Internship in Japan by ICC Consultants Inc.

What Internship in Japan by ICC Consultants Inc. does

Internship in Japan, operated by SEKAIA Inc. (formerly ICC Consultants Inc.), is a Tokyo-headquartered international internship placement service that connects students and young professionals from more than 45 countries with over 500 Japanese host companies. Its core portfolio comprises three in-person programs — the Prime Internship Program (4–24 weeks), the Work & Study Internship Program (24–52 weeks), and the Summer Explorer Program (2+ weeks) — supplemented by an Online/Remote Internship offering, Study Tours, and an IIJ Ambassador referral program. All programs bundle visa assistance, accommodation, cultural orientation, optional Japanese language classes, and 24/7 in-country support, with the Work & Study track also combining language study with part-time paid internships as a pathway to long-term employment in Japan.

The business is service-based rather than technology-based: there is no disclosed proprietary platform, and operations rely on human-led consulting, an international sales office footprint spanning Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, and a multilingual program team. The revenue model is per-program placement fees paid by individual applicants (with a free initial Zoom consultation preceding formal application), alongside partner arrangements with a government-accredited Japanese language school and travel-agency registration (ANTA) to deliver the bundled support services. Distribution is primarily through the company website, organic content marketing via the Japan Blog and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn), alumni webinars, and the ambassador referral program.

The company has accumulated an alumni base of approximately 6,000 graduates (with the homepage citing 1,000+), positioning it as a long-standing player in the Japan inbound-internship category. It holds Privacy Mark, J-CROSS membership, GoAbroad Verified, and GDPR/CCPA/APPI compliance credentials, and it claims 30+ years of combined operating history through its parent entity, which has been in operation since 1975.

Name

Internship in Japan by ICC Consultants Inc.

Legal name

SEKAIA Inc.

Website

https://japaninternships.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Internship in Japan, operated by Tokyo-based SEKAIA Inc. (formerly ICC Consultants Inc.), is an international internship placement service connecting students and young professionals from 45 countries with 500+ Japanese host companies across multi-week in-person, work-and-study, and remote program formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education and Internship Services

NAICS

Temporary Help Services (56132)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sector-Specific Internship Programs (e.g., STEM, Business, Health, Arts) (EDAIAFAI), Remote/Virtual International Internship Programs (EDAIAFAF), Internship Program Provider Housing (3rd-Party Placement Programs) (THAMAGAF)

Keywords

• International internship placement
• Japan internship programs
• Work and study abroad
• Cultural immersion programs
• Professional career placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo (Shibuya)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Internship Program Fees: The company charges program fees for placement services, professional training, accommodation assistance, insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency support, Japanese language classes (in select programs), cultural events, and networking activities. Individual programs feature unpaid internships; Work & Study programs feature paid internships. Payments are accepted via credit/debit card or international bank transfer. Refund policy applies: 50% refund if cancelled before arrival after accepting an internship offer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Internship in Japan places students and young professionals into customized internship roles at 500+ Japanese host companies, bundling placement services with visa assistance, accommodation arrangement, 24/7 emergency support, Japanese language classes (select programs), cultural programming, and alumni network access. Programs range from short summer experiences (2+ weeks) to long-term work-and-study tracks (24–52 weeks), with online/remote and study tour options supplementing the in-person offerings.

Product overview

Internship in Japan by ICC Consultants Inc. (now SEKAIA Inc.) operates as a multi-program platform offering international internship placement services in Japan. The core portfolio includes three main in-person programs: the Prime Internship Program (4-24 weeks) for custom placements with full support, the Work & Study Internship Program (24-52 weeks) combining Japanese language study with part-time work, and the Summer Explorer Program (2+ weeks) for short-term summer experiences. The company also offers Online/Remote Internship Programs for those unable to travel, Study Tours for cultural immersion, and an Ambassador Program providing discounted access and career networking. All programs are connected through shared support services including visa assistance, accommodation arrangement, cultural orientation, and access to an alumni network for ongoing career support in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Work & Study Internship Program A 24–52 week program combining Japanese language classes with part-time job or internship opportunities at Japanese companies, designed as an ideal pathway to kickstart a career in Japan for students and young professionals.
• Prime Internship Program A 4–24 week custom internship placement program with flexible dates, full support, accommodation, and cultural events, designed for university credits or short-term work experience at Japanese host companies.
• Summer Explorer Program A 2+ week summer internship program featuring custom internship placement, Japanese language classes, accommodation, and field trips, designed for university credits and/or summer work experience at a Japanese host company.
• Online / Remote Internship Program Remote internship program allowing participants to gain professional experience at Japanese companies from their home country, offering flexibility and international work experience without travel.
• Study Tours Group programs and cultural study tours in Japan for educational and experiential purposes, offering cultural immersion and structured learning experiences.
• IIJ Ambassador Program A representative program offering discounted program fees, exclusive event invitations, and lifetime access to a global career network for motivated professionals who promote the internship program.
• Job Hunting Services Post-internship career support including job hunting assistance, alumni network access, and networking events to help participants secure full-time employment in Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students and young professionals are roughly 40% more likely to receive at least 1 job offer after graduation with internship experience.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEKAIA Inc. (formerly ICC Consultants Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Internship in Japan program is operated as a branch of SEKAIA Inc. (formerly ICC Consultants Inc.). SEKAIA is the parent company providing corporate infrastructure, sales offices globally, and operational framework. SEKAIA has been in operation since 1975 and has offices across Japan, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia.
• 500+ Host Companies (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe program partners with over 500 Japanese companies across diverse industries (engineering, finance, marketing, IT, design, and more) that host international interns. These host companies provide internship project work, professional supervision, and in some cases paid compensation. The company coordinates placement, visa support, and cultural programming for these partnerships.
• All Nippon Travel Agents Association (ANTA) — Full MemberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternship in Japan holds Travel Agency Registration: The reach of Tokyo No.2-8694 and is a Full Member of the All Nippon Travel Agents Association (ANTA), enabling the company to provide travel and logistical services as part of its internship program offerings.
• J-CROSS (Japan Council of International Education)minorOthersThe company is a member of J-CROSS, a council of organizations committed to promoting international education and exchange in Japan. This membership provides credibility and network access within the international education industry.
• Partner Japanese Language School (Government Accredited)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA government-accredited Japanese language school partnered with the program for Work & Study and other programs requiring Japanese language instruction. The school is one of only two Japanese schools globally accredited by the International Association of Language Centers and has won the Study Travel Industry Award three times (2017-2019). Teachers are qualified through a 420-hour Japanese teacher training program or a degree in teaching Japanese as a foreign language.
• GoAbroadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoAbroad Verified badge awarded to the program after independent review, providing third-party credibility endorsement for the internship program quality and integrity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• GoOverseas / GoAbroad: GoAbroad is a discovery and review platform for international education and internship programs. Related as a distribution channel and credibility source (IIJ holds GoAbroad Verified status); comparable as an ecosystem participant connecting students to programs like IIJ's.

Direct peers

• Absolute Internship: Absolute Internship offers international internship placements in multiple countries with placement, housing, and visa support. Comparable in business model (placement-led, paid program fees) though with multi-country vs IIJ's Japan-focused portfolio.
• The Intern Group: The Intern Group provides international internship programs in destinations including Tokyo. Comparable service offering of placement + accommodation + cultural programming for international students seeking career-launching experiences abroad.
• CRCC Asia: CRCC Asia runs international internship programs in Asia (China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.) for global students. Directly comparable as a regional internship placement provider serving similar student demographics with placement, accommodation, and cultural support services.
• Aclipse: Aclipse offers international internship and cultural immersion programs in Japan and other Asian destinations for university students. Direct peer in the Japan-focused internship placement niche with similar student demographic and bundled service model.
• IE3 Global (formerly IE3 Global Internships): IE3 Global runs university-sponsored international internship programs across multiple countries. Comparable in placing students with international host organizations and supporting academic credit alignment, though primarily university-channel-led.

Emerging players

• Global Interns: Global Interns is an emerging placement-focused provider running international internships across multiple destinations including Asia. Comparable as a placement service for international students, though typically smaller scale and less mature host network than IIJ.

Broad incumbents

• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): JICA operates government-sponsored international cooperation and internship/volunteer programs with strong presence in Japan. Comparable in mobilizing foreign talent into Japan-based placements, though as a public-sector entity with different scale and funding model.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a major US-based nonprofit offering study abroad and international internship programs globally. It is comparable to Internship in Japan as both provide international internship placement with cultural and logistical support, though CIEE operates globally versus IIJ's Japan specialization.
• InterExchange: InterExchange is a US-based nonprofit offering work abroad, internship, and cultural exchange programs. Comparable in facilitating international internship placements with support services, though operates more broadly than IIJ's Japan focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@internship_in_japan?lang=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQ2nvbsbSbaSBYbW2uNFCcw
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternshipInJapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internship-in-japan-by-icc
• Instagraminstagram.com/internshipinjapan

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Internship in Japan by ICC Consultants Inc.