Voices of Jelper Club Members — Kako Hayashi, Bocconi University '26

This time, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kako, a globe-trotting student who spent her early years in the Philippines, completed high school (Hiroo-Gakuen) in Japan, and now pursues a degree in Data Science at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Alongside her studies, Kako also engages in a remote internship with the Japanese tech company unerry, balancing academic rigor with real-world experience. In this interview, Kako opens up about her cross-cultural background, her passion for consulting and finance, and the ways Jelper Club has supported her journey toward a career bridging Japan and the broader international stage.

――To begin, could you please introduce yourself?

Kako: Hello, my name is Kako Hayashi. I was born in the Philippines and lived there until the end of middle school. After that, I returned to Japan and transferred to Hiroo Gakuen, a combined junior and senior high school, where I studied in the international course. We followed the American AP curriculum there, which made me consider attending university abroad. I was also interested in science, which led me to want to major in Data Science.

After graduating from high school, I briefly studied at Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies but left during the half-term period. Currently, I’m studying Data Science at Bocconi University in Italy. While at university, I’ve been active in a student group focused on Data Science and have also been doing a remote, long-term internship with a Japanese company called “unerry”. Thanks to these experiences, I’ve been able to balance academics and practical work, which has made for a very fulfilling daily life.

――You had many options for studying overseas. What made you choose Bocconi University?

Kako: One big factor when deciding on a place to study abroad was that European universities often have three-year bachelor’s programs. This allowed me to reduce the financial burden by one year, and since I could study specialized subjects through required courses from the very first year, Europe felt like the right fit for me.

Among them, Bocconi University has a high reputation as a business school and strong ties to the finance and consulting industries. Even in high school, I was already interested in the possibility of working on the overseas expansion of Japanese companies or joining the finance or consulting fields.  When I looked ahead to future job opportunities and worked backward, Bocconi seemed extremely appealing. Additionally, Milan is a very livable city, and you can strike a good balance between studying and having a personal life.

――Now that you’ve actually enrolled at Bocconi, what are your impressions and experiences so far?

Kako: Bocconi is an environment where you’re expected to be independent. The support provided by the university is minimal, so you often have to figure things out yourself. Classes generally involve listening to lectures, and your final grade depends on the end-of-term exam. Some people attend lectures consistently and work steadily throughout the term, while others, like me, juggle internships and study when they can. It’s a system where you have a lot of freedom in how you use your time, and it’s easier to balance different commitments.

On the other hand, the high degree of freedom can be challenging for people who find it hard to set their own pace. Personally, I start my day with my internship in the morning, then study in the afternoon or evening, and that routine works really well for me.

――Why were you interested in consulting and finance from as early as high school?

Kako: My father worked overseas, so I was drawn to jobs connecting Japan and other countries. I wanted to be involved in projects where Japanese companies expand internationally or collaborate with companies abroad. Consulting firms and financial institutions often handle these kinds of global projects, which was what initially caught my attention. I was also generally interested in business, so naturally I gravitated toward consulting or finance.

――Moving on to Jelper Club—how did you first hear about it?

Kako: When I was looking into ways to get a job in Japan after studying abroad, I discovered the Jelper Club. I felt it might offer better opportunities for connecting with Japanese companies specifically looking for overseas university students or international students.

――How has your actual experience been using Jelper Club?

Kako: The job posting section has been a big help. Unlike LinkedIn or CFN, it consolidates listings from Japanese companies that actively want to hire international students or students from overseas universities, so it’s easy to check for relevant opportunities.

Additionally, the user interface is easy to navigate. For example, the AI Builder feature for creating a profile is really convenient—it saved me the hassle of entering everything manually, and I recommended it to my friends as well.

――Do you have any advice or tips for other members of Jelper Club?

Kako: I think Jelper Club is a good place for international students interested in working at Japanese companies to connect with each other. There are lots of students outside my own university who share an interest in Japan, and this platform provides a great way to build those horizontal connections. It’s especially helpful if you want to see what kinds of internships people with the same major are doing, or what career paths they aim for.

Also, the companies posting jobs here are mostly those looking specifically for overseas students, so it’s easier to find opportunities that match your goals compared to something like LinkedIn. That’s a real advantage.

――Lastly, do you have a message for the readers of this article or other Jelper Club members?

Kako: If you ever have the chance to come to Milan in Italy, please let me know. Besides famous things like art and fashion, there’s also the local aperitivo culture (drinks and light meals before dinner), so we can enjoy that together. I hope that through Jelper Club, I can connect with many other overseas university students and companies.

At Jelper Club, we’re committed to linking students and recent graduates around the world with opportunities to engage in Japan’s dynamic job market. If you share Kako’s ambition to connect your global experiences with professional opportunities in Japan, we encourage you to explore our platform. From job listings tailored to overseas students, to a community of like-minded peers, Jelper Club offers the resources you need to make the most of your international path.

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(Interviewer/Editor: Jelper Club Editorial Team)