My History
After graduating from university, I joined a major global consulting firm and quickly found myself fully immersed in the work. I was involved in numerous projects, including helping Japanese companies expand overseas and developing strategies for foreign companies entering the Japanese market. Even when I first joined, I already had entrepreneurship in mind. At one point, I came up with the idea of starting a housekeeping services business. To test the feasibility, I carried out a detailed analysis, and the numbers showed it could be profitable. Based on that, I left the firm after about two and a half years. Since I had already mapped out the business concept, the next step was fundraising. I felt confident in my presentation skills thanks to my consulting background, but in the end, I couldn’t win over investors. That meant I had to abandon the idea of building a company around housekeeping services. Looking back, the fact that I gave up at that stage tells me it probably would have been difficult to sustain even if I had launched it.
But failing at one idea didn’t mean standing still. To shift direction, I sat down with my co-founder and we worked through business ideas that we could truly pursue with passion. The conclusion we reached was English learning. As I fleshed out the concept, I thought deeply about why Japanese learners struggle to improve their English. I identified two main reasons: first, there are so many materials and methods that people struggle to find the right one; second, it’s difficult to keep studying consistently. To address both, we created a new model: English coaching, “PROGRIT”. Instead of simply “teaching English,” our value is in “helping people measurably improve their English.” That became the answer we were looking for—and the foundation of our business.
The Present
What sets PROGRIT apart from traditional English conversation schools is that we don’t “teach” English—we “support the learning process completely.” Instead of offering conversation lessons, our consultants work one-on-one with each client to guide and support their self-study. This is the heart of our concept and what makes us unique. For example, if someone attends a conversation school once a week, the school has no role in the other six days. I focused on this gap and realized that how learners use those six days is what truly matters. That’s where our role comes in: to help people make the most of their time at home, on their commute, or in any spare moments. Our consultants propose and manage the study plan—what to focus on and how to study. Beyond strong English skills, our consultants are expected to have coaching ability and problem-solving skills. Equipped with these qualities, they design customized study methods tailored to each client’s goals, proficiency, and lifestyle. Weekly meetings and daily support ensure steady progress. Learning is further reinforced through our proprietary app, with clients committing to two to three hours of study per day for three months. My hope is that PROGRIT not only improves people’s English, but also gives them a chance to reassess their lifestyle and outlook on life.
For the Future
Our services extend beyond PROGRIT. We also offer several subscription-based products, the largest of which is Shadoten, a service focused on shadowing to improve listening skills. Since listening is essential to understanding your conversation partner, I believe it is one of the most critical areas of English proficiency. In fact, many clients told us they wanted to keep using our shadowing app even after completing the main program. That feedback gave us the push to launch Shadoten. Having struggled with English myself, I understand the frustration learners feel. That’s why it’s such an honor when our services are valued—and why I’m so proud of our consultants, who work side by side with clients and provide unwavering support. Looking ahead, we will continue to refine these subscription services and expand their reach.
In a world full of English-learning products, we don’t aim to compete on price. Instead, we want to create services that deliver genuine value—even at a premium. Over the long term, we aim to build a platform that not only improves English but also helps business professionals succeed globally. Our vision is to become a comprehensive provider of global talent development, supporting everything from language skills to the mindset needed for international expansion. We will keep moving forward toward that goal.