You might be wondering why I chose Japan. Well, I guess I just wanted to experience something new, somewhere very very very far from Finland. I wanted to experience everyday life in a completely different environment: what it is like to live and work in Japan, not just visit as a tourist. Plus, the work experience would look like really good on my resume.
I have been doing my internship here in Japan for about five weeks now, and I can tell you that the Japanese work ethic is definitely different from the Finnish one. Japanese people are highly committed and dedicated to their work - it often feels like they live to work. The average Finn, on the other hand, tends to live waiting for their next day off or even retirement.
I am doing my internship at a Finnish-themed cafe in Tokyo - actually, two of them. The company owns two cafes located close each other. They sell Finnish foods and products, for example salmiakki boxes, Marimekko mugs, and makaroonilaatikko (macaroni casserole). The cafe also serves a few Japanese-style dishes alongside the Finnish ones.
Most of the customers are Japanese, or sometimes English-speaking foreigners. During my internship, three Finnish customers have also visited, because they read about us in Ilta-Lehti. A photo crew from the Finnish Ilta-lehti newspaper was in Tokyo in September to cover the World Championships, and happened to drop by the cafe at my workplace. Their visit eventually became a news story. Apart from regular cafe work, I have been able to help with workshops - and that has been really great experience! The workshops are usually about making Finnish dishes or sometimes sewing with Marimekko fabrics. The customers are very friendly and genuinely interested in the topic.
Now I understand why the internet always praises how kind Japanese people are. Part of my work experience has been learning about formality and good manners - for example, bowing. That might actually be my favorite thing about this internship - it's such a simple but beautiful way to show appreciation. After each workday, the staff usually bow to each other to thank for the day - it is like a semi-deep bow. Bowing is a common and natural thing to do in Japan to show respect.
Formality, respect, and hierarchy play a very important role. Older or more experienced colleagues are respected, and instructions are followed carefully. It has been an amazing and interesting experience to get to know Japanese work culture firsthand.
I have been gradually learning Japanese, and I get to practice in various situations during my workdays. My colleagues have been very friendly and helpful, even though not all of them speak English. I have really enjoyed my time here. I have noticed that Finnish and Japanese are a bit similar in some ways. When I think about it more closely, both languages are rhythmic, have similar syllable structures, and don't use articles like "the" or "a". The similarities between the two languages surprised me.
Overall, these weeks have taught me not only about work but also about people, culture, and communication - in ways I never expected.
❤ Here are some photos from my internship:
