A group photo at Pataya Beach. It was packed with activities like beach activities and temple visits.
Travel guide
Representative: Kanno Chiyou
He is from Nombosato City, Fukushima Prefecture. When he was assigned to a manufacturing company in India, he faced difficulties in dealing with fraud and price negotiations. He decided to relocate to Vietnam to support managers of Japanese companies through his accounting skills, and came to Vietnam in 2016. His hobbies include traveling abroad and reading more than 100 books per year.
Address: #701, 7F, 3D bldg., 3 Duy Tan, Cau Giay, Hanoi
Phone: 024-3212-3450
https://manabox-global.com
Support for entering the market research and advisory services sectorsSupporting Japanese companies in all fields
Our company is a professional group that brings together experts from various fields, including certified public accountants, tax advisors, and lawyers from Japan and Vietnam. We offer one-stop services to meet a wide range of needs, from support for entry into Vietnam to M&A, accounting and tax, and legal matters. Leveraging our multifaceted knowledge and experience, we are fully committed to helping Japanese companies achieve business success in Vietnam.
In 2006, I passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and joined a globally renowned consulting firm. Initially focusing on manufacturing, I started with statutory audits and internal control support, and later, seeking overseas experience, I worked for three years as a financial officer in an Indian Japanese manufacturing company. My experience there has been instrumental in helping companies seeking to expand overseas understand the two major issues they face: the loss of profits and the challenges of their systems.
With the loss of profits, we witnessed the reality of how everyone’s hard work and gains were instantly wiped out due to fraud and a lack of internal controls. Additionally, with the issues in the system, we experienced the chaos caused by the fragmentation of work and the lack of standardization. In particular, with frequent resignations in a short period of time, we strongly recognized the importance of standardization and efficiency.
The reason I started a business in Vietnam was that, in a nutshell, I wanted to support the idea that “if an entrepreneur knows the accounting and legal aspects deeply, they can increase both money and happiness.” I chose Vietnam because a former colleague from my audit firm, who is also a co-investor, approached me when he started a business in Vietnam. From my experience in India, I felt that no matter what I did, I wouldn’t really die, so I wasn’t too afraid of independence.
Experience banana boating, paragliding, snorkeling, and more on beautiful beaches
Taking a commemorative photo in front of the 100-meter-high Buddha statue of Wat Khao Chi Chan, painted with 24K pure gold
Even after starting a business in Vietnam, I still encountered many obstacles. One of the most difficult challenges was increasing sales. To be honest, at first we had no idea about marketing and were completely clueless about how to get people to know our services. However, as we gradually tried various things, we learned how to leverage our strengths and our customers’ trust gradually grew.
Also, I struggled with communicating with the Vietnamese staff at first. The differences in language and culture, as well as the differences in common sense, were more significant than I expected, and I had many times struggled to convey what I wanted to say. However, because of that experience, I became more interested in learning about Vietnamese culture and ways of thinking, and it also provided me with an opportunity to learn alongside the staff. I am truly grateful for the fact that I am able to grow because of the members of Manabox.
Employees choose to travel abroad for company trips; surprise trips provide opportunities for discovery and learning
The employee trips we plan not only provide opportunities for entertainment, but also position them as places for learning. I myself am deeply in agreement with the idea advocated by LifeNet Life Chairman Yukito Ekizaki that “human beings can only learn from three things: people, books, and travel,” and I value the fact that through travel employees gain new perspectives.
As a global company that supports foreign companies, we often have the opportunity to support partners with different cultural backgrounds. Our members are required to think from the other person’s perspective, and this is very important. However, overall, this is where we are weak. To hone this skill, experiences in uncomfortable environments and in the comfort zone—the uncomfort zone—are essential. While traveling, the values and norms we have taken for granted up to now are challenged, leading to new discoveries and learning.
We also prioritize holding our employee trips overseas. The reason is that we want our employees to step out of their comfort zone and grow through surprise and discovery in a different culture. While interacting with a foreign culture, you may realize your preconceived notions that you never knew before. For example, even something as small as Vietnam and Thailand, although they are in Southeast Asia, have different rules for traffic. That’s the part that’s hard to experience when you’re not there in person.
In Vietnam, you can't often experience riding an elephant. You can also fully enjoy interacting with the animals.
In the evening, we took a free stroll around Bangkok City. The dazzling neon lights of the city were truly amazing!
Last time, I also visited the accounting firm J-Crown in Bangkok, Thailand, which is run by my friend. After receiving a company introduction from the representative and interacting with the Thai members, I seem to have discovered various things. One staff member said that they learned about the difference in team schedule management, as they learned that in Vietnam, quarterly declarations are common for VAT (value-added tax), whereas in Thailand, they are required every month. This process forms the foundation for flexible thinking that takes into account the perspective of the other person. As a side note, one female staff member reportedly got picked up by a foreigner at a disco in Pattaya, and she happily reported that it was a good experience (laugh).
Therefore, we view company trips not only as enjoyable time but also as opportunities for growth. We will continue to focus on these events as a place for employees to enhance their individual capabilities. We believe that learning through travel leads to personal growth and the development of the company.
Group photo with J-Crown staff. The interaction took place by mixing Japanese and English!
