Program Reviews

ICC Internship program was a great experience. It helped me meet a lot of interesting people and matched me with a company according to my background and skills. They helped throughout the whole process and were very understanding. The only area that was not great was the housing. The share house was smaller than I expected, Please do check the room sizes and share house settings before choosing your accommodation. ICC also invited interns to network with university students currently studying in Tokyo, which was very insightful and fun. The experience was amazing, and very helpful for my career advancement as well.

My internship was truly a new adventure. As a person who never got a chance to travel abroad before, I got to meet new people and made a lot of friends thanks to IIJ. Everyone was kind and understanding, the whole process was smooth, despite the fact that at the beginning it seemed difficult to adapt l, I definitely got used to it later on. I had lots of fun, especially on New Year’s Eve, and the entire experience was truly different from what I imagined. The only problem for me was housing, if you hate sharing with people you might need to consider a private studio apartment.

The internship searching procedure with ICC was really simple. After having paid the initiation fee I immediatly received invitations for internship interviews. Thanks to ICC I was able to complete my internship abroad for my university credits. In total I have spent half a year doing my internship, all thanks to ICC. The staff was also really helpful and understanding of my situation and circumstances. Also the events organized by ICC like Hanami or a visit to TeamLabs were also a really nice addition to the service.

Studying abroad is an experience I think everyone should try at least once in their life. The experience really is ground breaking, and quite incomprehensible to explain in words. Culture shock, being completely lost physically and mentally, and all the little but numerous helpful interactions with locals: it's something you can not explain. Studying abroad really alters your viewpoint on the world in the best way possible. Even the simple things of ordering food is vastly different compared to back home.

This internship in Japan was, quite frankly, eye-opening. I was able to fully immerse myself in Japanese culture, while also receiving a taste of the work life in the country. The support and guidance from the ICC was solid, and the extra opportunities and events they provided made the internship more enjoyable. But overall, the overall flexible work schedule I was given coupled with the freedom to explore the country allowed me to maximize my time and experience things I wouldn't have imagined.

The program was just what you’d want from a study abroad internship. There were several prearranged group trips that let you meet others and took you to various parts of Japan you would have otherwise never seen. Additionally, having a job immersed you into society and let you experience life in Tokyo to its fullest. The program was honestly very well ran as I got to explore the country and its culture all while learning valuable skills from work. I got exactly what I wanted and more! Definitely recommend to anyone interested in picking up an internship and also looking for an experience of a lifetime. Going from foreigner to local is really a wonderful experience I think everyone should have.

My internship experience was truly exceptional because it allowed me to both study and work in a completely new and unfamiliar setting, all while enjoying the process. I found immense joy in immersing myself in a different culture and embracing various cultural traditions. It was an enriching experience that broadened my horizons and provided me with a deeper understanding of diverse cultures. During this journey, I had the privilege of forging meaningful friendships that have endured. Additionally, I established valuable business connections that I believe will be instrumental in shaping my future endeavors.

Before graduating university, my goal was to do internship in order to have more work experience. Although, my skills were limited, ICC was able to help me get a job related to my field of interest. The company that I worked for was exactly what I wanted and helped me gain a lot of experience that would have been difficult getting on my own. Looking for internships in Japan can be very challenging especially from abroad. Thankfully ICC was able to provide many options faster than I thought.

Doing an internship in Japan also helped me gain experience in a completely different work environment. I feel like after working there I can work almost anywhere. I learned things that I wasn't even expecting to. It also pushed me to work harder than usual since it was in a foreign environment. The staff from my job and ICC were both really nice! I enjoyed working there a lot and am really glad I did this internship program. The monthly events were actually really fun! I made really good friends from those events and was able to explore Japan with them outside the ICC events

I also loved living in Tokyo! Tokyo is a very convenient, safe and beautiful city. It was a perfect combination of traveling and working in my career. I would definitely recommend this program! It really changes your life.

This program really helped me grow as a person within the professional world and the staff helped me easily get a job and kept communicating with me the whole way. The staff at my workplace were kind and the work I did felt right for the kind of person I am. Staff from ICC also helped find accommodation within the Tokyo area very close to my workplace. I had little issues with my accommodation aside from cleanliness of the house however that is what comes with choosing a share house I think. The only complaint I have is the price to pay for the services was half my scholarship which didn't feel like it exactly worth what I got out of it. I would not recommend if you are limited on funds. Aside from that it was a good experience and helped to build my resume.

I had a great experience through IIJ!

As a graduate student in a pure STEM discipline, I had been in the process of searching for internship opportunities outside of academia. I didn't think looking for international opportunities would even be possible, but I decided to give it a chance after coming across IIJ. While the matching did take some time, IIJ kept me informed during the entire process and I felt prepared for my interviews.

This was my first time traveling out of the continental U.S. and it pushed me far out of my comfort zone. Despite this, I had a blast and, thanks to IIJ, I never felt alone. Settling in during the first week was the hardest, but everyone I met at my host company was nice and my IIJ contact checked up on me regularly during the transition.

Given my specialized background and narrow time frame, I knew it would be challenging to find a suitable internship. IIJ exceeded my expectations and the company I was placed with proved to be an excellent fit. I spent a month in Tokyo working on exploratory data science with a startup tech company. While there, I gained invaluable work experience and mentorship. Even after completing the program, I've still been in contact with my host company. I'm hoping to present our research at a conference and possibly work together again in the future!