My History
My entrepreneurial journey began during my high school years. Fascinated by motorcycles, I taught myself how to repair and source parts, which eventually led to selling bikes. There was significant demand among my friends, and the business grew steadily. By the time I graduated, I had earned nearly 20 million yen through my efforts. This early experience opened my eyes to the potential rewards of entrepreneurship, and at 21, I ventured into the real estate industry, recognizing its vast opportunities.
To succeed in real estate sales, I realized that I needed to refine my communication skills. I worked on speaking more clearly and confidently, as I had a tendency to mumble and speak softly. Growing up in southern Osaka, I spoke with a strong Kansai dialect, but to leave a positive impression during business negotiations in Tokyo, I made a concerted effort to adopt standard Japanese.
Real estate deals often involve substantial amounts of money, and the potential for success depends largely on individual dedication. Initially, I was driven by the desire to achieve financial success, believing that as long as I earned well, that was enough. However, over time, I found myself reflecting on the true purpose of my work. Was this really fulfilling? What was I working toward? These questions were influenced by a senior colleague whom I greatly admired. He was exceptional at listening to clients, understanding their real concerns, and helping them achieve their goals. His dedication inspired me to adopt the same approach—focusing on truly understanding the client needs and striving to help them fulfill their aspirations.
Working in real estate provided me with the opportunity to meet professionals from a variety of industries. Since real estate is closely tied to finance, I often found myself in discussions about financial matters. Sometimes, clients would even propose investment opportunities to me. As a young man in my early twenties, I knew very little about investing, and I made my share of mistakes, even losing all my money on one occasion. However, one of these experiences introduced me to the concept of international real estate, which later became the cornerstone of our company’s overseas real estate business.
The Present
In 2017, I founded ELITE Inc. We began our software development business in a 31-year-old apartment with a monthly rent of 50,000 yen, working alongside an exceptional engineer. We later expanded into business consulting, steadily growing our operations. Eventually, the business consulting division was taken over and became independent under a vice president. By 2021, our focus had shifted primarily to the overseas real estate market. Although it was a fresh start for me, I had laid a solid foundation through my ongoing work in the Philippine real estate sector, which allowed me to put the business on track, expand the company's scale, and bring in more team members.
Thanks to the unique network we have built over the years, our company has been able to offer real estate investment opportunities, such as condominiums in the Philippines, to investors in a more timely and precise manner. Our vision is not only to facilitate the purchase of properties but also to foster interest in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, helping clients gain a deeper understanding of the region. To achieve this, we are committed to sharing the best information while staying close to our clients, allowing them to experience the incredible world that awaits.
As the economic growth of developed countries slows down, Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid growth. Within just a month, I often witness entire neighborhoods springing up in places where nothing existed before, and the pace of this growth never ceases to amaze me. This rapid expansion is truly astonishing. While global prices are rising and salaries for Japanese employees remain stagnant, salaries for workers in Southeast Asia are on the rise. With the thriving economies in Southeast Asia, it is essential to keep an eye on investment opportunities in the region. In addition to the Philippines, we are receiving many business inquiries from Vietnam, Thailand, and even Hong Kong. Moving forward, we aim to expand our real estate business and explore new opportunities in various countries.
For the Future
Our company consists of a young team, with members primarily in their 20s to 40s, constantly striving to take on new challenges. In addition to our overseas real estate business, we have expanded into various industries, including domestic real estate, construction and design, marketing, lash-lift salons, bespoke suits, and enzyme baths. Instead of focusing exclusively on profits, these ventures aim to create employment opportunities.We believe that fostering environments where people can truly be themselves and work with vitality will lead to more fulfilling workplaces. Our goal is to create such opportunities through our company and contribute to society.
Today, the fear of failure is often amplified by social media, where even small mistakes can attract negative attention. This has led many young people to shy away from leadership roles and avoid taking responsibility. However, in my experience working globally, I have met many young individuals who embrace challenges with confidence and are unafraid of failure. Failure is often highlighted by the media and social networks. In Japan, it is often challenging to find examples of individuals who take risks. Nevertheless, I have seen many resilient individuals in the business world who, despite setbacks, continue to move forward, which makes me feel that Japan still has much to offer. Many of the great business leaders we admire today have experienced significant failures, and it is their perseverance that has led to their success. The key is to challenge yourself without fear of failure and to keep going until you succeed.
So, I encourage young people to embrace challenges. In my 20s, I often felt a sense of urgency, believing that I needed to achieve something significant before the decade ended, which led me to meticulously manage my time. However, I eventually realized that success isn’t always about speed. Even if a task takes three hours when it could have been done in one, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. What truly matters is how well you understand the task and how meaningful that time was. As long as you prioritize understanding and keep moving forward, you'll progress toward success step by step, even if it takes time. Therefore, instead of rushing to achieve something quickly, I believe it’s better to embrace challenges, learn, and advance at your own pace.
Our company remains committed to what truly benefits our clients, and we are working toward becoming a publicly listed company. Looking ahead, we aim to grow into a global enterprise that represents Japan on the world stage.