Voices of Jelper Club Members — Yuta Hata, Harvard University '27
- Daichi Mitsuzawa
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In this interview, we speak with Yuta Hata, who began honing his English skills and soccer talents at an international school from a young age and is now majoring in Computer Science at Harvard University. Despite being enrolled in a top institution and juggling both academics and sports, Yuta is also keeping a future career in Japan on his radar. Through this conversation, he shares his reasons for choosing Harvard, his dedication to soccer and computer science, and how discovering Jelper Club opened up new possibilities. We hope you’ll gain a sense of the unique perspective and challenges that come with being an overseas university student with aspirations on a global stage.
―――First, could you introduce yourself?
Yuta: Hello, I’m Yuta Hata. I’m currently a sophomore at Harvard University, majoring in Computer Science. I attended an international school from a young age and received an English-language education. I also dedicated myself to soccer starting in elementary school, playing for a club team called Mitsubishi Yowa SC, with which I participated in national tournaments in Japan. I ended up at Harvard through a soccer recruitment offer and have been enjoying the balance between academics and sports ever since.
―――Why did you choose Harvard University out of all the available options?
Yuta: When I was going through the soccer recruiting process, I spoke with many different college coaches. Among them, Harvard stood out because it provides an environment where athletes can balance both sports and academics. Naturally, it’s a top-tier school, but the idea that I could pursue all kinds of intellectual growth and not just focus exclusively on soccer was especially appealing. At some of the other universities, I got a strong sense that I’d be expected to devote myself to soccer alone, whereas Harvard actively encourages you to do both. I felt that I’d be able to pursue everything I wanted here.
―――What led you to major in Computer Science?
Yuta: Back in elementary school—around the third or fourth grade—I loved creating simple games through programming tools like Scratch. I’ve always been good at math and found it really rewarding when my code would finally work the way I intended. I figured that if I was going to keep doing this, I might as well learn the theory and the underlying concepts properly. That’s why I decided on Computer Science.
―――What sort of career are you envisioning for the future?
Yuta: Ultimately, I’m looking to work in Japan. I believe the knowledge and skills I’ve gained at Harvard can be put to even better use there, and in doing so, I can give a lot back. Also, I just really like Tokyo, so I’d love to return to Japan one day.
―――How did you first hear about Jelper Club?
Yuta: I learned about it when I attended an event called “Japan Day” at Harvard. Through that event, I discovered that Jelper Club offers job listings and support specifically for top international students who want to work in Japan. That was my initial impression—that there’s a platform out there connecting us with Japanese employment opportunities.
―――What’s your impression of using Jelper Club so far?
Yuta: It’s great that you can easily browse member-exclusive perks and job-hunting information. Since I’m considering an option to work in Japan, I feel that effectively leveraging Jelper Club could become a strong advantage as I move into the job search phase.
―――Which features or aspects do you find particularly appealing?
Yuta: I like that it features many job listings you wouldn’t typically see on other sites or at career events. It’s especially notable that numerous hedge funds and PE funds from both Japan and the U.S. are signed up, which I think is a huge draw. They also post a variety of other interesting positions, so it’s actually fun to scroll through the job feed.
―――Lastly, do you have a message for other Jelper Club members?
Yuta: Jelper Club has plenty of exclusive jobs and information that can benefit you during your job hunt, so make sure to take full advantage of them. It’s a particularly reassuring platform for students studying abroad who want to work in Japan. Be sure to do your research thoroughly and find a company that’s a good fit for you. And if you ever come to Harvard, please reach out—I’d love to catch up and chat!
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 Yuta’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.
(Interviewer/Editor: Jelper Club Editorial Team)