Tokyo Chamber of Commerce Taito Branch Young Entrepreneurs May Meeting Report

On May 15th, I attended the Taito branch youth group’s regular "May meeting" at Honrakaku, a long-established Chinese restaurant in Ueno, Taito-ku. This year’s theme was a welcome event featuring new members, and nine individuals who will be key players in the community gave speeches. It was a really valuable opportunity to hear them speak directly.

If you’re interested, I also attended the meeting in March, so you can check out my report here.

New members typically join in April or September, so the group holds these speeches in May and October to give them a chance to introduce themselves and talk about their work. It's a rare opportunity to share personal stories, since most people don't often get to talk about themselves. I joined in April of last year, but couldn’t give my own speech in September due to work, so it’s been postponed until this May.

Unique New Member Speeches

This event gathered people from various industries. Listening to stories from fields such as food and beverage, tourism, law, taxation, agriculture, IT, and inbound business reveals more than just an exchange of business cards—it reveals the person's character and the background of their business.

For example:

• Kosuke Kajiwara (Ebisuya Asakusa) is committed to preserving tourist culture through the rickshaw business while also focusing on developing local youth.
• Yutaka Yamaguchi (Eight Synergy Co., Ltd.) is a professional in food and beverage consulting and has opened a soba restaurant, "Sarashina Tenko," in Asakusa.
• Masanao Inafuku provides legal support for foreign personnel as an administrative scrivener, supporting international companies.
• Ryohei Kaneko is actively involved in multiple food and tourism businesses in Taito City, contributing to regional revitalization and town development.
• Takayuki Takabe is a tax accountant supporting business succession and inheritance as a partner for small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Asami Yamada passed the Level 1 Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bookkeeping Certification while in commercial high school and is now the head of "Asami Yamada Tax Accountant Office." She speaks passionately about inheritance tax and is also planning a political challenge by running for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
• Akihiro Seki introduced himself as someone who loves Kuramae and holds positions in various organizations. He operates the "Kakuuchi Café Futaba" near Kuramae Station.
• Yuki Someya is the head of "Yu-Yu Life Net Co., Ltd.," which develops support businesses related to living environments, assisting the elderly and people with disabilities.
• I also took the stage to speak within a five-minute limit about our company's competitive analysis and strategy, SEO-focused marketing tool "Kafkai," and my community activities overseas.

I wrote all of these from memory, so apologies if I missed anything 🙇.

Many participants are based in Taito Ward but are expanding their business perspectives nationally and internationally, providing much inspiration. Through personal stories and past episodes, I once again felt everyone's greatness.

Connections Expanded at the Social Gathering

In the second part of the event, active networking took place across ages and industries, reaffirming the charm of the youth division as a "place of connection." Beyond exchanging business cards, there were many moments where I felt, "I could do something together with this person," making future developments exciting.

Enjoyable Interaction Through Quizzes

Particularly unique was the "New Member Quiz." A multiple-choice quiz based on the speech content was held, enlivening the entire venue. I was moved by the well-thought-out performance that conveyed not only knowledge but also character.

In this quiz competition, we received luxurious free coupons from three stores run by the following members:

• Sarashina Tenko (Yutaka Yamaguchi)
• Kakuuchi Café Futaba (Akihiro Seki)
• Kushiyaki Izakaya Fukuya (Ryohei Kaneko)

This added even more excitement to the event. A big thank you to them! Our group was lucky enough to snag a coupon for "Sarashina Tenko."

In Conclusion

The May meeting was a fantastic event filled with new connections and learning opportunities. I was inspired by the passion of young entrepreneurs in our community who are determined to shape the future. I'm happy to get a chance to be part of it.

Reports on Other Youth Group Events

• Check out our report on the Taito Branch Youth Group's March Meeting Business Networking

Join the Youth Group

This event reinforced my belief in the importance of our youth group for young entrepreneurs. It’s a chance to:

• Connect with other young entrepreneurs
• Exchange skills and management tips
• Help boost the local economy

If you haven't joined us yet, why not attend a regular meeting or networking event? It could open up new business opportunities for you.

Would you like to join us in the Taito Branch Youth Division?

There are certain conditions that needs to be fulfilled, but if you are interested, please contact the Secretariat below.

Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Taito Branch Youth Division Secretariat

• Address: Taito Ward Community Center 1st Floor, 2-6-5 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, 111-0033 TOKYO
• TEL: 03-3842-5031