For Interns

M E T I G o v e r n m e n t o f J A PA N

Japan Internship Program

Application Guidelines

外国人受入インターンシップ
Japan Internship Program
May 2016

国際化促進インターンシップ事業
外国人受入インターンシップ事務局
＜Japan Internship Program Office＞
Table of Contents

1. Program Goals ……………………………… P.2

2. Overall View of Program ……………………………… P3

3. Application Overview ……………………………… P.4-P.5

4. Internship Process ……………………………… P.6-P8

５. Important Points to Confirm ……………………………… P.9

Definition of Terms

Internship Work experience related to future careers, implemented

practically through companies and organizations. Internships
offer work experience in management strategies (such as
overseas corporate expansion), as well as participation and
exchange of views in all kinds of meetings and seminars in order
to build cooperative relationships and networks of related
companies and organizations, promote understanding of
commercial practices between the two countries, and make
presentations for promoting internationalization of Japanese
companies, etc.
Placements that aim at only acquisition of knowledge through
lectures or classroom exercises, placements that are
indistinguishable from basic labor due to repetition of simple
tasks, and placements where relationships of subordination
between intern and host company are confirmed to exist are not
considered to be internships.
Host company Companies in Japan that wish to accept foreign interns, and that
have been approved by Screening Committee following
matching of interns.

Intern Young foreign nationals of developing countries (OECD/DAC-

listed countries) who have been approved by the Screening
Committee through document review, interviews, and matching
with host company.

Screening Committee A committee commissioned by the Japan Internship Program

Office, composed of external academic and industry experts,
which in consultation with the Program Office approves the
selection criteria for both host companies and interns, as well as
the results of the selection process, and also approves any
termination of internships etc.

1 METI commisioned project Japan Internship Program [Interns]

 １．Program Goals

What is the Japan Internship Program?

As Japanese companies take on young foreign talent from abroad for internships, Japan achieves
greater internationalization for its people and organizations through knowledge building aimed at new
developments and expansion of overseas business for Japanese companies, and by changing
awareness through working with foreigners and experiencing cross-cultural communication, as well as
constructing networks and developing in-house systems in conjunction with overseas universities
aimed at securing foreign talent.

In doing so, we hope to achieve the following results.

Knowledge building aimed at new developments and expansion of overseas business

Changing awareness through working with foreigners and experiencing cross-cultural

communication

Constructing networks and developing in-house systems in conjunction with overseas

universities aimed at securing foreign talent

Why not take up an internship and find a new career in Japan?

Your chance to find a new career in Japan!
By doing internships in Japan, young people from emerging countries can study overseas business
strategies at Japanese company headquarters and acquire the skills and expertise of Japanese
companies, becoming trained as global leaders capable of working in Japan, in their home countries,
and in the wider world in future.

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 ２．Overall View of Program

METI Government of JAPAN

Commissioned

Japan Internship Program Office

 Application/selection for host companies & interns  Running session for presentation of results
 Support for procedures for travel to Japan  Raising awareness of program results
 Preliminary training  Receiving reports
 Progress management of internship  Settling expenses

• Selection/matching • Matching • Host company

• Application • Notification of registration
• Notification of selection results
• Travel to selection as host • Submission of internship
• Travel procedures
Japan/Acceptance plan
• Participation in • Participation in
preliminary training • Implementation of internship
preliminary training
• Presentation of results • Accommodation/living support
• Presentation of results

• Participation in internship

Young foreign nationals

Japanese companies

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 ３．Application Overview

I. Foreign interns
Item Details
Eligibility Young foreign nationals of developing countries (OECD/DAC-listed countries)
Recruitment 100 interns (around 30 will be international students already in Japan)
numbers
Application From mid-May to June 30, 2016
period
Intern Private-sector companies, industry associations, and non-profit corporations in Japan. Host
destination companies are determined after matching by the Program Office and subsequent approval
by the Screening Committee.
Internship International students in Japan: 20th September to 21st November
period Overseas foreign nationals: 27th September to 21st December or
(To be 14th October to 28th December
arranged) *Dates for travel to and from Japan will be determined in advance by the Program Office.
Application Applicants satisfying all the following requirements are eligible.
requirements • Holding citizenship of an eligible country or region.
• Able to undertake both the internship and preliminary training full-time at the host
company. (International students must also able to balance these against their studies)
• Agreeing with the spirit of this program, and through the internship promoting
internationalization of Japanese companies, developing the overseas business of
Japanese companies, and working together to construct networks with overseas
universities etc.
• Proficiency in Japanese language (JLPT level N3 or higher) or proficiency in English.
• As a rule, applicants should be at least 20 years of age and no older than 40.
• Applicants must able to submit a school or university enrolment or graduation certificate
as well as a letter of recommendation from an affiliated university or institution etc.
• Other requirements meeting any individual conditions stipulated by the host company.
Application & • Fill in the application form from the program office, and apply.
selection • Selection is conducted through document screening, primary interview (native
method language/English/Japanese), and secondary interview (Japanese/English).
• After interviews are complete, various certificates (university qualifications, language
skills, etc.), letters of recommendation, photographs, documents required for the visa,
etc. are to be submitted individually.
Main support • Accommodation support: 3,500 yen/day
for interns • Round-trip economy class air ticket, travel insurance (international students already in
Japan not eligible)
• Internship insurance
• Preliminary training courses
Main • Formulation of an internship plan, developed through consultation with the host
responsibilities company around the start of the internship
of interns • Participating in preliminary training and follow-up training for interns
• Undertaking the internship full-time during the internship period
• Undertaking management of their own safety and health as thoroughly as possible,
including gathering emergency information for Japan, as well as communication,
reporting, and consultation with the Program Office and the host company
• Participating in follow-up training and presentation of results
• Submitting a variety of documents, notifications, reports, evaluation reports, etc. before
coming to Japan, as well as during and after the internship period
• Behavior demonstrating awareness as a beneficiary of public funds received from the
Japanese government

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３．Application Overview

II．Japanese host companies

項 目 内 容

Eligibility Headquartered in Japan

Private companies, industry associations, non-profit corporations, etc.
Number of host Maximum 100 companies
companies
sought
Numbers hosted As a rule, up to 2 interns hosted per company
Application From early June to July 6, 2016
period
Eligible interns Young foreign nationals of developing countries (OECD/DAC-listed countries)
100 interns (around 30 will be international students already in Japan)
Hosting period International students in Japan: 20th September to 21st November
(To be arranged) Overseas foreign nationals: 27th September to 21st December or
14th October to 28th December

Mandatory Companies satisfying all the following requirements are eligible.

requirements for •Agreeing with the spirit of this program, promoting the hiring of foreign nationals by
host companies taking on internships, having interest in expanding and developing new overseas
business, and being able to work in harmony with interns for this specific mission.
•Headquartered in Japan. Private companies, industry associations, non-profit
corporations, etc.
•Able to provide practical work experience relating to the host company’s business
•Having a functional management and intake system in place as a host company
•Able to cooperate in supporting the intern in the workplace through the internship
environment, assistance with accommodation, etc.
Application & • Registration is accepted online via the company registration form on the Program
selection method Office website. Host company and interns will be determined through the approval by
the Screening Committee after matching with intern applicants at the Program Office.
• The Program Office and Pasona Group overseas subsidiaries will conduct matching
of internship applicants after recruitment and selection.
Main support for • HR training expense support: 2,000 yen/day
host companies • Preliminary training courses
Main • Determining the overview and policies of business tasks undertaken in the internship
responsibilities of • Building systems for implementation of internships and emergency response, and
host companies assigning a responsible supervisor as well as personnel providing work guidance
and support for living arrangements.
• Developing an internship plan (roles and goals etc. of interns and host personnel)
• Participating in preliminary training and follow-up training for companies.
• Offering orientation for interns at the start of the internship (workplace rules,
emergency responses, etc.)
• Arranging a workplace environment for interns, including PC and Internet connection
for interns, as well as desk, chair, office supplies, etc.
• Supporting the living arrangements of interns, such as accommodation arrangements
and work commuting arrangements.
• Managing progress of the internship, providing guidance to interns, and conducting
regular reporting, communication, and consultation with the Program Office.
• Supporting interns in times of poor physical health, escorting to hospital, etc.
• Submitting reports, etc. following completion of internship.

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４．Internship Process [Interns]

Ｉ．Recruitment & Matching

 Intern recruitment will be performed both overseas and in Japan,
targeting graduates from developing countries (OECD/DAC-listed
countries).
1.
Recruitment/  Intern recruitment information sessions will be held in 19 cities in 7
information countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, China, and
Japan). Please note that even non-participants in information sessions
sessions can apply for internships.

 Information sessions to recruit host companies will be held in Tokyo,

Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Sapporo.

 Download the application form from the Program Office and enter the
necessary information to apply. Based on the application content, aptitude
and experience/ability as an intern, understanding of the program intent,
2. and any hopes and conditions in regard to the host company will be
Application/ confirmed.
selection
 Selection is conducted through document screening, primary interview
(native language/English/Japanese), and secondary interview
(Japanese/English).

 After interviews are complete, various certificates (university qualifications,

language skills, etc.), letters of recommendation, photographs, documents
required for the visa, Medical Questionnaire etc. are to be submitted
individually.
3. Matching
 Based on registration information such as experience/ability of intern
applicants, and hopes and conditions for acceptance of interns as well as
implementation systems at host companies, the Program Office will
perform selection and matching, prioritizing combinations that are
expected to satisfy the intent of this program.

 The Program Office will notify host companies and intern applicants of the
4. Notification of
results of matching. After mutual agreement is reached, matching is
Screening successful.
Committee results  Suitability of acceptance for matched interns will be verified by the
Screening Committee, and if approved, both host company and intern
will be notified of selection results.

5. Finalization of  With respect to intern acceptance and internships, a contract among the
contract Program Office, host company, and interns will be finalized, which will
define the rules and obligations of intern acceptance.

 The host company contacts the intern, and after consulting and
coordinating regarding the mission, content, and schedule etc. of the
internship, the host company reports online to the Program Office about
the internship plan.
6. Submission of
internship plan  The Program Office confirms that the content and achievable results of
the internship plan adequately reflect the intent of the program, and that
the mission and commitment of the host company’s intern officers are
very clear, and that acceptance of interns is recognized as an important
matter.

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４．Internship Process [Interns]

II．Determining Acceptance & Procedures

 Formulation of an internship plan is an important process in objectively

understanding whether the company’s acceptance of interns is
consistent with the objectives and goals of the program, and whether
the internship will be fulfilling for both host company and interns.

１. Approval of  If either host company or intern is found to significantly lack suitability

internship plan as a host company or intern of this project (for example, failing to
recognize the importance of consultation and coordination or failing to
formulate an internship plan), or if the mission, content, or goal of the
internship plan is not consistent with the spirit of this program, such
that its suitability is not recognized, upon obtaining approval from the
Screening Committee acceptance of the intern will be discontinued.

 After the internship plan is approved by the Program Office, notification

of the acceptance decision will be sent both to the intern and the host
２. Notification of company. Based on this notification, the host company will start
acceptance results preparing to accept the intern, and interns will start preparing for travel to
Japan and participating in the internship.

 The following arrangements* for travel and acceptance of interns will be

handled by the Program Office.

1. Arrangements for round-trip ticket (economy class) to Japan

2. Acquiring visa

3. Travel insurance for travel to Japan (social welfare insurance does not apply)
Details of insurance:
Fatal injury 5 million yen, Permanent disability injury 5 million yen
３. Procedures Disability/illness treatment expenses 6 million yen, Rescue expenses 6 million yen
Fatal illness 5 million yen, Liability for compensation 10 million yen

4. Internship insurance
*International students in Japan are not eligible for items 1–3 above.

 The host company will offer support for the living arrangements of interns
(such as accommodation arrangements and work commuting
arrangements), as well as arranging a workplace environment for interns,
including PC and Internet connection for interns, as well as desk, chair,
office supplies, etc.

 Acceptance of interns is divided among the following three groups and

４. Intern periods. Groups and acceptance periods are expected to be determined
hosting & travel together with the acceptance decision.
to Japan
A. International students in Japan: 20th September to 21st November
B. Overseas foreign nationals: 27th September to 21st December
C. Overseas foreign nationals: 14th October to 28th December

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４．Internship Process [Interns]

III．Running Internships

 The Program Office will conduct preliminary training for interns* in

suburban Tokyo. Training will be conducted mainly in Japanese.

When Implemented Details Targets

1 month prior • As a preliminary issue, submission of research and Interns

presentation materials concerning university of
graduation

Days 1–3 of • Creation of innovation

１. Preliminary preliminary training • Implementing PDCA
• Cross-cultural (Japanese) communication, etc.
training
Days 4–5 of • Team building Host
preliminary training • Cross-cultural debate company
• Presentations intern
• Discussion and review of planning for internship officers &
mission interns
(together)

*Preliminary training for host companies will be conducted over three days in
a separate course.
 Internship time spent daily by each intern is to be determined individually
through consultation between three parties—intern, host company, and
Program Office—within the normal range of working days and working
hours of the host company.

 Immediately after the internship starts, the host company will conduct an
orientation for the intern at the workplace. Internships should start from a
solid understanding of this explanation of workplace rules and
precautions, in order to ensure smooth implementation of the internship.
２．Internship  Host companies and interns will create daily and monthly reports and
submit these to the Program Office. Based on the content of reports,
the Program Office may visit host companies as needed to gauge
progress and understand the situation.

 If an intern relocates his or her accommodation, the Program Office

must be notified in advance so that the intern’s residential location is
always known.

 During the internship period, follow-up training sessions will be

conducted for interns and host company intern officers in each region
as necessary. These are opportunities to share challenges and success
stories about hosting interns, teach each other ways to overcome
cross-cultural conflict, and exchange views with other interns and host
companies.

３．Presentation of  After completion of internships, presentation sessions for results will

results be held. Interns and host company intern officers will deliver joint
presentations regarding results and achievement of the program’s
mission at each host company.

 Various reports, evaluation reports, payment settlement documents,

４．Return to home etc. are submitted to the Program Office by host companies and
country / completion interns, and the Program Office makes arrangements for the intern’s
return home. The Program Office also pays human resource
development support costs to the host company.

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５．Important Points to Confirm

With regard to application signup, please confirm and agree with the following important
points before signing your application.

1. Even after applying for registration, matching with a company will not necessarily be
successful.

2. Absolutely no inquiries will be answered in regard to the selection, interview, or matching

process, including results of examination by the Screening Committee, the selection
process, or selection results.

3. Even if an applicant been registered as an intern after successful matching and approval by
the Screening Committee, if the applicant is found to significantly lack suitability as an intern
under this program (for example, failing to recognize the importance of consultation and
coordination with the host company or failing to cooperate in formulating an internship plan),
or if the mission, contents, goals, etc. outlined in the internship plan are not consistent with
the spirit of this program, the applicant’s acceptance as an intern is likely to be canceled.

4. Even if an applicant been registered as an intern after successful matching and approval by
the Screening Committee, if the applicant is unable to acquire the necessary visa and
permissions from the relevant ministries and agencies, the applicant’s acceptance as an
intern is likely to be canceled.

5. Uncertainties in regard to the visa may cause applicants to be unable to finish the desired
internship period in full.

6. Termination of internship partway through; If any of the following cases is applicable, the
Program Office may decide to terminate the internship immediately without any advance
notification.
I. If the host company is forced to downscale its business, or in similar unavoidable
circumstances.
II. If the intern is judged incapable of continuing the internship in future due to mental or
physical circumstances.
III. If the intern’s attitude is remarkably poor, with no prospect of improvement.
IV. If the intern has caused harm or damage to the host company or the Program Office,
either by intent or through negligence.
V. If the intern fails to follow the guidance of the Program Office, or fails to comply with the
precautions required for this program.
VI. If another reason equivalent to any of the foregoing circumstances is found to exist.

7. Since the internship is supported at public expense, the program’s results achieved through
hosting of interns will be made public via official websites and similar media. For the 2016
fiscal year, an overview of each intern's name, country of origin, and details of internship at
the host company will be disclosed, as well as information from interviews.

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【事務局】

PASONA Inc,.
国際化促進インターンシップ事業
外国人受入インターンシップ事務局
＜Japan Internship Program Office＞
住所： 〒100-8228 東京都千代田区大手町2-6-4
電話： 03-6252-5290
Web： http://internshipprogram.jp