SURVIVOR

One-chair hair salon survived 7 yr · SURVIVOR

Inoue Sota, 65 · 7 yr

“Payroll day for 2 people is scarier than any horror movie smh”

Not success, but still here. Year 7.

7 years in, you still open the door in the same place. The shop pays well, and you have 42 regulars. After rent and payroll, ¥9,192,356 a year is left. You do not call it success. You just say you are still here.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openInoue Sota, 59. You have decided to try starting a company in Tokyo. No idea, no product yet. Savings ¥9,152,220, no job.
2. Debt from day onePersonal debt: ¥48,313 a month for 87 months. It comes out regardless of the company.
3. 2/2026: what now?Start a business: «One-chair hair salon» — You are going with «One-chair hair salon». Next: a location and people.
4. Where to start, and with whatCheap rent down an alley — The rent is low, but customers take time to find you. You chose word of mouth instead of a sign.
5. Who opens the doors with you?Part-timers for the rush hours only — Two students took turns. Both told you their exam weeks in advance. You were grateful.
6. 2026 · year 1 beginsUS Rates Rose Again
7. 2/5 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
8. An insurance agent dropped byNo insurance — You sent the agent away.
9. 3/24 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 4% rise.
10. 4/11 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe USD/JPY rate rose to 163. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
11. 4/2 · A death in the familyYour father passed away. You taped a note to the door: closed for family reasons.
12. Your father’s funeralA quiet family funeral — You said goodbye quietly, just the family.
13. How to handle the bad reviewsReport them to Google Maps — Google Maps removed some reviews. Not all of them. You saved screenshots and waited for the next one.
14. 5/17 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
15. 6/4 · Building repairsWork started on the building’s facade. Scaffolding went up in front and hid your sign.
16. 7/11 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
17. Your body wants to stop firstHand it to your employee — The employee took over opening and closing. You were nervous at first. A week later, they were better at it than you.
18. 8/11 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
19. 8/17 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
20. 9/18 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
21. 10/3 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
22. 10/5 · A family emergencyThe school called about your child. You left the work in other hands and rushed over.
23. The “¥2,000,000 a month or your money back” courseBlock the ad — You block it and another account posts the same ad. The money is still in your account.
24. 11/7 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
25. 11/24 · A competitor made a moveA shop in your line opened across the street. A big grand-opening discount banner went up.
26. 1/25 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
27. A review farm makes an offerDecline — You deleted the message. That week one customer left a good review on their own. One.
28. US Rates Rose AgainSignals of Fed tightening strengthened the dollar, and this country's funding rates followed. When the USD/JPY rate jumped, costing got complicated again for anyone buying imported ingredients or parts.
29. Year 1 closeRevenue ¥13,775,082, operating profit ¥5,605,044. Cash ¥6,204,464.
30. 2027 · year 2 beginsAn Unexpected Break · The minimum wage rose 5%
31. 2/5 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe USD/JPY rate rose to 166. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
32. 2/12 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
33. 3/7 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
34. 3/20 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
35. 4/20 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
36. 4/22 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
37. A gap opened in the rotaMake an urgent replacement hire — There were a few mistakes in the first week. From the second week you had time to rest.
38. 5/6 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
39. 5/10 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
40. 6/20 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 3% rise.
41. 7/3 · FamilyYou talked with your family for a long time. Someone said, “You come before the money.”
42. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
43. 8/17 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
44. 8/22 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
45. 9/29 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
46. Raise the service standardDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
47. 11/3 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
48. 1/10 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
49. 1/30 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
50. Do you raise prices?Raise prices 10% — The day you changed the price tags, one regular said, "That is a big jump." He came back the next week. Another did not.
51. An Unexpected BreakAn old acquaintance called with a contract, and one introduction led to another. They say luck only comes to the prepared, but some moments cannot be explained by preparation alone.
52. The minimum wage rose 5%From October, regional minimum wages rose 5% on average. The hand rewriting the wage table stopped for a moment. The staff were glad. The ledger sighed.
53. Year 2 closeRevenue ¥13,862,058, operating profit ¥4,692,282. Cash ¥5,455,882.
54. 2028 · year 3 beginsA Quiet Year
55. 2/9 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
56. 2/22 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe USD/JPY rate rose to 164. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
57. 3/3 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 5% rise.
58. 4/14 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
59. Staffing up before peak seasonDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
60. 5/12 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
61. 6/29 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
62. 7/14 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
63. Demand is outrunning the teamHire one employee — There were a few mistakes in the first week. From the second week you had time to rest.
64. 8/24 · Building repairsWork started on the building’s facade. Scaffolding went up in front and hid your sign.
65. 9/29 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 5% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
66. 10/5 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
67. Your staff member didn’t show upCover it yourself — You served, did their share as well as yours, and closed up. By evening your hands were shaking. A new job ad went up the next week.
68. 11/5 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
69. 11/24 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
70. Someone else has quitMake an urgent replacement hire — You hired the person who laughed most in the interview. Customers learned their name before you did.
71. 12/17 · More regularsA regular brought a coworker. “I’ve told everyone about this place.”
72. 12/24 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
73. 1/23 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
74. Do we register for the invoice system?Do not register — You saved on tax. One company quietly stopped ordering. Another said, "Sorry, but could you come down a little on the unit price?"
75. A Quiet YearNothing much happened. You got up at the same time every day and did the same work. That repetition can build something, or wear a person down.
76. Year 3 closeRevenue ¥19,111,437, operating profit ¥6,671,644. Cash ¥6,728,982.
77. 2029 · year 4 beginsA weak yen and a surge in inbound tourists
78. 2/3 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
79. The lease is upNegotiate the rent down — The landlord came down to 1%. “If you are staying a while.”
80. 3/5 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 6% rise.
81. 3/8 · FamilyYour family packed you lunch. The note said, “Eat properly.”
82. 4/3 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
83. 4/11 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe USD/JPY rate rose to 164. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
84. Short-staffed: do we bring in foreign workers?Cut the hours and run it alone — You taped a notice to the door: "For now, open until 17:00." The regulars understood. The evening revenue did not come back.
85. 5/16 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
86. 5/17 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
87. 6/8 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
88. 6/24 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
89. 7/27 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
90. Demand is outrunning the teamHire one employee — The recruiting fee was spent, but no suitable candidate was found.
91. 8/28 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
92. One pair of hands short at the rushMake an urgent replacement hire — A new colleague joined. Work is shared, but payroll and onboarding are now recurring responsibilities.
93. 9/6 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
94. 10/23 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
95. Do you open a second location?Stay as you are — You chose one shop. The shops next door got bigger. Yours got deeper.
96. 11/5 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
97. 12/15 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
98. 1/8 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 8%. You redid your prices.
99. 1/11 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
100. The shop looks tiredLeave it — The sign went through the winter with a bulb out. You saw first-time customers hesitate at the door.
101. A weak yen and a surge in inbound touristsAs the yen weakened, the station square filled with people pulling suitcases. The lines grew first at shops that added English and Chinese signs.
102. Year 4 closeRevenue ¥23,567,373, operating profit ¥6,619,820. Cash ¥7,002,979.
103. 2030 · year 5 beginsThe Tech Investment Cycle Came Back
104. 2/17 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
105. 2/26 · More regularsYou now know more than ten customers by name, and you catch yourself asking, “The usual?”
106. 3/22 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
107. 3/30 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe USD/JPY rate rose to 162. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
108. 3/15 · Water damageWater came through from upstairs. Two days closed, the ceiling opened up. Repairs: ¥211,368.
109. 4/26 · FamilyYour family packed you lunch. The note said, “Eat properly.”
110. Priorities for the next three monthsGrow revenue — You got back in touch with past customers one by one. A few more customers came, though not as many as the money spent.
111. 5/13 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
112. Someone else has quitDefer for free — For now the people left will cover it. The day got longer by one person.
113. 6/4 · Building repairsWater leaked from upstairs. You and the landlord argued over who pays for the stain on the ceiling.
114. 6/9 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
115. 6/8 · Water damageWater came through from upstairs. Two days closed, the ceiling opened up. Repairs: ¥121,788.
116. 7/13 · A competitor made a moveThe shop directly opposite started 15% off. A few regulars went there.
117. 8/20 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
118. 9/20 · The exchange rate pushed up import billsThe USD/JPY rate rose to 162. Imported supplies and spare parts follow it up.
119. 10/4 · Down sickA sore throat and a fever. You got through the day in a mask.
120. 10/14 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
121. Demand is outrunning the teamImprove the workflow — The training worked. The team improved without adding headcount.
122. 11/10 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 4%. You redid your prices.
123. 12/23 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
124. 1/17 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
125. 1/18 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
126. The first cushionKeep it as a reserve — You opened a separate account. Every time you checked the balance, your shoulders dropped a little.
127. The Tech Investment Cycle Came BackSpending on AI infrastructure and software increased, and chip and IT export figures improved. Even with recession talk everywhere, only technology budgets were moving in another direction.
128. Year 5 closeRevenue ¥21,440,611, operating profit ¥7,096,140. Cash ¥7,448,630.
129. 2031 · year 6 beginsThe Currency Calmed Down · A Competitor Opened Right Outside
130. 2/26 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
131. 2/27 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
132. 3/26 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
133. 3/30 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
134. One pair of hands short at the rushMake an urgent replacement hire — You hired the person who laughed most in the interview. Customers learned their name before you did.
135. 4/7 · FamilyYour family packed you lunch. The note said, “Eat properly.”
136. The competitor cut pricesCut prices with them — The first week after the cut, customers came back. The second week, the competitor cut deeper. Nobody knows where this ends.
137. 5/12 · Your mentorAn old mentor called. “What scares you most right now?” they asked.
138. 5/27 · Building repairsWork started on the building’s facade. Scaffolding went up in front and hid your sign.
139. 6/26 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 3% rise.
140. 7/9 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
141. 7/22 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
142. Keep going like this?Hold on with what you have — You decided not to change. Instead you went over what you do, line by line.
143. 8/17 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
144. 9/10 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
145. 9/13 · Down sickA sore throat and a fever. You got through the day in a mask.
146. 10/12 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
147. Demand is outrunning the teamHire one employee — There were a few mistakes in the first week. From the second week you had time to rest.
148. 11/4 · Word got aroundA post in a local community said “this place is good.” Customers came in without warning today.
149. 11/13 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
150. 12/22 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
151. 1/5 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
152. Priorities for the next three monthsGrow revenue — You raised the search-ad budget. Clicks went up; only some of them bought.
153. The Currency Calmed DownThe dollar's strength eased and the USD/JPY rate came down. Imported material costs fell a little, and anyone paying overseas suppliers could breathe again.
154. A Competitor Opened Right OutsideSame trade, similar goods, prices 10% lower. From the first week, your regulars walk toward it. Competition is not an abstract word; it is the sign visible outside your window.
155. Year 6 closeRevenue ¥19,276,126, operating profit ¥5,700,811. Cash ¥6,316,477.
156. 2032 · year 7 beginsThe Neighborhood Is Changing · Global Energy Prices Surged
157. The lease is upNegotiate the rent down — The landlord came down to 0.5%. “If you are staying a while.”
158. 3/20 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
159. 3/24 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 8%. You redid your prices.
160. Someone else has quitMake an urgent replacement hire — A new colleague joined. Work is shared, but payroll and onboarding are now recurring responsibilities.
161. 4/25 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
162. 4/27 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
163. 5/23 · More regularsA regular brought a coworker. “I’ve told everyone about this place.”
164. 6/5 · Records requested by the tax officetax office requested records for PayPay sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
165. 6/13 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
166. 7/30 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
167. The till doesn’t add upFire them and press charges — Two statements at the station. A settlement returned part of it. You set new closing rules in front of the remaining staff.
168. 8/17 · Minimum wage announcementA minimum wage increase was announced. Payroll and prices have to be recalculated.
169. 9/6 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 5%. You redid your prices.
170. 10/25 · Word got aroundA post in a local community said “this place is good.” Customers came in without warning today.
171. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
172. 11/5 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
173. 11/18 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
174. 12/8 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
175. 1/10 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
176. Year seven: what now?Keep the shop you have — You decided to keep one shop. It is not a big success, but you can keep opening and closing the door.

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