Turning 'Complicated' Social Issues into Value | The Story of the Man Featured on Yahoo News—Employment Clean Planner

Society is full of 'complicated' situations

This is an example of a social media post. It may seem playful, but I am posting it in all seriousness.

Why is that?

We overlook many 'complicated' situations in trivial events. The trigger for trouble always starts with 'subtle discrepancies'. Words, actions, or even intentions labeled as good will sometimes create discrepancies and cause misunderstandings.

Harassment is the same.'Unwanted kindness'—as the saying goes, perhaps power harassment guidance also begins with good intentions.

'Good intentions without malice'

That is precisely why it is troublesome, and at the same time, where the essence of the problem lies.

Pardon the late introduction; I am Yuki Ota, currently serving as the COO and sole PR representative for the SA Group.

While working as a real estate agent specializing in 'complicated' properties, I also launched a new business to promote the Employment Clean Planner qualification, the first of its kind in Japan for preventing power harassment.

Thanks to everyone, I have had increasing opportunities to provide comments for media coverage as a harassment expert.

And on September 29, 2024, I was featured on Yahoo! News and several other portal sites.

My career is full of 'complications'

Advertising agency, real estate industry, harassment prevention—.
At first glance, my career, which has spanned different industries, might look 'complicated.' However, these 'complications' are my core and my value itself.

At the advertising agency, I kept asking myself 'what does it mean to work?' amidst the intense workload.
In the real estate industry, I challenged complex, intertwined rights and learned to unearth 'buried value.' And now, facing the social issue of harassment, I continue the challenge of 'finding new possibilities in risks and pain that tend to be overlooked'.

Although the fields are different, what I aim for is consistent. It is to shine a light on 'problems that everyone notices but pretends not to see' and create solutions that connect to the future.

'Complicated' is, in short, unresolved potential itself.
This is a story about challenging the distortions of society.
And it is also a challenge to philosophize about that story and create new value.

A unique career from advertising agency to real estate

After graduating from Waseda University, I joined a comprehensive advertising agency. At my previous job at Hakuhodo, I was in charge of top domestic clients in beverages, aviation, finance, and other sectors, and worked as a sales team leader in the communication production field, focusing on commercial production.

I was also able to experience many memorable jobs and experiences.

・Overseas travel business trip for the London Olympics (witnessed the moment Saori Yoshida won the gold medal in between!)

・Talent photo shoots (Mei Nagano, Takako Matsu, Aya Ueto, Tomomitsu Yamaguchi...)

・Negotiating a deal with Messi's father despite not speaking a word of a foreign language

・Attending to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the day of the event

・Solo travelinspection

to the game festival 'E3'・Taking a taxi every day for a distance that takes 30

minutes on foot!I experienced all the so-called 'typical advertising agency'

things. Even now, I think that experiencing a major company first was definitely the best choice.However, there is always a 'shadow'

in such a glamorous world...・Overtime started after exceeding 100 hours of overtime (re-energizing with a 'Zosu!!' and starting all-night work! Exceeding a maximum of 200 hours!!)

・24-hour notifications from LINE, Slack, and email that never stop, reflexively replying even in dreams... the tension of not being able to put down your phone for even a single minute or second.

・The Showa-era remnant of 'guts theory' where the one who breaks down is treated as the villain rather than the one who broke them, and enduring until the end is glorified.

In the midst of this, the Dentsu overwork death incident and the COVID-19 crisis occurred. “What do we work for?” A proposition that forced me to face it every single day.

The more I thought about it, the more “Am I really okay like this?” doubts and confusion arose.

Before I knew it, I was living a stifling daily life where I convinced myself that this hardship and busyness were growth and surely the price of my reward, and that just getting through the day was the only thing that brought me relief.

The impatience and vague anxiety about the future, wondering if my income and social status were ultimately just dependent on the company. The chains of having my life and death held by the company would only make things more painful if I didn't break them. I think I was struggling through such conflicts and desperate days.

An encounter with real estate and SA changed my destiny

It was then that I encountered real estate investment. Wouldn't creating a source of income independent of the company answer my problems?

Once I decided that, there was no time like the present. I immediately devoured over 100 books, attended seminars by over 50 companies, and finally achieved my long-held dream of becoming a landlord.

The SA Group, where I currently work, is where I bought my first income-generating property. At the time I purchased the real estate, it was a small organization consisting only of the president (SA Group Representative: Yasuhiro Sakai) and one employee.

Since then, they have steadily grown their business by specializing in vacant houses and 'distressed real estate' that are difficult to sell, and in seven years since founding, they have exceeded 5 billion yen in sales, with the scale of the organization expanding year by year.“Distressed Real Estate” in particular.

However, Sakai had a grand vision that went beyond the boundaries of real estate to address even greater social issues.

That was an unprecedented challenge aimed at a larger market and social problems: to raise harassment literacy and solve employment and recruitment issues for both management and employees. When he first consulted me, it was like being struck by lightning.

It didn't take long to make the decision. After several years had passed since the connection of purchasing an investment property, I decided to join the SA Group.

A unique career creates unique value

The advertising industry, synonymous with long working hours where the lights in the headquarters building never go out and it is mocked as a 'city that never sleeps,' and the real estate industry, often called the embodiment of harassment where it is not uncommon for people to join yesterday and quit today. The experience of this “Black Ivory Tower” that even Goro Zaizen would flinch at is my true value. People tell me, 'It's a waste to quit a major company!', but it is precisely because I jumped out that I can see the questions, the discomfort, and the gratitude.

This sense is what is useful in my current business activities. The various careers I have walked as a company employee, investor, and sole proprietor should surely be of use to society. (I will shamelessly milk the title and connections of being a former Hakuhodo employee that I earned after much hardship!)

Beyond 'complicated' and harassment

To put it extremely, isn't living itself a 'complicated' matter? Everyone carries circumstances and worries and overcomes them. That is precisely why such topics are worth philosophizing about.

“The initiative of a real estate company taking on the harassment problem is interesting,” so we started the private certification and accreditation system called 'Employment Clean Planner' and 'Employment Clean Company Certification System' from scratch with the General Incorporated Association Crea Human Resource Education Association.

In June 2023, I published my first book through the Zaikai Research Institute, which is often described as the Nobel Prize for business leaders, and the book's obi strip featured a contribution from Chairman Kitao of SBI Holdings.

This book analyzes and introduces the issues surrounding harassment—specifically that it is a management risk caused by the erosion of trust and cannot be improved without a change in consciousness at the top—and explains the background behind the creation of this qualification.

Although it is a niche topic and a specialized book, it sold surprisingly well (laughs). It was primarily purchased by small and medium-sized business owners, as well as many people interested in taking the certification course.

However, one year after publication, as the number of students and collaborators for the Employment Clean Planner certification has gradually increased, new questions and challenges regarding 'harassment' have emerged.

Is the definition of harassment correct?

For example, the definition of harassment is 'to trouble someone. Bullying. Harassment.' However, drawing that line is an extremely difficult problem that changes depending on one's perspective and position.

Yet, when you think about it, everything is full of things that cannot be labeled black or white, or divided into yes or no. I am struck by the fact that there are almost no situations where one can cut through the Gordian knot.

A common point of contention is: who is at fault, the 'bully (perpetrator)' or the 'bullied (victim)'?

However, there is a pitfall in this argument. It is framed on the premise that 'one of them is the cause,' effectively making an individual the villain.

In the first place, isn't the premise of thinking about the problem of harassment as a conflict structure between individuals—the 'bully' and the 'bullied'—fundamentally wrong?

Even someone who appears to be a perpetrator is often crushed by responsibility and pressure, and may actually have the side of a victim themselves.

Because harassment is closely related to fundamental human desires, the 'responsibility of society'—which forces individuals to seek social approval and self-actualization while praising winners—is left behind somewhere.

The real problem is the distortion of society where people 'lose sight of the purpose of living,' but the issue of harassment is being shoved into a debate about individual morality.

Therefore, yesterday's victim may become today's perpetrator. And today's perpetrator carries the danger of becoming tomorrow's victim. This phenomenon suggests a structural distortion in society.

We need a perspective that views this as a responsibility of society as a whole, rather than reducing it to an 'individual problem.' What we should be pursuing is a way of being a humane society that transcends labels like 'perpetration' or 'victimization.'

A person who philosophizes about harassment

In Shu Yamaguchi's book 'Critical Business Paradigm,' it is introduced that social issues and business can coexist. The power of the minority cannot be underestimated. It is an era where those who first raise the banner for an agenda that no one else has discovered become leaders and drive society forward.

'Philosophizing about harassment'—I have recently come to like this title. It is a lonely banner of n=1, but from another perspective, it is nothing but potential.

Philosophy is the pursuit of 'living better.' There are many opinions like 'Ugh, another new type of harassment!', but that is wrong.

This is because, in the past, the word 'power harassment' did not even exist. The value of finally recognizing an existence or a problem by giving it a name should be better understood.

Recently, as an activity of our association, we created something called a 'Harassment Chaos Map'. Because it is such a massive social issue, I arrived at the idea that it is a theme that should be addressed through 'co-creation' rather than 'competition'.

I believe that sharing information on SNS and note is a small part of that effort. (I would be happy if you could follow and support me!)
Please see this note for the philosophy of the future brought about by zero harassment and the story of how it was featured on Yahoo! News.

Philosophizing about the 'complicated'

This self-introduction is intended to remain forever unfinished. The person I am today might be gone by tomorrow. Thinking of it that way, I want to continue updating it, aiming for an ideal while whimsically adding, revising, and updating it.

These are the words left behind by Gaudí, the architect who dedicated his life to the construction of the Sagrada Família, an 'unfinished World Heritage site' that has been under construction in Barcelona, Spain, for over 140 years.

In the business world, what is required is to produce results quickly. However, these words from Gaudí teach us the 'aesthetics of pursuing a story'.

• The good fortune of spinning a story over a lifetime
• The composure to look forward to tomorrow and not be chased by 'today'
• Having a long-term vision and living each day with care

Life is a limited time of 4,000 weeks. For us, who are chased by time and required to live busy, hasty lives, isn't 'living in the now' the mindset we need right now?

The top two regrets before death are:
(1st) I wish I had had the courage to live a life true to myself
(2nd) I wish I hadn't worked so hard
A life lived doing what you want to do, in other words, the 'DIE WITH ZERO spirit'—this is the value of living life. (I also recommend this review.)

The essence of 'reasons' (wakeari) is connected to the worries and circumstances that everyone carries.
That is precisely why we have the value of philosophizing about 'reasons'.

From the real estate industry to harassment countermeasures, what I have pursued is shedding light on 'problems often overlooked by society.' And, turning those problems into value.

How we handle 'reasons' will determine the future of society. This is my story, and at the same time, it is your story.

From here on, I will introduce my 'reason' resolution business. Please feel free to consult me if you have any problems.

Zeroing out 'negative real estate' and harassment

Business 1: Japan's first power harassment countermeasure certification

According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, over 80% of working people responded that they 'have strong anxiety, worries, or stress regarding their work or professional life'.

However, no one teaches the correct knowledge for dealing with harassment and labor troubles. As I introduced at the beginning, there is a proverb that says, 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'

There are many situations where you get caught up in trouble or end up at a disadvantage because you don't know the rules of working.

Appearance on 'Reiwa no Tora' which sparked controversial debate
Where there is smoke, there is fire. Looking at it from the other side, one could say that without a spark, a debate cannot begin. To gauge the world's reaction, my appearance on Reiwa no Tora went viral, recording over 1 million views.

Setting aside whether or not to tolerate harassment, it has been proven that harassment countermeasures are an irreversible trend for individuals and companies.

Those without knowledge will be exploited. What are the skills necessary to survive in a capitalist society of survival of the fittest? Challenging this question is where it all began.

After collecting over 5,000 raw voices with reference to monitor students and YouTube viewer comments, and through trial and error, what was born was Japan's first 'Employment Clean Planner' (formerly known as Labor Trouble Consultant) to prevent 'power harassment and labor troubles' before they happen.

What is an Employment Clean Planner (private certification)?

Although it is not yet widely known, as of April 2022, all companies are required to establish a harassment consultation desk.There is no doubt that anti-harassment measures are an irreversible trend, with penalty provisions expected to be established in the future.

One resignation equals a 10 million yen loss! The risk of turnover is often underestimated.
Through interviews with business owners, HR, and general affairs managers, I have found a common thread. Many focus on recruitment but do not consider the costs of turnover. That is precisely why you should first grasp the current situation firmly. When one new graduate employee resigns, it can result in a loss of 10 million yen.

In anticipation of this current situation, I founded the General Incorporated Association Crea Human Resource Development Association and created a new certification program, Employment Clean Planner (private certification), which allows individuals to acquire the correct knowledge and literacy to survive in a harassment-prone society.

We designed the curriculum to be eligible for subsidies (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Human Resources Development Support Grant) and structured the certification to include lecture content that reflects the trends in anti-harassment measures in politics and business.

The appeal of the Employment Clean Planner can be summarized in these three points!

1. Over 500 people have earned the certification!
   They are active as experts who have learned the correct knowledge that can be applied to practical work, job hunting, career changes, and self-improvement.
   

2. Media attention!
   As the first anti-power harassment certification in Japan, it is a featured course that has also been covered on Yahoo! News.
   

3. Top-level content at an affordable price!
   An overwhelming volume of 20 hours. It is an ideal certification for retraining and reskilling, and it is a field with very high future potential. *Unlike other certifications, there are no additional costs for advanced certifications, teaching materials for certification, or separate training fees.

The instructor is Mr. Jun Ono (Certified Social Insurance Labor Consultant). After working in sales at a listed company and serving as a department head and classroom manager at a university preparatory school, he opened his own office. He is a specialist who knows both harassment and labor disputes inside out and also conducts training for other social insurance labor consultants.

This course was born from his own experiences with power harassment in sales, caregiving, the reality of companies with power harassment, and the crystallization of his hardships, efforts, blood, and tears.

Our new project, YouTube 'Employment Clean Channel', works in tandem with Mr. Ono to provide the latest information useful for prevention.

Who is this certification recommended for?
・People already working in HR or compliance departments ・People with past experience of power harassment or resignation ・Managers struggling with how to handle harassment consultations from subordinates・Young employees with a high awareness of learning and self-improvement・Professionals who are outsourced to handle harassment consultations・Psychologists and counselors who want to deepen their knowledge of harassment consultations・Others interested in handling harassment consultations※ Regardless of age or gender, this certification is recommended for those with a high motivation to learn※ As this is a national policy promotion theme, the difficulty level may increase in the future

Acquire lifelong knowledge in one week
By studying this course, we have crafted the content so that you can acquire the knowledge to become a person in charge of harassment consultation desks or use it as a proven track record for job hunting and career changes. It is a latecomer in the harassment certification field. That is precisely why I am proud that we were able to create a course with overwhelming volume and high value after thorough analysis.

We issue 'Employment Clean Company' certification to companies with Employment Clean Planner certificate holders, which they also use in initiatives to increase their corporate value.

Project 2: Rights adjustment for problematic real estate (free consultation, acquisition, purchase, etc.)

In Japan, land suitable for building houses, known as residential land, accounts for only 5% of the country's total area (80% is mountainous, 15% is roads).

Since its founding, SA has been engaged in a revitalization business that breathes new life into low-liquidity real estate. This includes resolving issues with shared ownership (shared interests/joint names), regenerating vacant houses, handling complex rights such as leased land and underlying land, and managing properties that cannot be rebuilt due to not meeting road frontage requirements, all the way to handling eviction cases.

Currently, we are a real estate company designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a registered training institution for the real estate notary exam, and we are also listed on the exam application forms.

In particular, real estate with special circumstances such as shared ownership, properties that cannot be rebuilt, or underlying land cannot secure bank loans. As a result, they fall into a vicious cycle where they cannot find buyers, are left abandoned, and become vacant houses. It is said that the number of vacant houses has now reached approximately 10 million.

At SA, we are a professional group that purchases such difficult, 'complicated' real estate ourselves, investing the time, effort, and money to adjust the rights and regenerate them into properties that can be lived in or sold. Our specialized team has a system where members are available to take calls 24 hours a day. Please feel free to consult with us at any time.
[Phone] 03-6823-2420 (24-hour consultation available)
[LINE] https://page.line.me/?accountId=888loapy

In fact, we have been able to provide purchase offers for 99% of the properties brought to us for appraisal consultations, and we contribute daily to the real estate revitalization business, believing that 'there is no such thing as real estate that cannot be sold'.

Furthermore, as an organization dedicated to tackling comprehensive problems in partnership with professional experts, we established General Incorporated Association Minna de Komon (Representative Director: Naoki Matsumoto), and I have joined as a member.

Gathering people based on Mr. Matsumoto's overwhelming network and charisma, we co-authored and published the book 'Everyone's Inheritance', which explains inheritance in an easy-to-understand way using manga and anecdotes, a project that took over two years from conception to production.

The real estate inheritance section was contributed by our representative, Sakai (a real estate appraiser), and myself. We are currently moving forward with the strongest team and the strongest project, based on our track record of depicting outrageous inheritance episodes in manga format, which has been featured in Yomiuri Shimbun book reviews and many other media outlets.

If you have any trouble with real estate or tax matters, please feel free to consult the 'Minna de Komon' team at any time.

Thank you for reading this far. You, too, who are reading this article, must have had your own 'complicated' moments. These are challenges that we ourselves, as part of society, carry, and at the same time, they are the clues to finding solutions.

The balance of a 'complicated' society may be maintained today by our consideration and kindness.

Finally, a quick announcement.
On my Substack 'Power Harassment Philosophy Bookshelf,' I think about the discomforts of the workplace and human relationships, using one book as a guide each time.
If you are tired of 'being right,' please register for free and read along.