php

Kobori, Inc.
Field: Production & sale of Buddhist household altars
http://www.butsudan-shop.jp/company.html

Leaf Publications
https://www.leafkyoto.net/company/
Field: Sales promotion, publishing, hotel management

DAY ALIVE, Inc.
http://dayalive.jp/
Field：Web promotion & other web services

Tagaya Group
Field: Bridal
http://tagaya-group.com/

HANTOURO GROUP
Field: Management of Hana Touro STAY (Guesthouse)
http://stay.kyoto.jp/guide/company

FUKUNAGA CO., LTD.
Field: Development of various restaurant business, foods, import and sales of processed foods
http://www.fukunaga-tf.com/

NAKAMURA TOKICHI HONTEN Co.,Ltd.
Field: Manufacture and sales of Japanese tea and sweets, café administration
http://www.tokichi.jp/company/

Roman Life Inc.
Field: Production and sales of high quality Western-style sweets; food service
http://www.romanlife.co.jp/

Flat Agency
Field: Real estate; leasing and sales
http://flat-a.co.jp/

NATIONAL STUDENTS INFORMATION CENTER
Field: Student housing, Education, Human resources
http://www.nasic.co.jp/

What kind of things does one do at an internship, exactly? The following are a few examples.

・Inventory control of product export & imports, training in foreign trade

・General knowledge of product development, manufacturing

・Assisting at orientation at university dorms for other international students, event preparation and reception, documentation, filing, etc.

・Customer services at shops where the business’s goods are sold

・3D printer market research, and creation of 3D printing molds

・Translation of websites and content creation for the web, Facebook advertisement setting

・Greeting customers and offering sample foods, explaining products (teas and snacks, etc.) to customers, inspection of products when they arrive, replenishment and arrangement of products in the shopfront, processing of passports for customers purchasing tax-free products

・Customer relations, client management, answering emails and the telephone (in English, Chinese, and Japanese); ordering linen cloth, assistance in cleaning

・Work in a restaurant; mainly customer service

・Product constructions, construction of molds, use of a polishing machine

・Translation of signs for events, interpretation while taking reservations, making flyers for events, research for projects

・Wedding support (particularly for foreign clients)

The participating companies offer all kinds of work experience, but remember that when you take part in an internship, you’ll be working not as a part-time worker, but as a regular member of the team.

What about the students who’ve interned before? What did they think of their experiences? Below are a few of their comments.

“I learned a lot about my own strengths and weaknesses. They taught me from step 1 to step 100. I think it was a really great experience!”

“Through my internship, I learned a lot about the difficulties involved in making a product that pleases both Japanese and international customers. By participating in events, I was able to hear customer’s opinions directly, and I was also able to share my opinions as a non-Japanese person where I interned. I was really happy when they took my thoughts into consideration.”

“I learned how to communicate with and consider the customer. I’m really pleased with my experience working directly with my boss at a Japanese company. I think it was a good opportunity to understand more about the things I need to work on in myself, too.”

“The fact that I was able to enter a company, a Japanese company, and a manufacturing company in particular were good points, I think. It also changed my opinion about only applying to large companies: I came to think that working at a small-to-medium-sized company could be good, too.”

“You’re made more aware of your responsibility because the internship is paid.”

“I thought it was easier to get to know the company and its values because the internship was fairly long. It was good to feel so close to the company.”

Many of the past student participants expressed that they’d learned more about their field of work, but also about themselves. Many also said an internship had helped to better prepare them for working, and for job hunting in Japan.

This paid internship program for international students began in 2016 and is still new, but with the support of students and companies in Kyoto, we’re hoping to continue to expand it. If you’re interested, why not apply this spring?

Study Kyoto’s job-hunting site for international students provides students with up-to-date information for “shuukatsu” events in Kyoto!
Check it out! (Website is in Japanese only)
International student employment information portal site 「Beyond Study Kyoto」