Supporting Entrepreneurs with Flexible Thinking Beyond the Bounds of a Tax Accountant! [Yamaguchi Atsushi Tax Accountant Office/LLC Zekkoucho]

Initially, I started my business as a tax accountant with a focus on supporting young entrepreneurs. However, we also receive requests from older clients, not just young entrepreneurs. One of our characteristics is “youth.” I believe our office is relatively young in the tax accountant industry. In this industry, those in their 30s are still considered young. The average age of tax accountants in Sano City is over 60, so compared to that, our office is very fresh and young. Our main target clientele includes young entrepreneurs and student entrepreneurs, given the increasing number of such clients. We offer tax services not only for tax matters but also participate from the stage of company establishment. We work with clients who want to start a new business or establish a company, discussing business models and helping them establish their company. After the company is established, I often accompany them as a tax accountant. In this way, I am involved from the very beginning when a company is born, until it grows.

Primarily, the work of a tax accountant office targets specific needs like “I want to start a company,” “I want to be an entrepreneur,” or “I don’t understand taxes.” However, Zekkoucho gets involved even before that stage. Many people might be thinking, “I am a salaried worker now, but I want to try entrepreneurship.” However, there are many negative and anxious elements when it comes to starting a business. While it’s standard for a tax accountant not to get involved before the startup stage, Zekkoucho targets those who are thinking, “I’m going to do it (start a business).” We take these people by the arm, clear each anxiety, and encourage them to go ahead with “Let’s do it.”

I believe that “words create the future.” Saying “I’m in excellent shape!” can actually make you feel that way. Words can change the body. The same applies to entrepreneurship. Words are very important. I want to change people’s mindset with positive words. Eliminating each anxiety so that the person themselves can say, “Okay, I’ll start a business! I’ll be successful!” and that leads to the future. I want to start that initial part. In fact, I want to do this more than the work of a tax accountant.

Indeed! Conversely, there are not a few people who can take that first step. However, there are cases where they stumble in the next phase after starting a business. They have taken the first step, but cannot take the next one. At such times, I can say, “Actually, I run the Yamaguchi Atsushi Tax Accountant Office~” and provide support for the next steps and beyond. Being able to help people take the first step and then assist them to move further is what I think is our strength.

Actually, my hobby is “one-on-one drinking.” If I were to add another title to myself, it would be “One-on-One Drinking Master”. Specifically, it’s not just drinking together; it involves coaching elements. Recently, a man in his late 40s decided to quit his job at a major company and start a business after a one-on-one drinking session. From his story, it was clear that he had been struggling with thoughts like, “What should I do with my current company?” or “Should I keep working here?” While drinking and listening, I learned that he used to love clothes in his youth. He realized, “That was fun back then. But at my current company, I’ve always been working as a cog in the machine, never really contributing anything.” Then, he said, “Wait, maybe I want to do that,” and actually quit his job.

There are cases where people decided to start a business after a casual conversation in a café, and some who decided to start with something small, like using Mercari. Currently, Zekkoucho’s activities are mainly face-to-face, but in the future, I plan to disseminate information and videos to foster as many people as possible with the mindset of “I want to try entrepreneurship.”

Originally, my parents met at a large tax accountant’s office in Ashikaga, so in a sense, I was a thoroughbred in accounting, although that’s not really the case inside… There’s a soba noodle shop opposite our current office, which was started by my grandmother. When I began my work as a tax accountant, I used the unused banquet hall on the second floor of that shop as my office. My grandmother ran a soba noodle shop, and my grandfather was involved in other businesses, so business was something quite familiar to me. Growing up in such an environment, I always thought I would eventually start some business. Also, I’ve always had a keen interest in management and accounting since I was young. I wrote a thesis in high school, which was pretty precocious for a high school student, though of course, it was at a low level!!

We’re in an era where large corporations are declining. There are ups and downs. Watching the success of venture companies, I thought these are the types of companies that will shape the future. I wanted to be that kind of entrepreneur, but I’m not the type of person who creates something from zero to one. I think I’m better at expanding what already exists. With this in mind, I always wanted to be a tax accountant or an accountant.

I actually planned to go to graduate school and then join a tax office with about 130 employees after graduation, and continue working there. But sensing the “when are you coming back?” vibe from my parents, I returned to Tochigi relatively early and started my business. This was when I was 28 years old.

Yes, I think I was the youngest in Tochigi Prefecture at that time.
Typically, tax accountants open their offices around the age of 42. There are less than 1% of tax accountants in their 20s in Japan.

Furthermore, among them, those who are not employed by a company but have their own practice are even fewer. Originally, I’m the type who wants to do something different, so being the youngest to open an office in Tochigi Prefecture was exciting.

By the way, my special skill is “doing things that make others go, ‘Eh?!'”, and opening my office was one of those things. Suddenly opening an office. I do it often. The “Suddenly X” series. Actually, about three weeks ago, I suddenly dyed my hair blonde and went home.

Yes, I just went home with blonde hair. The first thing people say is often their true feelings. When my wife saw me, she was shocked and said, “Scary! Gross!” (laughs).

Other than that, in the “Suddenly X” series, there are things like suddenly participating in Best Body Japan, or suddenly starting a band . I do a lot of things on a whim♪

Indeed, I do a lot of things. I’m the type to try anything. My motto in life is “All of life is a play,” where ‘play’ equals ‘learning’. To me, ‘learning’ and ‘playing’ are synonymous, so playing is learning, and learning is playing. Whatever I do, there is no waste. For a long time, I’ve been the type to ‘just go for it,’ ‘try anything,’ and ‘absorb everything.’ I may not know when it will bear fruit, but I think it’s crucial to keep enriching my ‘stock of knowledge.’ This stock also forms a person’s charm, I believe. However, being ‘young’ can be a handicap in running a business in the countryside. No matter how much knowledge or experience one has, being young can lead to being underestimated. Back then, I was single, so many local business owners would say things like, “Not married yet? Still half a person.” or “You went to Tokyo? So you’ve betrayed us once.”

At 28, when I returned to my hometown Tochigi, I realized I had no advantages. In Tokyo, I was affiliated with a large tax accountant firm, so I could work under the firm’s name. I thought it was natural for clients to come, but when I came to the countryside, there was nothing. Many young tax accountants returning to the countryside have a foundation built by their parents, but that wasn’t the case for me. Coming to Tochigi suddenly and starting a business in a soba shop’s second floor, it was obvious that customers wouldn’t just come… When I was struggling with low sales, I thought, “What can I do?” and decided to reverse my thinking! I had to fully utilize my youth! That led me to the internet business, which was still in its infancy at the time.

That was about 11 years ago, a time when there were few affiliates or YouTubers. However, hearing from friends about people earning through blogs and such, I started wondering how such people managed their taxes. There seemed to be little competition, and veteran tax accountants weren’t focusing on this area, so I dove in. I became known as a “tax accountant knowledgeable about internet businesses,” working nationwide. I started attracting customers through website information dissemination, and it was a hit! When I first received a request, I felt I was finally recognized. I’m really glad I took that step.

One big challenge was that I couldn’t use a computer at all (laughs). I hated computers. And actually, I don’t like numbers! I don’t even like taxes (laughs). Isn’t it interesting that someone who dislikes numbers becomes a tax accountant, and someone who can’t use a computer enters web marketing? If you’re serious, you can surprisingly make a living out of your weaknesses. It all depends on your mindset.

Yes, I do. Almost every day. In meetings with clients, if we have 60 minutes, maybe I talk about numbers as a tax accountant for about 2 minutes. The remaining 58 minutes are spent discussing new business ideas and debates. When my clients introduce me to new presidents they meet, they say, “Our tax accountant hardly talks about numbers. But that’s why we like him.”

I highly value the idea of “challenging oneself.” I think everyone should embrace “challenge” as a form of play. Our time in life is finite, and we live within the confines of time. If you spend 10 seconds doing nothing, those seconds pass by without incident, and you’re just moving closer to death.

My tendency to try anything stems from this mindset. Idle time doesn’t produce anything, which I find frightening… I’m always on the lookout for what to do next, like what color to dye my hair next, or what new thing to play with.

Well, for better or worse (laughs). I don’t know what my wife thinks, but I have the freedom to do as I please. I think everyone could play a little more. I wouldn’t outright say “you should play more,” but I always think “playing can be good too.” It’s okay to just try something new, even if you’ve never done it before.

Recently, I had a job in Tokyo, and when it finished early, I went for a trial social dance lesson and then a voice training session. I didn’t feel much talent in social dancing, so I stopped after the trial. However, this experience is now a part of my life, and it may come in handy someday!

Indeed! When you think about it, we have an environment where we can challenge anything in this world. Not challenging might be a huge opportunity loss. If we were in a war situation right now, we couldn’t even attempt these challenges. Fortunately, Japan provides a very blessed environment. I think it’s good to be grateful for this situation and take on challenges. One of those challenges might be “starting a business” or “doing business.”

Yes, someone to push them is necessary!
Leave that to me.

If I were a shut-in NEET, what I say wouldn’t hold any water, right?
I should first get out of the house…

We apparently see our life flash before our eyes just before we die. I once thought it would be great if that flashback was wonderful, like “My life was so fun!” The more you challenge and do various things, the more scenes you add to that flashback. I think it’ll make for an exciting and fun life review. I want to help add scenes where people were able to take on challenges because of me.

I hope it can be like that. Of course, if someone finds it’s not for them after trying, they can stop. It’s their choice. But I want everyone to find a business or a hobby that they can spend their whole life on. I’d be thrilled to help with that!

As a member of the Contiri editorial team, I believe your endeavors, Mr. Yamaguchi, will make for wonderful life stories. You’ve already created a scene for a joyful life flashback just by being here for this interview. It’s truly fantastic.

Before this interview, I was worried about one thing. That was, I’m a tax accountant, but I don’t talk about “proper taxation” at all (laughs). I was worried it might be a disappointment.

If you told me to only talk about taxes, I’d finish quickly because I don’t like taxes or numbers (laughs). To avoid that, I’m always thinking about what else I can offer besides tax services. Mostly for my own amusement!!

That’s very nice to hear. Maybe I’m not looking at numbers at all .
Maybe I’m just looking at people.