Host Organization: Japan Financial Agency

Internship Period: October 31 – December 14, 2016

I was privileged to be among those selected to participate in the internship program at the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan for the period October to December 2016. Being an intern at one of Japan’s most famous and well-respected institutions was a great opportunity I had never dreamt of.

At the FSA, there is a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere with a wide range of professional staff. I should mention that the internship program was extremely valuable and one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences I have known. It was great and interesting to see how the knowledge, different techniques and skills I have learnt in my graduate studies at GRIPS can be put to practical use in real life, and how they fit into research and development. Indeed, the internship program gave me valuable work experience whilst complementing my academic interests. Working together with a team of experienced, bright and like-minded people made the internship more interesting. In addition, the continuous and flexible interactions with top policy-makers and analysts at the FSA gave me a deeper insight into various global issues including financial inclusion and supervision, insurance, pensions management and issues related to aging societies.

During my time at FSA, I also had the opportunity to listen to many high profile professionals from the insurance field. I also gained a better understanding of Japan’s labor force, business etiquette and lifestyle, norms that are very crucial for a mid-career professional like me. Of importance, interns at FSA are trusted as valuable members of the team, and the staff members at FSA were extremely helpful and welcoming. The multi-cultural mix of interns and FSA Fellows from over 6 countries made the internship more exciting as we constantly shared our own country experiences while enhancing strong social networks. Of interest also was the practical field work at Nippon Insurance Company, one of Japan’s largest insurance companies, where we interacted with the top management of the company.

To crown it all, FSA organized a social gathering out of town where we had time off work to socialize and brainstorm on various global concerns including poverty, terrorism, international trade and climate change. I am very grateful to GRIPS and the FSA for this exclusive opportunity and firmly believe that the experience I have gained as an intern at FSA will continue to help me for years to come.