Team Interview
Overseas intern - Ari
Please tell us your name, the responsibilities you had while at TOKI, and the nature of your work.
My name is Ari. I was an intern in the marketing department. I was responsible for editing, and writing new articles to improve the SEO rankings of the website. I was also a part of the website rebranding process. In addition to this, I added content to the company's SaaS platform (Travesens) and helped in English translations.
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Why did you choose to apply to TOKI?
TOKI's work culture and background were very relatable and inspiring to me. TOKI being an international company, being guided by its unique standing in the luxury sector and vision for a more AI-driven and technologically advanced tourism sector for Japan, motivated me to understand more about the sector as well. The opportunity to understand and learn more about the Japanese culture while trying to correctly portray the appeal of Japanese culture to the Western side of the world, challenged me and helped me learn a lot of new skills and points of view as well.
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Did you experience any cultural differences when you came to Japan?
There were a lot of differences in the lifestyles like communication style, confrontational etiquette and social norms but it was very fascinating to learn about them.
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What did you accomplish during your internship?
I was fortunate enough to work and be a part of various ongoing projects in TOKI and in addition to the things I learnt, I was also able to improve the SEO rankings for various articles. I helped TOKI with English translations for various sections and helped them in adding content to Travesens. I was working on optimizing the TOKI website and learning more about the brand vision and values.
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What are your impressions of the TOKI staff?
TOKI is a great mix of international and Japanese personalities. Everyone was kind, and understanding and actively tried to make international interns feel more comfortable in the new environment. The open nature of the TOKI staff was an amazing opportunity for interns/ employees who want to learn more about the company's working style, culture and business in Japan.
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TOKI is a great mix of international and Japanese personalities.
Did you find that your background was useful at TOKI?
I have lived in multiple countries in my life, and the habit of culturally immersing myself in the host country and trying to learn the local language and etiquette was really useful during this time. My experience in working in various start-up culture companies helped me be more understanding of the working style in TOKI. I was able to use my experience as a foreigner to help understand how the target audience might perceive the company.
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What is your most memorable experience from your internship?
The respect and patience of the TOKI staff in an everyday working environment were very memorable for me. One instance that made a significant impact on the whole experience was the tea ceremony. I was invited by TOKI to be a part of the tea ceremony and it had always been something that I had wanted to experience. The whole process was very calming and something that I had never experienced before. The whole staff's patience and efforts to help me understand the reason and history of the experience was very memorable for me, and something that I will always appreciate.
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Was there anything you learned at the TOKI internship that you feel you couldn't have learned elsewhere?
The company's strong belief in educating the entire travel sector in Japan about the advancements in AI and its convenience was very refreshing. TOKI actively investing its time and money in helping the whole sector advance is something that not a lot of companies do. Also, TOKI's nature to support and nurture curiosity to understand the company workings/ business goals and aims was very motivating as well.
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What is your source of inspiration? Do you have any daily routines, habits, or hobbies that help you come up with new ideas and stimuli?
My source of inspiration is usually hanging out in nature/meditating or just being with people that I can learn something from. I also like to work out in the gym or just go for a walk every day to be fresh and recharged. During my time in Japan, I tried to walk to new cafes/places whenever I had time and get a good cup of coffee.
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Finally, please share a message for those considering working at TOKI!
TOKI's international working style and attitude to learning and sharing knowledge is something that will help the career advancement of everyone who becomes a part of the company. It is an amazing place to learn about the rich cultural history of Japan while also being able to experience the exclusive and luxurious side of Japan.
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