We are four students with backgrounds in Chemical, Computer & Electrical Engineering as well as Computer Science, and we’d love to share our unforgettable internship experience in Japan. Through a collaboration between Marui Group in Nakano, Tokyo and ETH Studios, we were given the opportunity to explore the intersection of culture, sustainability, and design innovation.

Our journey began on June 27th, 2025, when we arrived at the Marui headquarters, jet-lagged but excited for what was ahead.

27.06–28.06 (Carla):

Our first day at Marui HQ kicked off with warm welcomes and a wave of introductions. Ms. Ibun, our project leader fluent in Japanese and English, guided us through a tour of the building. We had the honor of meeting Mr. Aoi, CEO of Marui Group, who shared his inspiring vision: a platform to connect international visitors with “Hidden Japan,” beyond the well-known paths of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

On Day 2, we met Sybilla Patrizia, an Austrian filmmaker and the design director of the project. Her passion for local craftsmanship and storytelling brought our mission into focus. We explored how the SUKI platform could support sustainable tourism and empower regional artisans. The day concluded with a serene Zen ritual, tea ceremony, and a reflective conversation with a local priest about the tourist experience.

29.06–30.06 (Marlon):

We took the Shinkansen to Okayama and visited Kurashiki, a beautiful Edo-era town. Our goal: to interview tourists about why and how they discovered the town. Surprisingly, few foreign tourists were present, but the interviews gave us deep insights. We closed the day with dinner alongside our Marui friends.

The next day, we toured Marugo, a historic tabi shoe factory, guided by CEO Fujiki Shige-san. Watching artisans at work, and trying it ourselves, was unforgettable. We lunched with the staff and ended the day at Nishigawa Terrace, Fujiki-san’s sustainable restaurant complex. The food and heartfelt conversations reminded us how unmatched Japanese hospitality is.

01.07–02.07 (Gilles):

Day 5 was our free day. Marlon hit Nintendo World at 6 a.m., Gilles explored Kamakura, Carla wandered Kyoto, and Pierre returned to Tokyo. Day 6 was our first full-on workday: Carla and Pierre worked from HQ, Marlon and Gilles from a café. We aligned on our vision, outlined our pitches, and dove into development. The day ended with karaoke in Shinjuku that went from “just one hour” to “singing ‘til late”, the perfect team bonding moment.

 03.07–04.07 (Pierre):

Day 7 began with a creative brainstorm at Marui HQ. We shared key insights, refined our ideas, and practiced our final pitches. It was intense but energizing.

On the final day, we said goodbye to Gilles, who prerecorded his part. Presentation time came fast: the board, the SUKI team, and the CEO were in the room. No pressure! Carla and Pierre kicked it off, followed by Marlon’s pitch with virtual-Gilles via Facetime. The Q&A was rich, the feedback rewarding. We wrapped it all up with an apero and one last onsen + shabu-shabu night before heading back to Zurich.