Chihiro Tanno, CEO of ENT Co., Ltd. ENT株式会社
日本語は英語テキストの後に記載
1. Please tell us about you, your company and your markets.
I'm Chihiro Tanno, CEO of ENT Co., Ltd., （www.go-ent.net）. Our company is running the skill platform site Rent-Meee "Learning hobby skills in English". We are connecting English speaker foreigners who have various hobby skills living in Japan and Japanese people who want to get used to English. We beta launched in March 2017 and 300 English speaking people have registered.
ENT株式会社(エント) （www.go-ent.net）、代表取締役の丹野千尋と申します。私達の会社は「英語で趣味スキルを学ぶ」プラットフォームサイトRent-Meeeを運営しています。日本在住の様々な趣味スキルを持つ外国人と、楽しく英語に慣れたい日本人とを繋げています。2017年3月にベータローンチを行い、現在300人の英語圏出身者にご登録いただいています。
2. Why have you decided to take interns?
We believe in the power of 'diversity'. As interns share their culture and way of thinking, the diversity of the company increases. This is a very valuable opportunity for the company and it will be beneficial to our business.
Also I did an internship when I was student, I had very good experience at the internship program. Now, I would like to try to gather interns as an employer. So that is another reason.
私達は「多様性」の力を信じています。インターン生が各々の文化や考え方をシェアしてくれることにより、会社の多様性が高まります。これは会社にとって非常に貴重な機会であり、ビジネスを行う上でも有益に働きます。
また、私自身も学生時代にインターンを行ったことがあり、インターンの経験を通じ得たものが多かったため、今度は雇用者としてインターンを迎え入れたいという思いがあったことも理由のひとつです。
3. What is an internship to you and how would you explain the difference to part-time and volunteering to another Japanese person?
An Internship is a place that provides "learning" through practical work. We will listen to the intern students, what they want to learn, and then offer the best opportunities so they can learn from them.
A part-time job is doing business that is directly linked to sales. Unlike labor, volunteers aim to serve to help people in need.
インターンシップは実務を通して「学び」を提供する場です。インターンシップ生が学びたいことをヒヤリングし、その中から最適な機会と学習を提供します。
アルバイトは売上げに直結するような業務を行っています。ボランティアは労働とは違い、困っている人を助けるための奉仕であると考えています。
4. How did you find your interns and tell us about the process before the internships start.
We gave a speech at the event by Internship Japan. We had a chance to talk with many interns at this event. At a later date, we received an application from several candidates via e-mail and after about two weeks they actually joined our company as interns. At this we have two intern students for 3 months, from France and Colombia.
Internship Japanのイベントでスピーチをさせていただきました。このイベントで多くのインターン候補生とお話しをすることができました。後日、数人の候補生からメールにて応募をいただき、約2週間後には実際にインターンとして私達の会社に参加しました。今回は3か月の中期インターン生を2名、フランスとコロンビアから迎い入れています。
5. What does an intern do at your company?
Our interns are doing marketing for our Rent-Meee service. They are learning targeting, market analysis and other marketing practices including SNS management and event planning based on their market analysis. In addition, we are also planning, sales, etc. of the new project Rent-Meee for Business as a corporate service.
Rent-Meeeのマーケティングを行っています。ターゲティングの選出方法・市場分析からSNS運営やイベント企画を含めた各実践を学んでいます。また、新規企画である法人向けサービス「Rent-Meee for Business」の企画・営業等も行っています
6. What kind of person would be the ideal intern? What does your company need?
Bright, flexible, people who can tell their opinions firmly. We are hoping for intern who will carry a new wind.
明るく、柔軟、自分の意見をしっかりと言える人。新しい風を運んでくれる人を希望しています。
7. How are your interns doing while with you? Any special story you would like to share?
When we accepted internship what we did first was to listen to the frank opinion of the services that are currently deployed. Because we are involved in our services on a daily basis, we needed a perspective from a third party. The opinions of intern students were very helpful.
After that, I heard from intern students what they would like to learn through this intern, and future prospects. Based on these opinions, we created an original internship program for each person.
インターン生を受け入れてはじめに行ったことは、現在展開しているサービスの率直な意見を聞くことでした。私達は日常的に自分たちのサービスに関わっているため、中々第三者的立場からの目線が必要だったのです。インターン生の意見はとても参考となるものでした。
それからインターン生から、このインターンを通して何を学びたいのか、そして将来の展望を聞きました。これらの意見を踏まえ、オリジナルにそれぞれのインターンシッププログラムを作成しました。
8. Which language do you use with your interns? Do the interns speak Japanese?
We use English and Japanese both. Now we have two interns. One person can speak business Japanese. The other person speaks simple Japanese.
英語と日本語を利用しています。現在2名のインターン生がいますが、1名はビジネス日本語も話せます。もう1名は簡単な日本語を話します。
9. What is your message to the Japanese CEO not yet convinced in taking international interns?
There are many merits to accepting international interns. We realize what’s "obvious" to most Japanese people is not actually obvious. To hear various cultures and opinions can lead to the international growth of the company itself.
インターナショナルなインターンを受け入れることには、メリットがたくさんあります。日本の「あたりまえ」があたりまえではないことに気が付くことができたり、様々な文化や意見を聞くことができ、会社自体の国際的な成長につながることと思います。
10. How can we as Internship Japan do better?
I am extremely satisfied with the support of Internship Japan and I am grateful. We would be pleased if we could keep in touch in the future.
Internship Japanのサポートには非常に満足しており、感謝しています。今後も継続的にお付き合いができれば幸いです。
1. Please give us a self-introduction (your company etc.).
My name is Johnny Shields, I am the CTO and Co-founder of KK VESPER, makers of TableSolution, Japan's leading restaurant reservation management platform. We have also recently launched TableCheck, restaurant search portal and reservation booking app. Our clients include many top-ranked restaurants and hotel F&B such as Hilton, ANA Intercontinental, Universal Studios, T.Y. Harbor, Hiramatsu, and more.
2. Have you ever done an internship abroad?
Yes, I did internships in Tokyo, Japan in the summers of 2005 and 2006. In 2005 I worked doing market research for a small US-based energy drink company, and in 2006 I found an internship via the Boston Career Forum for a position in finance at Lehman Brothers Japan. After my 2006 internship I received a full-time offer from Lehman Brothers and I returned to Japan as a full-time employee in 2007, and have been living in Tokyo ever since.
3. How did you form your current company?
I left the finance industry in early 2013 and was explored opportunities to do a web startup. I've always enjoyed the wonderful cuisine in Japan, and thought it might be interesting to work with restaurants. My business partner and I noticed that many restaurants in Japan were managing their reservations with paper and pen, despite the availability of many reservation services (Tabelog, Gurunavi, HotPepper, etc.) We saw an opportunity to introduce a service which would automate restaurant operations and assist merchants in handling online reservations. In the 4 years since then we have grown to 35 full-time staff and several thousand clients.
4. Have you had interns your company? Where did you find them?
Yes, we have sponsored two interns in 2014 and 2015, both working in business development and assisting with market research. One intern was introduced who was the older brother of a high-school student at St. Mary's International School in Tokyo where I gave a lecture. The other intern we placed through a collaboration we did with the Hitotsubashi University's business school, where a class on Consumer Behavior used our business as a case study, and one of the students applied to be an intern for us.
5. What sort of experience will interns have at your company?
Both past interns had a very rewarding experience. Firstly, Tokyo is the culinary capital of the world, with more Michelin stars in Tokyo than any other city, so working with restaurants is a wonderful exposure to Japanese culture for both newcomers and long-time residents of Japan alike. Our company is a very flat structure where myself as CTO, our CEO, and our Heads of Sales, IT, etc. work very closely with all junior employees to develop skills. Everyone's input and opinion is valued, and we work together to build the best product possible. Our interns produced business plans including exploring the possibilities to expand our business to Korea, Taiwan, and China, and also helped with client-facing content such as making a product guide for our system which is still in use today. As we have launched new products including a consumer-facing website, we have even more exciting opportunities for interns to be directly engaged in public-facing content creation.
7. What does the future hold for interns at TableSolution?
We are actively looking for interns primarily in our Marketing and IT teams. Please check our homepage at https://www.kkvesper.jp/jobs.html. There are opportunities for both Japanese and English speakers. Please apply if interested, we are eager to meet you!
++++++++日本語版は下記を参照して下さい++++++++
Onoe-sama, thank you very much for your help! Due to your support, a great internship experience could be realized for Christiana. Read her success story here.
1. Please give us a self-introduction (Your company etc.).
My name is Tak Onoe, I am the CEO of an IT-company called NISCOM Inc.
NISCOM Inc. offers business transformation outsourcing, system integration, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, temporary staffing, and recruitment services. We strive on continuously improving energy conservation processes and automation of operations.
2. How did you find out about Christiana and how did you help her?
I Introduced her to a friend when I spotted her in a LinkedIn group asking for help concerning an internship in sports management. Internship Japan had shared her case in the Tokyo 2020 group, one dealing with topics about the Olympics. I thought that Japanese companies, particularly in the sports management industry, must follow suit with a global approach sooner rather than later. Introducing her to my friend’s company would certainly bring a positive outcome for everyone involved.
3. Why did you help her?
When I was still a student, I had been involved in the Japanese version of AIESEC. I am still volunteering now and then, guiding students in interview preparation and throughout the internship process. I didn’t have to think twice emailing my friend to make the dreams of a young Romanian student come true.
4. Please share your thoughts about internships and our work.
Interning does not originally play a role in Japanese culture. However, I believe it is getting more and more popular nowadays. Since the habit of the Japanese companies is to follow what the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) is indicating concerning recruitment, the development of an intern-culture is threatened.
5. Will you have interns yourself?
Yes, I think of bringing on interns. Recently, the number of employees capable of speaking English has increased, and we probably will soon be able to have interns soon too. I am very excited to see such plans materializing in the future.
++++++++日本語++++++++
ご協力をまことに感謝しております。尾上様のおかげでChristianaさんは素晴らしい経験を実現しました。Christianaのサクセスストーリをこちらお読みください。
1. 自己紹介をお願いいたします。
尾上卓太郎と申します。ニスコム株式会社というＩＴ会社の社長をしております。
ニスコムは、データセンターのコンサルティングをビジネスとしており、データセンターの運用の省エネや自動化などの改善を提案しています。
2. どのようにしてChristianaさんの件を知りましたか。
友人を通してLinkedIn にインターンシップのグループがあることを紹介されました。 偶然最初に目に留まったのが、クリスチアーナがスポーツマネージメントのインターンを探しているという記事でした。オリンピックを控える日本にとって、スポーツマネージメントの会社はきっとグローバル対応を急いでいると思い、友人の会社を紹介すれば喜ばれると思いました。
3. なぜ彼女をサポートしようと思いましたか。
私は、学生時代日本でＡＩＥＳＥＣというインターンを交換する団体で活動をしていました。今でも、インターン希望の学生に対して面接指導などをボランティアで引き受けています。そのこともあり、日本でインターンを受けたいというルーマニアの学生の夢が叶うなら、友人にメールを数通送ることは簡単なことと考えました。
4. インターンシップと当法人の活動についての考えは？
インターンは日本の文化にもともとないものですが、インターンは日本でもっと普及すべきと考えています。実際、経団連が採用活動に関する取り決めを行い日本企業がそれに従がう習慣・仕組みが、インターン文化を著しく阻害しています。インターンが普及することで、実質的に日本の採用文化が変わることを期待しています。
5. 御社もこれかれインターン生を受け入れる予定がありますか。
インターンを受け入れたいと考えています。社員にも英語を話せる人が増えてきているので、そろそろ受け入れ可能かと思っています。近い将来そのようなことが実現することに今現在わくわくしているところです。
Michael Penn is the CEO of Shingetsu News Agency, a well known journalist, who also served as vice-president of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. He is always on the frontline, when it comes to the hot topics in politics etc. and creates content from the perspective of a scholar with a very knowledgeable background. His latest book is: “Japan and the War on Terror: Military Force and Political Pressure in the US-Japanese Alliance”
1. Mr. Penn, We approached you long before we had a website or a written concept and still you were willing to cooperate with us idealists. In November 2014, you also did us the great favor of being our guest speaker at our founding event. Your interns from us so far have been very pleased with the experiences they could make. Thank you very much. Please tell us a little about who you are, your mission, Shingetsu News Agency and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.
I am an American from Los Angeles. My academic background is in Middle Eastern Studies. I've lived in Japan for almost 19 years now. I'm not sure that I have just one mission, since life is complex, but as a journalist I believe what needs to be highlighted is a commitment to the principles of democracy. A true journalist should be searching for instances of unfairness or injustice and bringing them to public attention. The news media, in my view, has an innate responsibility to use its authority to combat abuses of power.
The Shingetsu News Agency, which I founded in December 2010, is just my modest platform for doing my work in journalism. It is my brand, so to speak.
Read more: Expert Interview: Internships @ Shingetsu News Agency (Michael Penn)
1. Ono-sama, who are you? What is your profession, what are you doing for a living?
I am a video game journalist. I worked as publisher and editor of a small video game magazine for 6 years right after university graduation. In 2000, I quit the job and became a freelancer. I am usually interviewing developers, review games and cover major events in the world like the E3 or the Tokyo Game Show. In addition to that, I became the head of the IGDA (International Game Developers Association) Japan in 2011. It was founded in 2002 and advanced to a nonprofit organization in 2012. It is a voluntary based organization and the mission is to contribute to the society via sharing knowledge and building a real community in the game industry. We are holding seminars every month etc.
私の仕事はテレビゲームのジャーナリストです。大学卒業後に小さな出版社に入社し、テレビゲーム専門誌の編集者を6年間勤めまして、2000年に独立してフリーランスになりました。ゲーム開発者にインタビューしたり、ゲームをレビューしたり、E3や東京ゲームショウといった世界中の主要なゲームイベントの取材などをしています。また、IGDA（国際ゲーム開発者協会）日本の代表を2011年から務めています。IGDA日本は2002年に設立され、2012年にNPO団体に認定されました。IGDA日本はボランティアベースで活動しており、ゲーム開発者間の情報共有とコミュニティ形成を通した社会貢献をミッションとしています。毎月さまざまなイベントやセミナーを行っています。
2. Have you ever been studying abroad or have you ever done an internship abroad?
No.
ありません
3. You are managing a Facebook group called Japanese game industry job hunting supporter's club and a website to support foreigners who are seeking internships or jobs in the Japanese Game Industry. Thank you very much for that! Why did you start this?
I knew many foreign students are burning with the passion to work in the Japanese game industry, since I met them at fairs and events in Japan as well as abroad. I also knew that many middle-sized and small studios want to hire foreign developers. I thought that we need to build up a community they can meet each other. It was the reason I started the community on Facebook and wiki. In addition, IGDA Japan offers a form of internship for the CEDEC and Tokyo Game Show. Every year, 18 students participate this program and about 50% is foreigners.
国内外のイベントやフェアを取材するうちに、多くの外国人学生が日本のゲーム業界で働きたいという情熱を抱いていることを知りました。同時に外国人を雇用したいと思っている中小のゲーム会社が多いことも知りました。そこで両者が出会えるコミュニティを作るべきだと思ったのです。これがFacebookのグループページとwikiを立ち上げた理由です。 また、IGDA日本は毎年CEDECと東京ゲームショウ向けに学生スカラーシップを募集しています。毎年18名の学生を選出しており、その半数は外国人学生です。
4. What is the JJSC doing? Could you introduce some other members?
JJSC is the group page I manage on Facebook. The purpose is to provide information for foreign students who want to work in the Japanese game industry. I like to share success stories and self-introductions there.
JJSCは自分がFacebookで管理運営しているグループページです。目的は日本のゲーム業界で働きたいと思っている学生に対して、情報を提供することです。今後は日本で働いている外国人の就職活動成功体験談や、学生の自己紹介なども充実させていきたいですね。
Read more: Expert Interview: Kenji Ono @ Japanese Game Industry
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