Immersing in The Culture
By: Karis Han, CAS ’26
View from the company hiking trip.
GRIP: International Business in Tokyo
During my internship in Tokyo, I had the incredible opportunity to work at isana.net, a healthcare tech company. The journey began with an exciting first day, as the team’s warmth and hospitality immediately put me at ease. The CEO and my supervisor, the sole English speakers in the company, introduced themselves upon my entrance. They gave me a company laptop and guided me to my workstation, where the IT person helped me set up my workspace.
Right after we finished, there was a company-wide meeting, where all the employees gathered in a circle for announcements. In a mix of excitement and nervousness, I introduced myself in Japanese to everyone. Mondays held a unique tradition, dedicating 15 minutes for everyone to collectively clean up the office. Joining in, I worked with colleagues to clean surfaces and dust corners which was meant to foster a sense of unity.
My workday unfolded with a meeting with the engineering team and my supervisor. They informed me about their ongoing project and invited me to contribute. After the meeting, I started research about the project which they later asked me to submit. After researching for a little bit, a few coworkers invited me to go out to lunch. We walked to the restaurant and shared small talk over yummy food.
When I got back, I was introduced to the rookie team which was made up of six people in their mid-twenties, relatively new to the company and supposedly straight out of college. This group dedicated an hour each day to collaborate, converse, and share insights. Engaging with the rookie team was my favorite time of the day, as we were able to freely talk and get to know each other without the pressure of working.
After my first day of work, I walked everyday for my commute because I could go through the bustling streets of Tokyo. Lunchtimes were always engaging, with restaurant outings or bento boxes on the menu. We also had company wide weekly gatherings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for lunch, where we watched shows or listened to knowledge shared by colleagues, all while enjoying a meal.
I definitely loved my company culture because of its friendly and inclusive atmosphere. One weekend, I was invited to a hiking trip where we met up early Saturday morning to enjoy good views and good meals. Though I also did learn new coding languages and work on projects, the relationships with my coworkers truly stood out was definitely the highlight of my internship experience.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.