Message from the Representative
Certified Public Tax Accountant: Masumi Yajima
Inspired by Future-Minded Foreign Professionals
Over nearly 20 years at Ernst & Young Tax Co. (EY Japan), one of the Big Four firms, I built deep technical expertise and gained a wide range of experience while supporting global companies.
What struck me most during that time was how differently foreign nationals—especially Americans—approach finance compared to their Japanese counterparts. Their financial literacy is remarkably high. Executives in particular take proactive control of their finances, rather than leaving everything to a tax accountant.
They set income goals for the following year based on their lifestyle ambitions. They ask: “How much income do I need to do what I want? How much will I pay in tax, and how much will I actually keep?”
By seriously and proactively thinking through these questions, they were able to realize their goals and accelerate business growth.
What I learned from these clients didn’t just expand my thinking—it challenged the very way I saw my role as a tax accountant.
In Japan, tax accountants have traditionally been expected to file accurate returns with precision and consistency. But that view rarely extended to being a strategic partner.
On the business side, I also encountered a mindset among some Japanese entrepreneurs that saw taxes as something “taken” rather than contributed to society. Some would even limit the growth of their business just to reduce their tax burden.
That made me wonder: If business owners are held back by fear of taxes—and tax professionals limit themselves to forms and compliance—can either truly enjoy their work? Can either truly thrive?
While I believe the tax profession in Japan still needs cultural change, I chose to act where I could. Drawing on my career experience, I decided to support forward-thinking, self-driven foreign professionals—not only with tax filings, but also with advisory services that help them grow and shine through their work.
When Tomorrow Has No Map, I Draw My Own
My practical experience in business and leadership began during my time at EY Japan, when I was appointed to lead a business continuity project in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. As part of the response, our firm relocated part of its head office functions to Okinawa—and I was tasked with launching the new site from the ground up.
I moved to Okinawa alone, recruited local talent, and helped prevent brain drain by hiring bilingual university students.
Although the relocation was driven by company orders, the experience gave me a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn both entrepreneurship and business operations. In addition, to deepen my knowledge and broaden my perspective, I earned an MBA.
That experience helped me maximize the value I could bring when founding my own office, and I now take pride in being able to share that value with my clients.
We are living in an era of constant change and increasing uncertainty. That’s why I remain committed to expanding my perspective, elevating my thinking, and updating my knowledge—so I can continue building the future, both for myself and those I support.
My guiding principle is simple: never give up. I hope my clients will maintain that same spirit —with courage and persistence—in their business journeys. I will be fully committed to supporting them.
Without limiting myself to the conventional boundaries of a tax accountant, I strive to walk alongside each client—one person, one business at a time—to help create a world where sustainable, principled businesses can thrive.
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