Video

DVIDSVideoPlayer

Video by Daisuke Sato

Former Japanese college intern returns to Camp Zama as full-time

U.S. Army Garrison - Japan

Nov. 2, 2023 | 4:06

Narration:
Yuuto Konno, a medical translator assigned to U.S. Army Medical Activity – Japan, began working there after graduating this year from Waseda University, one of the top schools in Japan.

One of the driving reasons behind his decision to work for Camp Zama was the experiences he gained last year while participating in the installation’s Japanese college internship program, which U.S. Army Garrison Japan hosts annually every summer.

Interview: Yuuto Konno, Medical Translator, MEDDAC-Japan
I thought it was a very interesting environment with a mixture of American and Japanese cultures. I want to work in the U.S. in the future. And although I can understand English quite well, I know that things like the working environment and the day-to-day expectations are totally different in comparison to Japan. So I thought that working in a diverse environment and gaining a better understanding of it might help me in my future career.

Narration:
During the internship, Konno was mainly assigned to work in the G-5/9 section for U.S. Army Japan. His tasks included doing translation work, information gathering, and more. He also did work in different sections in the Garrison, requiring him to interact with U.S. Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and local-national employees, which he said was a memorable experience for him.

Interview: Yuuto Konno, Medical Translator, MEDDAC-Japan
The atmosphere on Camp Zama was a very unique experience for me. It was a combination of what I perceived as a more casual, American-style working environment and the more formal, structured Japanese-style working environment. I thought the two styles mixed very well, and the idea of working alongside others who have a different style was very interesting to me.

Narration:
Now several months into his job at MEDDAC-Japan, Konno described what he felt were the main differences between working as an intern and being a full-time employee.

Interview: Yuuto Konno, Medical Translator, MEDDAC-Japan
I think there is a big difference in the level of responsibility I have as a full-time employee compared to when I was an intern. For example, as a medical translator, if I accompany an American patient to a Japanese hospital and mistranslate their condition or ailment to the doctor, it will cause significant problems.

There is also a big difference between when I was an intern and working under my supervisor’s direct guidance and now as an employee, when I am trusted to work more independently.

My experiences working one on one with English-speaking patients definitely gives me the feeling of being part of an American working environment.

Narration:
The Garrison’s internship program began in 2013 as a way to give Japanese college students the chance to gain personal and professional development skills, and to familiarize them with the USAG Japan mission.

Interview: Yuuto Konno, Medical Translator, MEDDAC-Japan
Speaks in English to say how good a program is.

Reporting for U.S. Army Garrison Japan, this is XXXXXXXX.