If you’ve ever been to Tokyo, you’ll know that it’s a busy city full of fashion, food, and fun. With countless companies spread across every inch of the city, doing an internship with a business in Japan’s busiest city may seem daunting. But, I’m here to tell you why I chose to intern with Japan market entry consultancy, YOUNEEDS Co. Ltd. (“YOUNEEDS”) in Tokyo.

The Appeal of Tokyo for a Business Intern from Australia

My name is Chloe Martin and I’m currently part of YOUNEEDS’ Autumn 2024 Internship. I come from a small town in Southeast Queensland, Australia, where I’m currently completing a Master of Business at Griffith University, majoring in Marketing and International Business. I’ve always had a passion for learning about other cultures which inspired me to complete a Bachelor’s of Asian Studies; with majors in Asian Business and Japanese Language.

With my background in Asian Studies and Japanese, it felt natural to do an internship in Japan. But you may be wondering: why Tokyo? Both domestic and international companies gather in Tokyo, turning it into one of the most international cities in Japan. I hope to work in market consulting; to help companies enter foreign markets. For this reason, Tokyo became the ideal location to learn how overseas companies successfully enter Japan while remaining competitive in a saturated market.

YOUNEEDS offers a variety of services to assist foreign businesses trying to enter the Japanese market. Therefore, I believe an internship with YOUNEEDS presents a valuable opportunity for career development. The main reason I was interested in an internship with this company is to gain real-world experience while building the foundation for my future career in market consulting.

The Domestic and International Gateway to the Japanese Market

Japan appeals to companies all over the world, but why exactly are so many businesses drawn to Tokyo? As the nation’s capital, Tokyo has a large market with a high concentration of corporate headquarters; which generates significant economic activity. Since Japan’s market economy relies on supply and demand to determine the price and availability of goods and services, start-ups and small companies have more opportunities to succeed.

More and more domestic businesses are gathering in Tokyo to be part of Japan’s forefront of innovation. As the center for artificial intelligence, robotics, and other advanced technologies, countless technology-based start-ups are moving to Tokyo. Comparatively, international businesses tend to establish their head office in Tokyo due to the city’s highly educated workforce and expansive networks. Not only does Tokyo host countless business events throughout the year but also has well-established networks to assist foreign companies entering Japan’s market.

I hope to continue expanding my knowledge about the Japanese market while completing my internship with YOUNEEDS. After interning in Japan’s busiest city, I aim to have the foundational skills necessary to start my future career in market consulting. My ultimate career goal is to help smaller companies enter foreign markets to share their products with the world. If you would like to learn more about the Japanese market and YOUNEEDS, please contact us here or via LinkedIn.