Voices of Jelper Club Members — Joe Kojima, University of Pennsylvania ’27

This time we spoke with Joe Kojima, a bicultural bio-engineering student who shuttled between the United States and Japan while growing up. Now a Yanai Tadashi Foundation Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, Joe is channeling U.S. start-up energy and biomedical know-how into ideas that could one day improve life for visually-impaired people in Japan. Dive into his story, his inspiration, and his early experience on Jelper Club.

Joe Kojima

――To begin, could you introduce yourself?

Joe: I’m Joe Kojima, a rising junior majoring in Bioengineering at Penn. I was born in the U.S. and spent my childhood moving back and forth between America and Japan, and I’m fortunate to be a Yanai Tadashi Foundation Scholar.

――Why did you choose the University of Pennsylvania? 

Joe: Penn lets me put business, engineering, and medicine on the same canvas. Wharton’s start-up ecosystem, top-tier engineering labs, and the Perelman School of Medicine are all within walking distance. I actually co-founded a tech venture during freshman year; one teammate is now running it full time with seed funding.

――What inspired you to pursue bio-engineering?

Joe: My grandmother lost her sight. Watching her navigate daily life pushed me toward biomedical solutions for the visually impaired, combining hardware and software to make a tangible impact.

――How has your international background shaped your career goals? 

Joe: If I’d grown up only in Japan, I probably wouldn’t have considered studying abroad. Experiencing U.S. start-up culture taught me to take calculated risks. I want to bring that bias for action back to Japan’s emerging tech scene—especially in med-tech.

――How did you first hear about Jelper Club?

Joe: Through a high-school friend (shout-out to Kaito!) and a chat with Mr. Mitsuzawa. They pointed me to a platform built for students like us who study overseas but feel a strong pull toward Japan.

――How has your experience on the platform been so far?

Joe: I’ve already applied to several internships and I’m waiting to hear back on one interview. Jelper broadened my view of the Japanese job market—especially tech start-ups I’d never have spotted on mainstream boards—and convinced me that starting a career in Japan is realistic.

――Any advice for other Jelper Club members? 

Joe: Keep looking! Opportunities come in waves, so persistence matters—especially if you’re chasing niche fields like biotech or hardware start-ups in Japan.

――Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Joe: Japan is positioning itself as a deep-tech hub. If you’re passionate about bio-engineering for social impact—or just curious—let’s connect on Jelper Club and trade ideas.

At Jelper Club, we’re committed to linking students and recent graduates around the world with opportunities in Japan’s dynamic job market. If you share Joe’s ambition to blend global experience with innovation back home, explore our platform today and see where your own cross-cultural journey can take you.