Intern Chen from China’s “Tanoshii Sawagi” Journey!

(This blog was written in Japanese by Chen, an intern from China.Please read Chen’s heartfelt words to the end.)

Hello everyone, it’s been a while! I’m Chen, an intern. Three months have passed in the blink of an eye since I came to SUNNY SIDE UP from China. On this final day, I can’t help but feel a sense of sadness.

Since this was my first experience in both the industry and this type of work, I was excited at first, but also filled with anxiety. However, I wanted to understand what role the Japanese media plays and experience firsthand what kind of work Japanese PR companies do, so I gathered my courage and came to SUNNY SIDE UP. (You can read the close-up report blog here)

After joining the company, the first thing I encountered was Japan’s diverse media landscape. Without understanding the media, PR work cannot begin. I often heard that “Japanese media is unique,” but what is it really like? With these questions in mind, my days at SUNNY SIDE UP began. Television, newspapers, magazines, web, radio… Japanese mass media is diverse, each with its own characteristics. I believe that studying media in Japan is an opportunity to deepen my understanding of Japanese society and media culture, and also to reexamine my own country’s media situation from a different perspective. This becomes part of my experience and allows me to make many interesting discoveries.

When I arrive at the office in the morning, I start my day by picking up and reading the newspaper.

It may sound boring, but it’s actually quite interesting. Especially for a foreigner like me, as long as I’m living in Japan, gathering information is essential. By reading the newspaper, I can obtain information about what’s happening in Japanese society and what incidents are occurring around the world. I’m also curious about how news from my own country is being reported. And above all, for people working in media-related jobs, knowing the trends in society through newspapers is most important.

During my time as an intern at SUNNY SIDE UP, the most enjoyable thing was being taken to various event sites. At first, I was taken to a television interview site for a project my senior was in charge of. I love variety shows and watch them often, but this was my first experience at such close range. I made many new discoveries, such as how the content that aired on TV was filmed and how different the video looks before and after editing, while checking the broadcast later.

In addition, before a new landmark in Shibuya opened, a media preview was held. I went to help with that. With many media personnel in attendance, the atmosphere at the site was lively.
It was then that I truly experienced what “Tanoshii Sawagi” means. Bringing people together and making them happy is the appeal of media and the joy of PR work.

Having actually experienced PR work (although I was mostly learning alongside everyone), I felt that while there are various challenges, the creative aspect of constantly planning new types of events and creating new things with your own hands is the appeal of this industry. Also, people working in media-related jobs must constantly know what’s happening in the world and grasp trends, so they will never fall behind the times.

What I saw was only a small part of the PR industry, but I believe there is much more fun and hardship in this industry that I don’t yet know about.

And as the final conclusion of this internship, I worked on a certain assignment.

“What would be the method to bring ‘something’ from China to Japan and make it popular?”

It seems like a simple theme at first glance, but when you think carefully, Japan and China, both located in Asia, have very similar recent trends. The TikTok and tapioca trends have recently flowed from China to Japan, creating booms throughout Japan. Japanese fashion and anime have been part of Chinese people’s lives for a long time. What is popular in China but not yet in Japan? I pondered this for a while.

Finally, I selected my theme.
It was “flower tea”!

Not just because it’s my favorite, but I conceived the idea from the perspective that while it has already permeated the daily lives of Chinese people, it has low recognition in Japan. The cuteness of the flowers is also perfect for the Instagram-worthy trend that is currently popular throughout Japan.

After deciding on the theme, I spent a while repeating trial and error, unable to find direction on how to proceed. At that time, a senior colleague gave me advice: “Why don’t you look at past project proposals as a reference?” Furthermore, they created a weekly progress check schedule leading up to the presentation day. They taught me in detail what elements are necessary to create a promotional plan. In this way, I proceeded with the assignment little by little, learning from past proposals and keeping in mind what my seniors taught me.

Leading up to the actual presentation, I received advice from my seniors many times and repeated revisions. The day before the presentation, I rehearsed, feeling anxious.

“I’ve come this far, so I just have to do my best without regrets!” I encouraged myself with these words.

And finally, it was showtime!

With more people than I expected, I nervously explained the assignment background, including an introduction to flower tea, the images China and Japan have of flower tea, and issues in the Japanese Chinese tea market, following my PowerPoint materials, and proposed a promotional plan to make flower tea popular in the Japanese market.

After the presentation ended, the department head kindly asked, “Did you give it your all?”

When I answered “Yes,” I somehow felt relieved.

Then, I received feedback from my seniors, and they gave me many valuable opinions such as “It might be better to do it this way.” I’m still inexperienced, but I think it’s quite an opportunity to receive guidance from so many people, and I’m truly honored.

The appeal of SUNNY SIDE UP, in addition to its appeal as a PR industry company, has another important point: the company environment and atmosphere. The kind and cheerful president distributed SUNNY SIDE UP’s iconic fried egg bread to all members on Labor Thanksgiving Day (the balance of cheese, egg, and bacon was perfect and it was delicious!).

The president came during a break from a health checkup, so he was still in those clothes… (laughs)

There’s the department head who watches over the department from a slightly distant seat, and the department members who care for me like older sisters (of course there are male members too!). There are kind seniors who encouraged me when I was down, listened to my worries, and praised me even for small things. I’m sure it was because everyone was always by my side that I, despite being shy, was able to challenge myself without fear of embarrassment.

I belong to the Global Communication Department, where all members are fluent in foreign languages and conduct their daily work using both Japanese and foreign languages. I learn by watching everyone’s backs every day, and my desire to become a capable working professional as soon as possible continues to grow.

Now I can finally say to myself, “I’m glad I had the courage to come to this internship.”

It’s very difficult to say goodbye, but I believe that someday, somewhere, we will meet again.

Before that day comes, I will utilize the experience I gained from this internship and search for things that only I can do.

See you again!