A Toast to Our Alumni :
Changing from a Certified Public Accountant to a Café Owner

Shimojo Mitsuhiro Born in October 1974. Graduated Saitama Prefectural Omiya High School and graduated the School of Commerce in 1997. In October 1997, he passed the examination for Certified Public Accountants and worked at Tomatsu Audit, Inc., and left there in December 2000. On February 14, 2002, he established Melting Company, Ltd., and on July 7 opened the café, "Melting Pot." Melting Pot Address: 3-8-26, Minami Aoyoma, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to Tel: 03-5775-5377

This week's alumnus is Mr. Mitsuhiro Shimojo, who resigned from his post as a Certified Public Accountant, which he had wanted to do since he was a university student, and at present is managing a café in Minami Aoyama. Now he enjoys his food, clothes and house, which he is really fond of. Although his life is not dramatic, he has enjoyable days, and he must have much satisfaction. What has Mr Shimojo been seeking?

If you do not have good looks, cultivate your own taste. Produce yourself effectively.

He belonged to a handball club when he was a junior and high school student. He had the best grades in all subjects at his high school. He was good at sports, study and art. He studied hard and at the same time he was a good athlete. He aimed at perfection on all points, but he said that "I recognised that I did not have good looks, so I changed the way of my self-promotion. I have regarded my sense and abilities as my merits." He was convinced that his study and creativity would support him. When he entered the university, he did not want to narrow the choices of his life and decided to study management in general. He was admitted to the School of Commerce by recommendation. He wanted to be a Certified Public Accountant, because it is a professional job, and he wanted to test his ability since he entered the university by recommendation of a designated high school. Since the end of his first year, he had begun to go to a professional school, and at the same time he continued to attend the university seminar and was engaged in club activities. He also had received a scholarship until he graduated. "Focussing on my preparation for the Certified Public Accountant examination, I managed club activities and lead my academic seminar.

A rough schedule is important. I wish to leave my mark on something by 30!

He took charge of auditing, offering shares to the public and carrying out company evaluations when he was a Certified Public Accountant. He felt comfortable, no matter how busy he was. After he worked for a year however, he realized that his future would not be promising. "I want to do what only I can do," he thought and worried about his future. He knew a unique man. Although his brother did not know anything about running a bakery, he decided to become a baker just before he was appointed a university lecturer. Mr. Shimojo learned that such a way of life was possible. He had lost his father when he was a nursery school boy, and his mother supported his decision, saying, "Once you have decided to do something, do it!" He worked as a part-time chartered public accountant, while he studied French sweets and cuisine, wine, coffee and tea for one and half years at a professional school. "It is important that you make a rough schedule to the point that you want to reach. You may sometimes take a rest on the way if you are going in the right direction. Although you make a very hard effort, your effort might be fruitless, and it might be nothing but self-satisfaction if you are going in the wrong direction."

Once you start, things will be going well if you do your best.

He chose furnishings and decorations, all of which suited his taste. "I would like to propose a comfortable life itself." He exploited his five senses. At first it was hard for him to maintain a good business situation. Now, however, he lives life at his own pace, though he deals with purchasing, cooking and management by himself. Knowledge and experience, which he had gotten as an accountant, are useful for management. He gets less income than when he was an accountant, but he says, "I enjoy myself because I am working for what I like and want to do." Sometimes I face difficulty, but the benefit is much bigger. As I am young, I do not worry about a failure, yet I have been working not to fail. I will not fail completely because I have working experience. It is important to know about business. Your daily studies at the University are also important."

Can you say that you are happy?

I am considering increasing the number of shops. But if I manage several shops, I will be getting on the side of management. Communication with the customers would decrease. If so, opening the shop with all that effort would become meaningless. "I would like to manage only one shop at my own pace. Now I have connections with various people, and these connections will extend infinitely. I can say I am happy if I die in this business world."