Voices of Jelper Club Members — Nam Pham, The University of Tokyo (M.S.)

This time, we spoke with Nam Pham, a second-year master’s student in computer science at the University of Tokyo. Born and raised in Germany (and holding German nationality), Nam’s journey to Japan began with two years of Japanese language and culture study during his undergraduate years—followed by a direct connection to the University of Tokyo through his professors.

In this interview, Nam shares why he chose to pursue his master’s degree in Japan, what he’s researching in AI (including local LLMs in telecom communication), and what he learned from internships and analytics work in Japan—from Bosch in Yokohama to supporting the MMA entertainment federation RIZIN. He also explains what he finds useful about the platform for job discovery and applications.

Nam Pham

―― First, could you please introduce yourself?

Nam: Yeah, sure. My name is Nam Pham. I’m currently a master’s student at the University of Tokyo studying computer science, and I’m in my second year of my master’s program.

Before this, I did my undergraduate studies in Germany, and I was also born and raised in Germany, so I have German nationality. Since coming to Japan, I’ve been doing research in AI—more specifically, local LLMs in the field of telecom communication at the University of Tokyo. At the same time, I’m focusing on lectures related to machine learning and AI.

I’ve also had a couple of internships and work experiences. One was at Bosch in Yokohama, where I worked part-time for about half a year. Another was as a data analyst for an MMA entertainment federation called RIZIN Fighting Federation, where I supported their social media analytics and reporting.

―― What was your experience like working with RIZIN?

Nam: It was pretty interesting. They don’t really have a team dedicated to data science or data analytics, so I had to do it on my own. That meant I had to take responsibility for the tasks and deliver results independently.

My work was mainly social media analytics. It wasn’t about posting content—I was looking at the data and trying to find insights, like what fans were reacting to, what was trending, why it was trending, and so on. Then I would give them a weekly report and suggestions about what to do.

They were satisfied with what I delivered, and from time to time I was invited to events. That was really nice—sometimes I got tickets and could invite friends, and while I was working there I could also watch the events.

―― You studied in Germany for your undergraduate degree. How did you decide to come to Japan for your master’s?

Nam: While I was studying for my bachelor’s degree, I studied Japanese for two years at my university in Germany. It wasn’t only language—we also studied Japanese culture and history.

After learning Japanese for two years, I felt like the next step would be to go to Japan and study there for a longer period. I was also working as a teaching assistant for some lectures at my university, and I asked my professor and sensei whether there were any opportunities to go to Japan.

Through that, I was introduced to a professor at the University of Tokyo. That’s how the connection was established, and that’s why I decided to go to the University of Tokyo for my master’s.

―― What motivated you to start learning Japanese in the first place?

Nam: Of course, like many people, I watched anime and read manga when I was younger. But the main reason was that I wanted to learn a new language.

At school, I had learned European languages like French, but I wasn’t that interested in them. I wanted to learn something more “exotic,” something different, and I was especially interested in languages from Asia.

I already had an interest in Japan in general, and personally I felt Japanese sounded really cool. That gave me motivation to start learning the language seriously.

―― How is life at the University of Tokyo so far?

Nam: It’s pretty great. I really enjoy it a lot. Everything is centered in one spot, so you get to know a lot of different kinds of people. The variety is so big that you can really find “your people”—the ones you connect with and enjoy spending time with.

And Tokyo itself is also amazing. It’s one of the biggest cities in the world, so there are always things to do—entertainment, events, and also professional events. For example, if you’re interested in AI, there are a lot of AI-related events in Tokyo, so that’s pretty cool for me.

―― Are you currently job hunting? What kind of industry are you interested in?

Nam: I’m currently job hunting, but I still need to finish my master’s program before I fully commit to searching 100%. In Japan, job hunting often starts about one year in advance, so I’m currently in the early stage.

In terms of industry, I’m mainly interested in the AI/software industry, because that’s where my background is.

―― What has your experience been like using Jelper Club?

Nam: So far it’s been pretty good. For me, without Jelper Club I wouldn’t even know about some of these companies or opportunities. Usually you would only find them by going to company websites, and people don’t do that very often.

It’s also really easy to apply. You can just drag and drop your resume, apply, and that’s it—most of the time. If they’re interested, they usually reach out relatively soon, which is really good.

Sometimes, though, some companies still redirect you to their own site and you have to fill out the same details again, which feels a bit redundant. I think the direction of making applications simpler is great, and I really enjoy that part.

―― Lastly, do you have a message for other Jelper Club members or anyone reading this article?

Nam: I think it’s really nice to see the community aspect of Jelper Club. At first you might see the platform as just a tool for applying to jobs, but seeing the community makes you feel like there are people behind it and that it’s not only a tool.

It’s also interesting to see what other peers are doing. And personally, I think it would be great if there were even more in-person events, because that would make it easier to network and meet more people in the community.

At Jelper Club, we’re committed to connecting ambitious students and graduates with unique opportunities across Japan. Whether you’re pursuing AI like Nam or exploring other fields, our platform can help you discover exclusive openings, access practical resources, and join a community of like-minded peers. Register with Jelper Club today to explore new opportunities and connect with members worldwide.

(Interviewer/Editor: Jelper Club Editorial Team)