From Streets to Sentences: My Wonder Walk Experience
One of the first and most enduring assignments was participating in Wonder Walk, a storytelling project in which I was able to experience the unique atmosphere of Hiroshima through walking tours and reflective writing. I then wrote a blog entry on the experience, in which I noted how each street, corner, and conversation had something to say. It was my first real taste of connecting place, people, and emotion through writing and it gave me a sense of purpose in my role at Fan Day.
Discovering Caffé Latte
Along with the internship at Patisserie Maison, I also visited Café Late, a tiny yet stylish café that has a homely ambiance. I relished their delicious affogato pudding, raspberry smoothie, and rice flour cookies while I was there, all beautifully set out and tasty. Having some vegan and gluten free snacks, there was an option for everyone. I took gorgeous photos of the interior and food, wrote a descriptive report and review, and came up with an Instagram post to reflect the experience. It was an amazing experience bringing together blog writing, social media, and photography to help present the café to a greater number of individuals while developing my content creation skills.
Soko Café: Where Taste Meets Aesthetic
Researching, Learning, and Adapting Information
There was a tremendous area of growth for me in this internship in my research skills. I was researching like never before on purpose, with real-world application, and for different audiences. I conducted field research and work on halal and vegetarian restaurants, not only expanding my knowledge of food culture and dietary needs in Japan but also leading me to think about inclusivity in tourism.
I also studied content that was related to tourism, observing what information tourists would like and how to present it. That taught me how to tailor content to suit different audiences, tourists, locals, or readers of websites with different backgrounds. I learned how to research quickly, condense information, and make it clear and engaging to deliver. It’s something that will serve me well in any other job I seek out, especially in communications, content creation, or even policy examination.
Work That Was Passionate
During my time at Fan Day, I had the opportunity to take on a variety of roles, allowing me to explore different aspects of creative work and communication. I wasn’t limited to a single task, I handled professional emails in both English and Japanese, learning how to communicate with clarity and respect across languages and cultural contexts. I also wrote café reviews, combining written content with photography to capture the atmosphere of local spots in Hiroshima.
In addition to writing, I actively contributed to visual storytelling by taking photos for the company’s social media and internal records, covering everything from people and products to scenic locations. I created content for Arocogiano’s Instagram page, ensuring that the tone matched the brand and resonated with followers. One of my most significant contributions was at the Hit Awards, where I provided full event coverage and also acted as a translator, helping bridge communication between international visitors and Japanese staff. This wide range of experiences helped me grow not only as a content creator but also as a cultural connector.
To be responsible for this level of work, especially translation, was empowering. It helped me realize how vital it is to be bilingual or multilingual in the international workforce, and how I could use my skills to build bridges across cultures.
Culture of Care: The Fan Day Office Experience
What truly set this internship apart wasn’t the assignments I received, but the way I was treated. The Fan Day staff was extremely warm and welcoming. Despite language issues, they would always take the time to chat with me, engage me, and motivate me. I never felt like a stranger at all. Whether having lunch with them, joking, or learning about new things to do outside the workplace, I felt like family.
During my time at the internship, I fell ill, scaring me with the possibility that I was to disappoint the team or not fulfil my obligations. But instead of pressure, I experienced empathy. I was urged by my peers to take some leave and take care of myself first and foremost, and I was allowed to work my internship days longer so that I could recover well enough. This kind of empathy and understanding is one that I will never forget. It reminded me that a healthy work culture isn’t only about output, it’s about people first.
My Final Thoughts
My Fan Day internship was not only an internship, but it was also a deeply human experience. I was able to integrate my schooling with real work, apply my creativity in healthy ways, and be part of a team that heard me, saw me, and valued me.
To all the other international students considering pursuing internships in Japan: jump. It will challenge you, prod you, and maybe surprise you but it will also richly reward you in ways beyond your wildest imagination.
Fan Day gave me more than skills to complete a resume, it gave me stories, friends, and a new sense of purpose.
By Eze Ifeanyi Michael, International Student at Eikei University of Hiroshima