PLU’s First Data Science Grad
Image: Yuta Shimazu, PLU senior and First Team All-Conference soccer athlete, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in front of the AUC at PLU. Shimazu graduates this winter and will begin his career back in Japan, working for Sony’s Global Marketing. (PLU Photo / Sy Bean)
Meet Yuta Shimazu ’25, PLU’s very first data science graduate! A student-athlete, barista at Old Main Market (the main coffee shop on campus), and international student from Japan, Yuta balanced all his interests while making connections. “Because I worked at the coffee shop and played soccer, a lot of people recognized me on campus. Many people would stop me on my way to class to ask my name, major, or where I’m from. That’s actually how I made a lot of new friends. I think this sense of connection really defines PLU’s culture.”
As a soccer fan and player, Yuta’s interest in data science began when he wondered why some soccer videos go viral and others don’t. “I loved looking at the insights and analyzing the patterns,” he said. This simple curiosity led him from computer science to PLU’s new data science major, a decision that led him to an internship at Bloomberg and participation in DataFest competitions.
What’s next? Yuta accepted a job at Sony’s global headquarters in Tokyo, where he’ll begin working in April 2026. “The data science program definitely helped me stand out,” he says. “I believe it played a big role in helping me get a job at Sony.”
Social Media