Reflections from Our Spring 2026 Interns
Updated: Sep 6
As our Spring 2026 internship season has come to an end. We asked Ella and Christian to share why they applied for the internship and to reflect on their time with the Chamber.
Here is what they had to say:
Ella Tolstrup Furat
When I applied for the DCCJ internship, I was looking for an opportunity to gain practical business experience in Japan while expanding my professional network. Coming from a background in Chinese and Japanese Studies and pursuing a Master of Management at Temple University Japan, I was particularly interested in understanding how international organizations operate and how business relationships are built across cultures. The DCCJ offered a unique opportunity to combine all of these interests while working closely with Danish companies and professionals in Japan.
From the beginning, we were given a high level of responsibility and trust. Rather than being assigned routine administrative tasks, I was involved in a wide variety of projects that gave me exposure to different aspects of chamber operations. One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship was the opportunity to contribute to events, as I supported a number of networking events, seminars, and business gatherings that brought together professionals from a wide range of industries, including the Annual General Meeting at the Danish Embassy, as well as a Board of Directors meeting at the Novo Nordisk Office.
One of the biggest highlights of my internship was being given the opportunity to plan and execute the Nordic Young Professionals Connect event. From coordinating with stakeholders and speakers to working closely with my university, Temple University Japan Campus, which generously supported the event venue, I was involved in every stage of the process. Seeing the event come together and bringing together young professionals from across the Nordic and international business communities was incredibly rewarding and gave me a newfound appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes of professional networking events.
Perhaps the most valuable takeaway from my experience that will continue to shape my career in Japan and beyond was the network I built throughout the internship. Through Chamber events, member interactions, and daily collaboration, I had the opportunity to connect with professionals from a variety of industries and backgrounds. These connections not only expanded my understanding of business in Japan but also helped me gain confidence in navigating an international professional environment.
Looking back, the DCCJ internship was one of the most impactful experiences of my time in Japan. It provided practical experience, meaningful responsibilities, and exposure to an international business network that would have been difficult to find elsewhere.
Christian Yuanzhe Wu
When I applied for the DCCJ internship, I was spending a year on exchange at the University of Tokyo and wanted to see the city from more than just a student's perspective. Having previously been an intern for Invest in Denmark at the Embassy of Denmark in Singapore, I was curious to see a different side of how Danish companies are supported abroad, this time through a member-driven chamber rather than a government trade office. The DCCJ felt like the perfect place to understand that difference firsthand while building a professional network in Tokyo.
One of the things I appreciated most was how flexible the internship was. The setup was hybrid, so while much of the work could be done remotely, we were also regularly in the office and out at events, which fit well alongside university life. Anna, our Executive Director, gave us a great deal of trust and responsibility from the start, while always being understanding when studies came first. That level of autonomy taught me a lot about managing my own work and taking ownership of projects.
Coming from a technical background, a lot of my work centered on the DCCJ website, where I improved the user experience, worked on SEO, and introduced features like email automations and new form functionality that our existing tools were not yet using. Alongside this, I contributed to design work and helped improve resources for future interns. It was rewarding to see more people finding the site, and even better to see the automations free up time the Chamber could spend elsewhere.
A clear highlight of the internship was preparing materials for and attending the quarterly Board of Directors meeting, which during our internship was held at the Novo Nordisk headquarters in Tokyo, one of our key members. Anna gave us the opportunity to present our progress directly to representatives from leading Danish companies in Japan. Presenting in that setting was a great lesson in how to communicate with executives. Having been so focused on the technical side of the website, my biggest takeaway was that senior leaders do not need to know exactly how a system was built, they just need to understand why it matters and how it helps the Chamber. Knowing when to explain the how and when to explain the why is a distinction I expect to keep using long after this internship.
Stepping away from the website, I enjoyed helping out at DCCJ events and getting to know professionals across the Nordic and Japanese business community, including interns from the cooperating Swedish and Norwegian chambers. I came in expecting these networking events to require formal introductions and a rehearsed pitch, but learned that building connections comes down to genuine curiosity, and that asking good questions gets you much further than having something impressive to say.
Looking back, the most rewarding part of this internship was simply saying yes to opportunities outside my normal tasks. Combined with the incredible experience of living in Tokyo, it made for a semester I would happily do all over again. The role adapts to whatever you bring to it, whether your strengths lean technical, creative, or toward events and outreach. I highly recommend the internship to anyone considering it, as it offers a rare mix of real responsibility, the chance to work on diverse projects, and a flexible setup that fits perfectly alongside university studies or a gap year in Japan.
Thank you both, Ella and Christian, for everything you brought to DCCJ this season. We are now looking forward to welcoming our Autumn 2026 interns. If this sounds like something for you, applications for 2027 are already open.
You can find more details about our internship opportunities on our career page by clicking below:
or reach us at info@dccj.org.
