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Introduction: A Cross-Cultural Leap into Tech and Trade
In a meaningful move that signals deeper educational and economic collaboration, Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan has welcomed its first-ever Indian student intern through its long-standing âShizuoka Business Internship Program.â This internship initiative, which has existed since 1991, is now reaching into Indiaâa country with rapidly growing technological expertise and a key trading partner for Japan. The arrival of an Indian intern marks not only a new geographic milestone for the program but also a significant cultural bridge between Shizuoka and Gujarat, India.
the Original
On July 4, Shizuoka Prefecture officially began hosting Indian students as part of the Shizuoka Business Internship Program, an initiative that introduces foreign university students to regional Japanese companies for practical, on-the-ground experience. This year marks a notable firstâthe inclusion of a student from India.
The featured participant is Hedvi Gadusiya, a 19-year-old information technology major from Gujarat University. She will be interning for about six weeks at Suzuki, a major automobile manufacturer, where she will delve into market analysis of India and explore the export logistics of Indian-made vehicles. This opportunity emerged after Shizuoka and Gujarat signed a friendship agreement in December 2024, aiming to deepen ties and attract talent.
During a courtesy visit to Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki, Gadusiya expressed her excitement about learning new technologies and her long-term aspiration to work in the field of artificial intelligence.
The program itself has existed since 1991 and has welcomed 135 students from eight different countries, including the United States and Germany. In this round, alongside Gadusiya, two students from Taiwanâs National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Ho Cheng-Yu (21) and Hsiao Tzu-Chi (19), are also participating.
What Undercode Say:
Shizuoka’s decision to welcome Indian students under its business internship program represents more than just a minor tweak in foreign student outreachâit’s a strategic alignment with global technological and demographic shifts.
India, with its young, tech-savvy population, is becoming a powerhouse in areas like software development, data analytics, and AI innovation. For a Japanese region like Shizuoka, which is deeply rooted in manufacturing and traditional export industries, this new relationship could introduce fresh talent pipelines and cross-sector collaboration.
The choice of Suzuki as the internship host is not coincidental. Suzuki has deep roots in India through its Maruti Suzuki venture, which controls a major share of the Indian automotive market. Having an intern like Gadusiya, who understands Indian consumer behavior and tech culture, creates a two-way learning street. She gets practical industry exposure, while Suzuki gains nuanced insight into one of its largest international markets.
Moreover, this signals Japanâs subtle but growing pivot toward globalizing its workforce, especially as it grapples with labor shortages and an aging population. Welcoming foreign interns from a country like India, which is set to become the worldâs most populous and youngest nation, could help future-proof Japanese industries.
The inclusion of students from Taiwan is also worth noting. Taiwan-Japan relations have been warm for decades, and tech exchange is a frequent theme. Including both Taiwanese and Indian students in the same cohort fosters a multi-national dialogue in regional Japanese settings, which is crucial for preparing local businesses for the global economy.
Shizuoka’s efforts could serve as a blueprint for other prefectures in Japan. By not limiting its international engagement to just Western nations or traditional partners, it broadens its economic and cultural horizons. If this initiative succeeds, we might soon see an uptick in collaborative programs with universities in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other growing economies in South and Southeast Asia.
On a broader scale, such internships offer soft power dividends. They build grassroots-level goodwill between countries, far from the formalities of high-level diplomacy. Students return home as informal ambassadors of Japanese culture, language, and work ethic.
Japanâs tech and manufacturing sectors are hungry for talentâand international internships may be one of the most sustainable and mutually beneficial ways to bridge this gap. If Japan continues to welcome young international minds, it could slowly but effectively diversify its workforce, promote innovation, and cultivate future cross-border leaders.
đ Fact Checker Results
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Shizuoka signed a friendship agreement with Gujarat in December 2024, verified by official prefectural sources.
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Suzuki has long-standing operations in India via Maruti Suzuki, with deep economic integration.
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The Shizuoka Business Internship Program began in 1991 and has hosted over 130 students globally.
đ Prediction
Expect more Japanese prefectures to establish formal partnerships with Indian states or universities in the coming years, especially in sectors like AI, biotechnology, and digital infrastructure. By 2026, India may become one of the top three source countries for interns in regional Japan programsâespecially as Japan aims to diversify its workforce beyond traditional sources like China and Southeast Asia. This initiative by Shizuoka may catalyze a trend of micro-diplomacy, where local governments drive national-level talent strategy.
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