The reason I decided to start my own business was because I'd been playing in an orchestra since I was a student. When I needed maintenance for my instrument, and later when I bought my first instrument after turning 20, the music store I frequented told me that the person who made double bass cases could no longer continue their business due to various circumstances.
After graduating from high school, I had worked for a handbag manufacturer and had experience sewing on a machine myself. Taking that into account, a strong feeling welled up within me: "Perhaps I should be the one to do this."
I had also been thinking about starting a business that would combine my hobbies and provide a practical income, so I decided to go independent. I asked the music store to introduce me to the person who made double bass cases, and we met. When I told them I wanted to take over the business, they said, "That's unusual," and that still sticks with me today.
They agreed to let me go independent and gave me the case patterns and materials. Based on those, I had samples made at a sewing factory in Chiba. After several trials and errors, I showed the prototypes to the music store, and they gave me the "go ahead" by saying, "This looks good!" That's how my business got started.
