JENNIFER LEE (Class 2023), Mantra Inc. (Tokyo)

Quick Facts

Home country:  Taiwan
Internship company and location:  Mantra Inc., Tokyo
Company website: https://mantra.co.jp/
Most applicable ICS course (s) in your internship role:  Japanese Business and Economy, Global Business, and Capstone Project 
Favorite lunch place:  a Korean restaurant nearby Iidabashi Station offering the best kimchi fried rice in the world + iced coffee 
Post-work decompression ritual:  Oshikatsu (推し活) or grabbing a night parfait with my friends 
Unexpected skill you used during the internship:  self-learned Photoshopping and AI usage 
Song/playlist that got you through busy days:  PLAVE, KinKi Kids, Lady Gaga and Saja Boys (if you haven’t seen KPop Demon Hunters, I highly recommend it!) 

Internship vibe in one emoji:  🚀 

•  Where did you intern and what was your role?

• What attracted you to this particular company or organization

Before joining Hitotsubashi ICS, I worked in Taiwan’s publishing sector for six years as a literary agent, specializing in selling book rights. Despite the diverse challenges faced by different book markets, the global publishing industry is increasingly grappling with the need for digitalization and the disruptions brought on by cutting-edge technologies like AI. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging, and I’ve been particularly drawn to the potential for innovation and transformation in this space.

I first heard about Mantra when I attended a start-up meetup event co-hosted by UTokyo IPC and the Hitotsubashi ICS Career Services Office (CSO). I was immediately impressed not only by their AI-based tech services targeting the content industry but also by the fact that Mantra had successfully secured investments from several major Japanese companies. This demonstrated how traditional publishers are willing to adopt new approaches in response to the changing landscape.

Mantra made such a strong impression on me that during a course I took at Seoul National University (SNU) as part of my exchange program, I introduced my classmates to Mantra and the IT transformation it is driving in the publishing and entertainment industries. Many of them found the case fascinating.

•  How did you find and secure this internship? 

After completing my exchange program at SNU and returning to Tokyo, I reached out to the Career Services Director to discuss my next steps in securing an internship. Since I wanted to continue working in the content industry after graduation, I focused on finding opportunities in related fields. Thanks to the CSO’s connection with Mantra, I learned they were looking for interns. After three rounds of interviews, I was offered the internship.

• How did you find career-related resources during your time at ICS?

The CSO is undoubtedly a key channel for career-related resources, offering one-on-one meetings, networking events, company information sessions, and more. In addition, professors and course instructors often introduce opportunities through their connections with industry professionals and zemi projects. Attending alumni events is another valuable way to gain career insights and advice from our senpai. Overall, the strong ICS network itself provides an abundance of career-related resources.

• What language(s) did you use during the internship? 

At Mantra, English is the primary language of communication due to the diverse cultural backgrounds of its employees. However, as I began attending more meetings with Japanese clients, I realized that Japanese language skills are also essential—especially for sales-related roles. While I have primarily been using English, I’ve recently started speaking more Japanese in order to improve my language skills and contribute more effectively to the B2B business with Japanese clients.

• What skills or knowledge from ICS helped you the most in your internship?

As a start-up, Mantra has a flexible working culture and gives employees a high degree of autonomy. The company particularly values the following core principles:

• “Try First” – New approaches and quick actions are encouraged. Employees are motivated to take initiative and experiment.
• “Learn & Transform” – Through hands-on experience, individuals continuously learn and grow, contributing to the company’s overall evolution.
• “Climb Together” – Growth is not a solo journey. Team members support each other and work collaboratively toward shared goals.

I found that I had already experienced a similar environment through team projects at ICS. Many of them were intensive, often lasting just one month, where we tried, made mistakes, learned, and grew together as a team. I still remember how challenging and exhausting the JBE and Capstone projects were, but they taught me how to manage projects efficiently and instilled in me the mindset to take initiative and be a strong team player.

Additionally, the diversity and cross-cultural communication at ICS prepared me well for a global workplace like Mantra. When I started my internship and discovered that my colleagues came from all over the world, I already felt comfortable in such an environment and was able to communicate effectively.

•  Were you offered a full-time position? 

Yes, I’m fortunate to have been offered a full-time position and will officially join Mantra after graduation. I’m very much looking forward to the exciting projects ahead!

Employer's Voice

Corporate Sales Manager, Mantra: Ryohei Sekino