My business experience started when I was 8 years old with a stall selling vintage clothing and odds & sods in Petticoat Lane, London. My first 'real'​ job was at the Bank of China in London, followed by a short City stockbroking stint and then on to a travel agency where I became manager at the ripe old age of 21. During this time I ran one of London's first mobile discos. My love of music led me to set up a band management/music publishing company but not before an advertising company, the sole product of which was indestructible ad boards in men's toilets (an industry first at the time). The music business was financed by a record shop and a potato & egg distribution company that I ran with my business partner (supplying fish & chip shops, together with a home delivery service). This was fun but tiring so I planned a 2 month holiday in Japan. Those two months have now stretched into 48 years and counting. My initial endeavors here were related to the development of shiitake mushrooms and freezing technologies for fresh fish, as well as packaging to maintain freshness of not only fish but produce in general. The past 46 years or so have been spent in import/distribution and export of an extremely wide range of industrial & consumer products. During that time I have also worked on special projects with overseas governments to open the market here for certain product categories and advised on adaptions to Japanese traditional crafts and products to better serve overseas markets. Apart from import/distribution, my company also acts as a local office for overseas suppliers and as an export management office for Japanese manufacturers. This helps to save costs for those we represent and provide the knowledge, expertise, and connections developed over the years. We are also licensing agents representing brands, characters and artists. I do not consider myself an entrepreneur. My goal has always been to survive but in doing so, I hope I can help others do the same.