CEO Profile

Career history

1991May (age 0)

Born a sickly baby in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture.

2000September (age 9)

Despite chronic asthma, began a life absorbed in hardball baseball that would continue for years. Won prizes and championships at several tournaments.

2004March (age 12)

Moved to Tokyo for family reasons, and spent about the next 17 years moving from place to place within Tokyo's 23 wards.

2004July (age 13)

Got internet at home, well after friends did (but the connection was so slow that most of the allowance at the time went into 3-hour packages at internet cafés). Became hooked on building websites as a hobby, real-time communication such as chat and Skype, blogging, and the art of tracking down the shop that was even ¥100 cheaper on Yahoo! Auctions and Rakuten Ichiba.

*At the time, handled listings on Yahoo! Auctions on behalf of a parent using the parent's account, and once had "an item sell for 20 times its purchase price." Says this experience greatly shaped the later career as a web marketer.

2007April (age 15)

By chance, joined the same club at the same high school as a reader of the hobby website and blog, and met in person (still a good friend who meets up now and then). Was moved by the power and fun of the internet. Was also a very early user of web services that were appearing around that time, such as Niconico and Ameba Blog.

2007October (age 16)

Retired from hardball baseball in the fall of the first year of high school, due to a shoulder injury, a lack of mental toughness, and the satisfaction of having at least played at Meiji Jingu Stadium. A blank period with few memories. Most likely, I "loved baseball gear" more than baseball itself.

2008(age 17)

Immersed in the internet again. Having quit the club and not studying either, used the free time to start a part-time job at a sushi delivery chain. While being trained by a strict manager at one of the brand's busiest stores in Tokyo, entered the company's "New Business Idea Contest" with a highly unusual pitch (or a reckless argument?): "The world is gloomy after the Lehman shock. Let's go contrarian and help many working people." Miraculously won the President's Award and received a ¥100,000 bonus, the first of a lifetime.

*Most of the savings from that year ended up going toward university entrance exam costs. Still a customer (placing orders) of that former workplace to this day, and looks back on it as a place where much was learned from the store manager, staff, and part-timers of that time.

2010(age 18–19)

Entered the School of Commerce at Waseda University. Amid many encounters and rough waters, was fortunate to meet university students and student entrepreneurs active at internet startups, and was strongly inspired.

2011June (age 20)

Began serious training (an internship) in the internet industry. Worked on operations at an affiliate of a company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and on contracted social media marketing, among other things.

2012August (age 21)

Captivated by the world of web marketing (and unable to pay tuition), took a temporary leave of absence from university. Aiming to make it "a turning point in life," sent long emails that bordered on spam to the CEO of Anagrams, Inc., then a company of two employees, and asked again and again until being taken on as a long-term intern.

*The reply email, which happened to arrive on my birthday, is kept as a screenshot and treasured.

2014April (age 22)

Appointed Executive Officer of Anagrams, Inc.

While being trusted with clients in the field, returned to university and also took on full-scale management. Days ran from 6:00 to 13:00 at work, 14:00 to 17:00 at university, then back to the office from 18:00 to 23:00, handling marketing for many industries. They were truly exciting days.

*Back then, every account we took on improved remarkably well, so I threw myself into ad management, literally forgetting to eat and sleep.

2016April (age 24)

Appointed Director of Anagrams, Inc.

Gradually stepped back from the front lines and took charge of everything except the finer details of finance and legal, including overseeing all operational teams and launching new teams.

2018March (age 26)

Stepped down as Director of Anagrams, Inc.

*By the time of stepping down in March 2018, the company had grown from 2 to 38 employees and more than 20 times in revenue since joining; left on good terms. Was truly blessed with colleagues and learned a great many things that became the foundation not only for business but for working life. I am truly grateful.

2018(age 27)

Set aside a year to recharge: rest, explore, and build physical strength. Following instinct, made two trips to the African continent for travel and observation, earned the U.S. NSCA-CPT certification drawing on a hobby knowledge of strength training, opened a personal training gym, and worked as an angel investor.

2019(age 28)

Began rebuilding the business in earnest. Earned the Real Estate Transaction Specialist license. Privately, in a fit of madness, ate "Numa" (a diet rice porridge) for 60 days straight and lost more than 10 kg of body fat alone. Placed in several JBBF Men's Physique contests. Spent most of the time outside work at Gold's Gym. Registered marriage on the first day of Japan's Reiwa era.

2020(age 29)

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed both the business environment and daily life. Took the plunge, lightened the load, and moved to Fukuoka. Gained 15 kg thanks to Fukuoka's food. Started a real estate business and bought a first property while still in the twenties. Took out a sizable loan for the first time and bought an entire income-producing building.

2021(age 30)

Obtained a real estate brokerage license as a company and began buying and selling real estate. Became hooked on renovating and reselling houses and condominiums in Fukuoka for people buying a home to live in. Also bought and renovated a condominium as a personal home. Tried various new businesses and lost direction. Moved on from being a solopreneur with no employees, working only with contractors, and began hiring employees in Fukuoka.

2022(age 31)

Welcomed a first child to the family. Joined CLUB PILATES, the world's No. 1 Pilates brand, as a franchisee and started a Pilates business. Held the grand opening of CLUB PILATES Akasaka Yakuin, the first location in western Japan.

2023(age 32)

Welcomed a second child to the family. Operated three Pilates locations and two tutoring schools, diversifying into store businesses and real estate.

2024(age 33)

Expanded to four Pilates locations and three tutoring schools. Started a retail business on online marketplaces. A fairly doting parent. Grew to the point of working with around 100 people at any given time, including contractors.

2025(age 34)

Traveled to Spain, the United Kingdom, and France, which changed my outlook on life. Sold the tutoring school business. Withdrew from the online marketplace retail business. Founded ZVA Inc., an agency specializing in vertical video ads, as a group company, and also serves as its CEO.

2026(age 35)

Sold the Pilates business. Spun off, reorganized, or withdrew from parts of the real estate business. Made the decision to refocus the group on its marketing business. Moved the head office to Shoppers Tenjin, a centerpiece redevelopment area in the latter half of the Tenjin Big Bang project.