Mission
Saving Japanese SMEs in manufacturing, one at the time, by solving the succession problem of ageing business owners
Vision
Our Business Model of "Global Monozukuri" assures long-term sustainable sales turnover and increased profits by creating export business opportunities, modern shared back office services driven by IT solutions, while reducing depency on subcontracting works.
Purpose
Make the brand "Made in Japan" great again through our Founders' Ongaeshi Project, while solving Japan's 2025 Business Succession Problem
About
AKISHA KK occupies a unique crossroads position, having a deep sense of "ongaeshi" (giving back to society), while combining a sustainable and healthy business model.
The company's name alludes to the pervasive issue of "akiya" (empty houses) in Japan, a symptom of declining population and a preference for new construction in urban areas. While the "akiya" problem has spawned B2C2C business models, AKISHA KK focuses exclusively on B2B, through a 100% acquisition scheme.
AKISHA KK's three European founders, each with over 30 years of experience in Japan, recognised the succession challenges facing approximately 1.27 million Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—often highly reputable companies with decades of unique manufacturing expertise and successful business operations.
They realised that their proposed business solution could potentially preserve the employment of some 6.5 million workers and safeguard up to ¥22 trillion in GDP. They viewed their involvement in addressing this challenge as an opportunity to "give back to Japan," a country that has given all three of them so much.
To enhance their local expertise, the founders partnered with two Japanese professionals who manage financial and legal matters and address technical and operational issues related to the acquisitions.
Beyond resolving succession issues, they also realised that many of these Japanese SMEs, while possessing overseas business potential, lacked the market knowledge and foreign language skills to capitalise on these profitable market opportunities.
AKISHA EUROPE BV, located in Belgium, will provide these Japanese SMEs with crucial sales development support, leveraging the founders' extensive networks across the 27 European Union countries.
AKISHA KK aspires to revitalise the "Made in Japan" highly regarded quality label, associated with Japan's "monozukuri" (manufacturing) industry, enabling these small but highly respected Japanese SMEs to reboot, overcome the "Lost Three Decades," and confidently embrace a future of long-term business continuity and sustainability.
AKISHA KK intends to build a vast portfolio of Japanese manufacturing SMEs through 100% acquisitions.
This approach will alleviate owners' concerns about business continuity and employee welfare while improving efficiency through a holistic, shared back-office structure and supporting overseas business development.
AKISHA's deep and wide long-term acquisition approach for manufacturing Japanese SMEs distinguishes it from the short-term profit buy-restructure-sell model common in most M&A transactions.
Are you a Japanese SME owner facing succession challenges? Contact AKISHA KK today to discuss how we can help.
Are you a European business seeking high-quality suppliers, while making effective use of the weak Japanese currency at present? Let us know your needs, and we will be pleased to connect you with suitable Japanese businesses, leveraging our deep understanding of local business practices and culture.