Four Japanologists Secure PASONA Summer Internships on Awaji Island

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies are proud to announce that four Japanologists from the University of Oxford — Yanglan Smith, Phoebe Thomas, Lily Macfarlane, and Theodore Nze— successfully navigated a highly competitive selection process to secure places on the PASONA Summer Internship Programme 2025 on Awaji Island, located in the Kansai region off Japan’s southwest mainland.

PASONA Group is deeply involved in regional revitalisation initiatives on the island, including talent attraction, development and operation of tourist facilities, agricultural support, and the establishment of BPO centres. Despite its proximity to major urban centres like Kobe and Osaka, Awaji Island remained a modest fishing community until recently and still lacks a train network. The island’s landscape features numerous small hills and mountains, offering opportunities to enjoy both the sea and hiking. PASONA Group relocated part of its operations from Tokyo to Awaji and has been instrumental in revitalising tourism and industry on the island. 

The four interns were placed in different departments, where they carried out a wide range of tasks in PASONA’s modern, open-plan offices. They also assisted at the company’s pavilion at the Osaka Expo, gaining valuable experience in a high-profile international setting.

According to PASONA Group Director and Managing Executive Officer, Mr. Mikiya Nambu and Mr Dietz, Head of Human Resources, the interns were selected primarily for their excellent Japanese language skills — a point of particular pride for the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Two of the interns had begun learning Japanese from scratch during their time at the University of Oxford, while the other two had studied the language since childhood.

The internships also provided insight into Japanese workplace etiquette. In Japan, eating or drinking in front of customers was traditionally considered taboo. During the intense heat at the Osaka Expo, the interns were expected to refrain from eating or drinking in public. At one of PASONA’s entertainment facilities on Awaji Island, Ningen no Mori, where staff worked in high temperatures throughout the day, a sign was posted asking for customers’ understanding.

The Japanese text read:
“The members of staff will also drink water to prevent heatstroke. Thank you very much for your understanding.”

This episode illustrated the challenges faced by organisations seeking to promote globalisation while continuing to accommodate established cultural expectations in order to protect their employees. Even for those deeply committed to Japanese language and culture, foreign workplace norms could be difficult to understand and follow.

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies continues to encourage all students to seize every opportunity to visit and stay in the country they are committed to studying, deepening their linguistic and cultural understanding through firsthand experience.