Japan: Jocelyn York (Final Reflections)

Program: Great Dane Japan Brewing Internship, Summer

Looking back on my internship at the Great Dane, I am incredibly grateful for the hands-on professional growth, the many friendships I formed, and the cultural immersion I experienced every day. A fulfilling aspect of my role at the Great Dane was getting the opportunity to improve an item on the restaurant menu and create something new: an improved nacho cheese sauce and developing a non-alcoholic Yuzu Wheat Ice Cream made with the brewery’s craft beverage. Being given the opportunity and creative freedom to experiment, test recipes, and receive constructive feedback from the team was a rewarding process where I felt like I thrived. At the same time, working side by side with my colleagues gave me continuous, real-world opportunities to practice Japanese. Over time, these daily interactions transformed my hesitations into confidence and conversational fluency.

Among all of my experiences, my most vibrant and lasting memories come from traveling beyond Sendai and Akiu to represent the company and help with operations at various festivals across Japan. Road-trip excursions to different cities offered an incredible dual perspective: I gained insight into how the Great Dane executes marketing and customer engagement, while simultaneously getting to explore diverse corners of the country. Each event brought its own distinct energy and excitement. Assisting the Great Dane at a local soccer match proved to be very thrilling; seeing crowds of passionate fans decked out in their team’s colors as they packed into the stadium reminded me of the energetic game-day atmosphere back in Madison. While a beachside movie night festival offered a chance to dive into the ocean with my coworkers and enjoy the beach before the event started later that evening.

My most memorable experience was an excursion to Tokyo assisting at an American Festival. It was especially hot during this festival in Tokyo, so after a long day of serving customers and practicing/speaking Japanese, a few coworkers and I decided to visit a traditional Japanese bathhouse, or sento (せんとう) to cool off and recharge.  Afterward, we ventured out into the city to explore local restaurants together. I was fascinated by the incredible variety of food Tokyo had to offer. Dishes varied from traditional Japanese tempura at a local tempura shop to Japanese fusion cuisine with Italian pasta, pizza, and Mexican food. Sharing those meals and chatting over dinner made for an unforgettable bonding experience.

Outside of work, living in Sendai introduced me to a vibrant regional food culture that I will deeply miss. Sendai is famous for 2 signature specialties: zunda, a sweetened edamame paste, and gyutan, or grilled beef tongue. Zunda quickly became a personal obsession of mine, where I would often grab a zunda shake at the station on my walk home or look out for and try various treats and desserts that contained zunda, like cakes and cookies, and chocolate. While I was initially hesitant to try gyutan, it turned out to be incredibly savory and delicious. I found myself exploring local shops whenever I could, even discovering a hidden-gem bakery that served gyutan curry bread; a crispy, flavor-packed bun filled with rich, juicy curry that complemented the beef tongue perfectly.

As the internship comes to an end, I feel immense gratitude for the entire experience. I gained valuable work experience and made lots of connections through this experience. From the supportive and encouraging staff at the Great Dane to the unforgettable opportunity to engage in research & development for some items on the restaurant menu to the road trips around Japan, this internship has left an undeniable mark on my personal and professional life. I will deeply miss the city of Sendai, the team, and the daily adventure of exploring Japan.