In August, we held an internship program at our company, with three Japanese students and five international students participating. In this second part of the experience stories, we’ll introduce the Japanese students!
Japanese student (male) :
I participated in Dandelions Inc.’s summer internship. It was my first internship, and aside from me and two others from my school, everyone else was from overseas. I was really nervous. On the first day, we used AI to create stamps for the SNS app LINE. It was really interesting to hear so many different ideas on the impressions we got from a single illustration.
Even though it was my first time doing group work, everything went smoothly and it was a lot of fun.
On the second day, we did some test exercises. The task of carefully checking for any mistakes in the results was really tough, but it gave me a strong sense of accomplishment.
On the third day, we practiced exchanging business cards and tried out website design. During the business card exchange practice, we actually exchanged cards with employees of Dandelions Inc.
It was a valuable experience since it’s rare to have the opportunity to exchange cards with actual employees.
For the website design experience, the theme was introducing traditional crafts from the Tokai region to people overseas.
When we discussed how to spark interest in Japanese products among people overseas, we were able to hear actual opinions from international participants. This helped us notice a lot of things we normally wouldn’t, making it a really interesting and meaningful time. The internship was full of first-time experiences and allowed me to grow significantly.
Japanese student (male)
I participated in Dandelions Inc.’s internship. It was my first time joining an internship, and although I was nervous, it turned out to be a great opportunity for cultural exchange since there were many participants from different countries. The staff members who guided us were friendly, and I had a great time.
On the first day,
we kicked things off with icebreakers, starting with self-introductions where we talked about our names and where we were from. Next, we worked together to choose 10 phrases and images for creating LINE stamps. Additionally, we created personal PR materials and went out to buy snacks for a project called “LUCKY BOX,” which involved promoting Japanese snacks to an overseas audience.
Day 2
We started by tasting the snacks we bought the day before and shared our thoughts. It was refreshing to hear people compare them to snacks from their own countries, and some of their opinions were completely different from what I, as a Japanese person, had expected.
Next, we did some test exercises. The test involved something like a “spot the difference” task, which was very detailed and important work. It required a lot of concentration and was quite tiring.
Day 3
We practiced exchanging business cards, learning how to give and receive them properly, which was a valuable experience. Next, we started working on creating a website. Through gathering information and discussions, we set our direction and got to work. Even though everyone was from different countries, we were able to communicate well and bring everything together smoothly.
Japanese Studend (male)
Self-introduction
Nice to meet you, I’m Nori, and I participated in the internship this August. Looking forward to working with you.
Reason for participating
I thought the biggest feature of Dandelions Inc. is that they have many foreign employees, offering a global working environment. I’ve always wanted to work at an international IT company, and I was curious about what it would be like to work in a global setting as a first step, so I applied for this internship.
Internship details
On the first day, we created LINE stamps and went out to buy snacks.
on the second day, we had a tasting party and a system test experience.
On the third day, we practiced exchanging business cards and created a website using WordPress.
Post-internship thoughts
It was a great opportunity to learn about the cultural differences between various countries by communicating with many international participants, including fellow interns. The biggest takeaway for me was the difference between Japanese and global perspectives. I think many Japanese, including myself, tend to be a bit reserved, while I noticed that people from other countries were much more proactive and frequently shared their opinions. I believe it’s important for companies to have a variety of options. This internship has inspired me to become someone who can view things from different angles and actively express my opinions.
