並木孝之さん、藤沼航平さん

Takayuki Namiki (right)
2014 Tax Professional Course Enrollment

Kohei Fujinuma (left)
Enrolled in the Tax Professional Course in 2014 and the Accounting Professional Course in 2017 (using the multi-degree system)

What motivated you to enroll in graduate school?

Namiki: It all started with the previous director of the tax accountant's office where I worked for nearly 30 years, the predecessor of Sakanoue Tax Accountants Corporation. When Director Kosuge, who graduated from Chiba University of Commerce, fell ill, I decided to go to graduate school to obtain a tax accountant's license, as I didn't want to leave the 20 or so employees out in the street. The biggest reason for going to graduate school was that I could see the future. I had passed four subjects in the tax accountant exam about 30 years ago, and I was in a situation where I only had one subject left to register as a tax accountant, but when you aim to pass each subject, you can't see the future. But when I went to graduate school, I had to complete my thesis, which was difficult, but I worked hard. Everyone at the office supported me during my time at graduate school, and I was able to concentrate on my studies.

Fujinuma: As the successor to my family business, I had already decided to aim to become a certified tax accountant, but I was also attracted to the idea of gaining knowledge of international taxation and case law research, which are subjects that are rarely studied in the process of passing exams, and so I decided to enroll.

Why did you choose this university/graduate school?

Namiki: There are many professors who can supervise tax law dissertations. I looked at other graduate schools, but I chose this school because of the number of supervising professors, rather than the location. I commuted to the Ichikawa campus from my home in Saitama, and to the Marunouchi campus from our office in Matsudo, making use of both campuses.

Fujinuma:My father graduated and completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Chiba University of Commerce and I am also an undergraduate, so it was a natural progression for me to enroll. There was also the recommendation of Hideo Yazawa Visiting Professor of this graduate school, who was my father's mentor. After entering the school, I was also under the care of the professor.

What did you gain from studying at university or graduate school?

Namiki: My friends. I enrolled at the age of 56, so I thought I would be alone and spend my time there just trying to get a qualification. But once I enrolled, I made friends that went beyond the boundaries of my seminar, and even now, several years after graduating, I still have ongoing relationships with seven or eight of them. Before COVID, we had a gathering called the "Taka Club" that met once a month, and we continue to have family-like relationships.

Fujinuma: During my undergraduate years, I attended a vocational school and a university, and I felt that the teachers at the university taught me knowledge for studying for exams, while at graduate school, they taught me practical knowledge, which I think is very different. I think it can be said to be highly specialized knowledge. Also, as Mr. Namiki said, it's the network of contacts and horizontal connections that matter most.

Has the content of the classes been useful to you in your work?

Namiki: Since I specialize in inheritance, "inheritance planning practice," "non-life insurance consulting," and "life insurance consulting" were directly related to my work. Although I am not a specialist, I think I was able to acquire basic knowledge that will be useful when working in a team with the insurance industry, banks, judicial scriveners, etc.

How did you two, who came from different seminars, end up working at the same tax accounting firm?

事務所
The two of them work at Sakanoue Tax Accountants Corporation

Namiki: Maybe it was a little difficult for everyone to talk to me, so everyone would talk to me in a roundabout way through a certain student (laughs). Fujinuma and I were in different seminars, but we were good friends even though we didn't have much contact, so we're still in touch like this.

Fujinuma: During graduate school, I worked at other offices and helped out at my parents' home, but I continued to have connections with Mr. Namiki after graduating, and he always called out to me. I started working at this office in February 2022.

Namiki: I also met Fujinuma's father and said hello. I said, "I'll take care of (Fujinuma), so please let me take care of him."

Please give a message to those who have no work experience or are considering continuing their studies

Namiki: Even if you don't have work experience, our office is keen to hire people who have completed graduate school. We will teach second generation employees like Fujinuma-kun and those with no work experience from scratch, so we want you to gain experience. As for passing the subjects, I think if you take just one tax law and one accounting course, you will be able to see further ahead.

Fujinuma: It was hard when I first started working. It's hard up to that point, but now I'm able to visit clients and take on consultation work little by little.

Namiki: In my opinion, a tax accountant's job is 80% communication with clients and 20% knowledge of tax law. A tax accountant in his 30s will be talking to CEOs of small and medium-sized businesses in their 60s and 70s, so it is essential that he has knowledge of tax law in order to be able to communicate appropriately, and being able to communicate will lead to gaining the trust of clients. I think it's a good idea to go on to graduate school without hesitation. I made some really good friends, and I was able to turn the four subjects of the tax accountant exam I passed 30 years ago into a "tax accountant qualification."

Fujinuma: When I first enrolled, I had no work experience, so there were many things I couldn't understand in class. But with the support of my classmates, including Mr. Namiki, I think I was able to keep up. I think studying at a graduate school leads to a lot of learning, and you can gain lifelong friends and knowledge.

The two students achieved their goal of obtaining qualifications through this graduate school.
Even now, several years after graduating, their expressions are still vivid and shining as they reminisce about that time.