Now that I think about it, I remember that I went independent because I wanted to become something like a ``woodworker.'' I ended up quitting completely after just two years, but at this point it doesn't matter. I think it was good that I learned early on that "I can't do anything alone." I now believe that in order to survive, it is important not to cling to the time and money you have invested, but to sometimes give up completely, and to speed up the trial and error process as much as possible. I think it would be good to have various rotation axes such as days, months, and years. Soon after I became independent at the age of 25, I was fortunate enough to be invited to events held at department stores, such as the National Craft Fair, chair order consultations, and live sales demonstrations. I was invited to a department store that is difficult to get into in the first year after I became independent. I was excited, thinking that this was my first step as a woodworker, but You soon find out that it's not that easy. Looking back, I was a total amateur, but at the time I had a fair amount of confidence. I'm sure in 10 years I'll look back and think the same thing. The sales floor was filled with furniture makers from all over the country, from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The booth next door displayed assembled furniture made from laminated wood boards shaped like boxes. My furniture is carved from solid wood using planes and katanas. I thought it would work with ease. To be honest, I thought, "I won!" From here on out it's as you'd expect. My furniture never sells. The man next door's furniture is selling like hotcakes. After the two-week period, I think the difference in sales is more than 10 times. You can't help but notice it. He has a history that goes back decades. There were customers who came with it. There is a "selling environment" that has been built up over decades. And it is only when people use it that it has value as a product. It's not just about making it. Continue efforts to raise awareness and lead to sales. It may seem obvious, but I learned that this is how sustainable manufacturing is possible. I have no choice but to make it. That's why people can't use it. They realize that it is equivalent to having no value as a commodity. Without realizing this simple fact, he got carried away and decided to go independent. Me and this old man. It's not about winning or losing. The difference has been building up over decades. It's on a different level. I felt embarrassed. This was repeated for a year. The results were all terrible. It was a crushing defeat. At a certain event, Mr. Miura, a salesman who has been keeping an eye on me since my apprenticeship, came to help with sales. "We make good furniture, so be confident." But it was still a crushing defeat. A person who has no consistency will never achieve results in society. I also felt sorry for Mr. Miura. That night, the two of us had ramen. Suddenly, I felt like crying. "Hey hey! What's wrong? How pathetic! You're a man!" Miura also began to cry as he spoke in Edo dialect. "It's so frustrating." The two of them sobbed as they spoke. The sight of a 26-year-old and a 70-year-old sobbing while eating ramen... It must have been a strange sight to see from the outside. To several young people who appeared to be university students who were visiting us, "This isn't for show!" He lashed out at the ages of 26 and 70. I was just so disappointed. So I decided to give up woodworking altogether. Being able to make a little more than other people won't do any good. If I keep going like this, I'll be able to eat somehow. But that's not the case. I want to be the best in the world. I want to make history. The goal doesn't change. because, This is because I want to pass on the baton that I inherited from my seniors to my juniors in the best possible way. I realized that I don't have the ability to make it happen on my own. So we decided to aim for it as a team! It's okay if it's small. Let's create an organization where roles can be divided. So, I can make a little more than other people. I wanted to push manufacturing to the limit, to the point where I could create something overwhelmingly. First, he calls out to Kamei, with whom he had a falling out a year ago. Although he was rejected, he continued to woo her for six months. Do whatever you can to improve the environment. Save 10 million in one year. Let's move the factory. Let's put in the equipment. Hire young people. It was achieved in 10 months. Human resource development begins. Despite being blessed with good children, he is unable to settle down. It took me 10 years to realize it was all my fault. I feel like I'm really blessed with some amazing people right now. I thank God or Buddha. And, as expected. I want to be the best in the world. I want to make history. I want to pass on the baton in the best possible way. We can do it as a team. Just kidding My silly story has made this introduction long again... "Our Young Men" gets real from next episode! They are the best young people in the world. I have remembered I had started my own business to become a creator of woodworks. I completely gave it up just after 2 years later, which I do not care now. I think it turned out to be the best because I realized "I cannot do anything by myself." In early stage. Now I think it is very important to increase turn over of trial and error with giving up investments in time and money in order to survive. It would be good to have multiple timelines measured in day, month, and year. Thankfully, I had opportunities to have "crafts chair fair across Japan", "ordering session for chairs", "demonstration sales fair" hosted by department stores when I was 25 years old just after establishing own company. I was in merry and playful mode recognizing as the first step of a creator of woodworks with offers from department stores, with which it would be difficult to do business, in first year of the company. I have realized "It is not such easy" in a moment. In hindsight, I was super naive while I had decent self-confidence at that time. Probably 10 years later I would recognize myself as same looking back now. Craftsman all over Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu were invited in those fairs. Ready-to-Assembly furniture consist of box made of laminated wood slab were sold at the Booth next to mine. My products are made from solid wood with planes and blades fully utilized. I thought my products work no sweat. To be honest I thought "I won!". Then, things go as you expect. My products were never sold. Products of old guy next to my booth were sold as flying out from the store. The difference in sales in 2 weeks fair would be more than 10 times. I have noticed whether I like or not. He had a history of dozens of consecutive years of business. He has clients associated with his history. He has "Selling Environment" piling up in dozens of years. And products would become valuable only when they are used by clients. Manufacturing would not be good enough. Continuous efforts making own products visible to clients resulting in sales. It would be too obvious, however, I have realized it would be fundamental of sustainable manufacturing. I was capable in just making products. So, others would not use them. My works would not have almost no valuable as products. I have become independent intoxicated with my capability in making furniture without knowing such obvious matters. I myself and that old person. It was not a matter of win or lose. The difference in piling up of experiences. It would be indifferent dimension. I was Same of me. I have experienced something similar to above for about one year. Results were all terrible crashing defeats. At a certain fair, Miura-san, sales person who has been looking after me since my training era, came to help. "Please be proud of yourself who make good products. However, it was another crashing defeat. Person who has no business history cannot bring good social results. I felt sorry for Miura-san. That night, we eat ramen-noodle. Suddenly I cannot help from crying. "Hey! What happened to you, I would be disappointed to se you crying, be a man!" Saying above, Miura-san also started crying. "So disappointed" We cried saying so. It should be extraordinary scene for outsiders to observe two men i 26 years old and 70 years old eat ramen noodle with crying. We blamed several young people who appeared to be college students saying "It is not a show." I was so disappointed. So, I have completely given up craftsman of arts. It does not help my goal to make furniture a little bit better than other craftsman. If continued, I would make money to survive. However, my goal is different. I would like to be No.1 in the world. I would like to change history. I will never change my goal. Because I would like to pass baton succeeded from predecessors to juniors in the best way. I have really realized I am not capable enough to make that happen. So, I changed the way to achieve them from by myself to by team. Small size would be adequate. I would like to set a team whose members' roles and responsibilities are clearly segregated. Then, I decided to pursue technique not slightly better than other craftsman but overwhelming others. First of all, I asked Kamei to re-join with whom I had dissolved one year ago after fight. He originally declined the offer but I have managed to persuade him in half year. In order to prepare the required environment, I have made anything we could. I have saved JPY10,000,000 in one year. We have moved our factory. We have introduced facilities. We have hired junior members. In 10 months, all have been achieved. It has started training younger employees. Despite good younger members, I was not able to retain them. It took 10 years to understand all issues are attributed to me. Now, I really appreciated our younger members. ]I sincerely appreciate gods and/or buddha whoever. And then after all. I would like to be No.1 in the world. I would like to change history. I would like to pass baton to next generation in the best manner. It will be completed as a team. Never mind. My foolish introductory remarks seem to be too long. Next time would be main part of "Younger member of KOMA!" They are No.1 younger members in the world.
