The Story of How a Person Who Stutters Started a Publishing Company and Made Writing Their Greatest Weapon
I have turned 28. I am at an age where people start calling me "around 30," but because of stuttering, I started my own business at 15, and this year marks my 14th year. Having spent more than half of my life as an entrepreneur, I would like to take this opportunity to look back on my life, share why I, someone who stutters, ended up starting a publishing company, and talk about what I intend to achieve from here on out on note.
"28 years old, 14 years of management experience, Representative Director, and holding concurrent positions as an executive officer or higher in 5 companies."
"Numerous media appearances, 10 published books, and a total of over 1 million followers on my company's social media."
My titles have become quite impressive, but in 2026, I decided to begin a challenge unlike anything I have faced before.
"Publish books for 1,000 people through Karube Publishing, produce 1,000 authors, and create the largest author community in Japan."An acquaintance laughed at me, saying, "Are you serious? 1,000 people? Are you out of your mind? lol," but I think it's a great goal because it feels even better to achieve something that others laugh at.
1. Why I ended up starting a publishing company
To tell this story, I need to go back to a class observation day in my sixth year of elementary school.
For the six years since I entered elementary school, I experienced a living hell because of my stutter.
A stutter is a speech disorder where sounds, syllables, or words are interrupted or repeated when speaking. In my case, the most severe type was "blocking," where I get stuck when trying to utter a word.
To explain the situation I would fall into:
When it was my turn to introduce myself during a class reshuffle, it would take me several dozen seconds before I could start speaking.
When it was my turn to read aloud, it would take several dozen seconds before the first character came out as a sound.
When talking with friends, it would take several dozen seconds before the first word came out.
In other words, from the other person's perspective, "if they try to talk to me, there is first a silence of several dozen seconds."
From the perspective of someone who can speak normally, they might think, "Why is this guy silent? Why isn't he reacting?" and I think it is perfectly natural for elementary school students to react by thinking, "This guy is weird," when there is a silence of several dozen seconds during self-introductions or reading aloud.
What happened as a result?
[6 years of being ignored whenever I tried to speak, from 1st to 6th grade of elementary school]
was completed.
Even when I went to school, I couldn't get my voice out to say hello and was laughed at from the morning; during reading aloud or 3-minute speeches, everyone knew I couldn't get my voice out, so I was laughed at every time I got stuck on a word; and even after coming home, I kept saying "everything was normal today" every day because I didn't want to worry my parents.
And I had to live this life for "2,190 days". Even as a child, I felt that this was what a living hell was.
But, my life changed during that class observation in the sixth grade.
During the class observation, we had to present essays we had written in front of the class and our parents, which was the worst situation for me, as someone who stutters, like being stood on a guillotine. I was already sick of being embarrassed in front of everyone.
I believe the theme of the essay was "About Myself." It was the worst; I didn't really have any good memories. I remember being seriously worried about what on earth I was supposed to write.
In the midst of that, what I wrote about was "About Stuttering."
Even now, I think that exposing my own weakness in front of others on purpose was insane back then. Because I had already spent six years having an unpleasant school life due to my stutter.
In that essay "About Stuttering," I wrote about my stutter, what kind of symptoms I had, and that even though I have a stutter, I wanted to be friends with everyone.
When my turn came, I walked up to the podium with heavy steps, and when I stood with my back to the blackboard, I saw my classmates and many parents in front of me. The feeling that I had to speak well somehow took over, and my mind went completely blank.
After a few dozen seconds of silence, I managed to start speaking, but I immediately felt something was wrong. As I thought about and spoke of the painful experiences I had had with my stuttering until then, my vision blurred with tears until I couldn't see. I continued reading the essay along with my own sobbing, but gradually I couldn't stop the tears, and I read through the content of the essay while crying. When I suddenly looked up, I realized that most of the parents were crying, and I could hear the sound of the parents crying, as well as some of my classmates.
When I managed to finish reading to the end and my presentation was over, thunderous applause broke out.
In that moment, I learned something. Even if my voice doesn't come out smoothly, I can communicate through writing. That telling my own story has the power to move people's hearts.
Immediately after the class observation, about half of my classmates came up to me, and
“I didn't really understand about your stutter, but I'm sorry for making you go through such a hard time. If anything happens, just talk to me!”
“I thought you didn't want to talk to us because you didn't want to speak, so I'm relieved! Let's talk about all sorts of things!”
“It's not like I dislike you, Karube, so let's talk more! I'll wait until you start speaking!”
and they said many other things to me.
Perhaps for the first time in my life, I was happy that so many people talked to me and that I could have conversations, and it was the moment when the weapon called "writing" changed my life, even if I couldn't speak smoothly.
Three years have passed since then, and I started my own business at 15, and have published 10 books so far.
Actually, my first publication was when I was a university student. An offer came in from a certain publisher to me, who was active as a student entrepreneur, asking, "Why don't you turn your experiences so far into a book, Mr. Karube?"
Honestly, when I received the offer, I was suuuuper happy.
I, who couldn't even introduce myself properly for six years in elementary school because of my stutter, could now publish a book containing my thoughts. I could put my story out into the world as writing. There was nothing happier than that.
However, after actually experiencing the process of publishing, I felt many things regarding the industry.
The first point was that the hurdles to getting published are abnormally high .
To release a book through a major publisher, you need to be a celebrity, have an existing track record, or have connections. If an ordinary person tries to pitch a project, they are almost always turned away at the door. There is the option of self-publishing, but that is also expensive. It starts at around 4 million yen, and if you include promotion, it can easily exceed 10 million yen. I realized this is a realm completely out of reach for the average person.
In other words, publishing is a tool for a privileged class that has money or an established track record, and it is almost impossible for an ordinary person to release a book.
The second point is that, from the publisher's perspective, it is mostly “once you release the book, it’s over.”
A publisher's job ends at making the book, and selling it is the author's job. Marketing and promotion are left entirely to the author's own efforts. As a result, for most authors, it ends with the self-satisfaction of having “released a book.”
This is truly a waste. It’s a shame that even if you create a good book, it doesn't reach anyone.
And the third point is that there are few communities where authors can connect with each other.
After publishing a book, no one tells you, “What should I do next?” or “How should I sell it?” As a result, most authors stop after one book and never publish again.
I myself thought, “So, what do I do now?” after releasing my first book. I basically did all the promotion on social media by myself.
After that, I started a publishing company where I could release my own books, and I went on to publish several more. And then I realized something.
Between “people who have published a book” and “people who haven't,” the social credibility is overwhelmingly different.
Even if you have the same ability and the same track record, just having the title of “author” multiplies your business opportunities.
I receive invitations to give lectures, even though I am not good at speaking due to my stutter.
I receive interview requests from media outlets that have taken an interest in me.
My social credibility increases, leading to work from major corporations.
Job offers with higher rates than the market average come pouring in.
I felt that this is the effect of the achievement of “publishing your own book.”
In other words, I experienced firsthand that the act of “publishing a book” is not just about putting your knowledge and experience out into the world, but the ultimate weapon for branding yourself.
My current main business is exclusively for companies with annual sales exceeding 30 billion yen as a “branding consultant specializing in master brands,” but at the same time, I am a researcher collaborating with research institutions to study the link between stuttering and IQ and I have supported people taking on challenges (celebrities, business owners, freelancers, professionals, athletes, etc.) in building their branding centered on information dissemination to help them succeed.
In the process, I have been consulted many times by people asking, "I'd like to publish a book too, but how effective is it really?"
Every time I listened to them in detail, there were a few phrases I heard often.
I was turned away when I brought my proposal to a publisher.
I was told self-publishing would cost over 3 million yen, so I gave up due to financial reasons.
I have no track record, so there's no way someone like me could publish a book...
I have heard such voices hundreds of times.
Each time, I felt frustrated.
Because these people absolutely have stories that should be told. They have knowledge and experiences that could help someone. It is such a waste that they cannot give shape to them.
And then, one day, I had a thought.
Well, if I start a publishing company, could these people publish their books too?
It didn't take long from that thought to actually taking action.
People who want to publish a book but cannot due to financial reasons
People who want to convey their thoughts through a book but cannot because they cannot publish one
I want to save these kinds of people.
Thus, "Karube Publishing," which I started myself, was born.Karube Publishingwas born.
2. I have seen many times the moment when life changes by "publishing a book"
As I have been involved with many people as a publishing producer, I have witnessed many timesthe moment when life changes by publishing a bookwitnessed.
One business owner reported that when they published their book, they ran a crowdfunding campaign, turned the supporters and book buyers into a community to empathize with their experiences and thoughts, achieved "true fan building," and saw their sales for the following year nearly double.
A freelancer once told me that after publishing a book, they were recognized as an expert in the IT industry, which led to invitations to give lectures. Before that, they would accept whatever fee the client offered, but after publishing, they were able to set a formal speaking fee and reported receiving over 100,000 yen regularly for each engagement. They were surprised themselves at how much the world changed just by having the title of "author."
An expert once said that publishing a book completely changed their standing within their industry. Before that, they were treated as "just another peer," but the moment they published a book, they were treated by those around them as a "leading authority" in the field. They laughed about how, even though they were the same person before and after publishing, the reactions of those around them changed 180 degrees, with invitations to lecture at universities and requests for serial columns in industry magazines coming in.
Every time I hear stories like this, I am convinced.
Publishing a book has the power to change your life more than you can imagine.
But at the same time,
I want more people to have this experience. I want to create a world where as many people as possible can publish books, not just the wealthy few.
And I want 1,000 people to experience this through my publishing company first. I want to send 1,000 stories out into the world.
Thinking this, I started the “1,000 Authors Project,” and I remembered the words I often heard from people who felt they were "interested in publishing a book" when I first started.
“I don't have any track record or experience to publish a book yet...”
“Nobody is interested in my life, right?”
“Publishing is only for a few successful people, isn't it?”
While there is a social trend that makes people think this way, I think the following.
Your life contains a story that can save someone.
Just as the essay I wrote about stuttering moved someone's heart, your single experience has the potential to change someone's life.
Entrepreneurs have valuable stories of repeated failures and successes.
Freelancers have stories of the struggles and decisions made before quitting their jobs to become independent.
Experts have specialized knowledge and know-how cultivated over many years.
Homemakers have wisdom for living discovered through child-rearing and housework.
Everyone has the value to publish a book.
However, in the existing publishing industry, that value cannot be brought into the world for reasons such as it being too expensive.
That is why I decided. I will produce books for 1,000 people from Karube Publishing.
I will give shape to the "thoughts they want to convey" of 1,000 people.
And I will create the best author community in Japan, where 1,000 people support each other.
3. The mad ambition of producing 1,000 authors
"Publish books for 1,000 people from Karube Publishing"
When I told people about this ambition, almost everyone said, "That's impossible."
Certainly, it is reckless if you think in terms of the conventional publishing industry's common sense. Even for major publishers, the number of books that can be released per year is limited. For one editor, a few dozen books a year would likely be the limit.
But I have been an entrepreneur since I was 15, questioning common sense, creating my own unique management theory that deviates from the norm, and overcoming obstacles to get this far.
When I started my business at 15, I was also told, "It's impossible for a disabled person."
When I was still in my teens, I was posting on mixi, Facebook, and Twitter, and every day, slanderous comments and messages would fly into my accounts where I was sharing information.
"A disabled person starting a business? Quit already, it's impossible anyway."(Original text)
"There's no way you'll succeed by starting a business at 15. Face reality, you idiot."(Original text)
"You're creepy, you brat, just disappear already, go die."(Original text)
Slander like that came every day for about two years, and it was an everyday occurrence for business owners in their late 40s whom I met through social media and then met in person to say things like this to me upon our first meeting:
"It's impossible anyway, so why don't you just quit since an incompetent person like you is trying so hard? Know your place, you brat."(Original text)It was an everyday occurrence.
*(In this day and age, it was truly a lawless zone full of abusive language that would lead to successful disclosure requests if you tried.)*
Nowadays, teenage entrepreneurs don't stand out as much due to the popularity of social media, but I think it felt like I was sticking out in a bad way more than 10 years ago.
But even more than 10 years later, I am still able to continue my business as an entrepreneur today.
Since I was able to succeed in the end even though everyone told me it was "impossible" and I "wouldn't succeed," I felt that the opinions of those around me really didn't matter that much.
When I was in university, for the sake of researching stuttering and IQ, and to grow my own business, I declared that I wouldmeet and talk with over 3,000 people aged 20 and over during my 4 years at university to collect data for my researchand I was told it was "physically impossible."
But I was actually able to meet and talk with over 3,000 people during my 4 years at university, and I was able to collect valuable information in the form of real, raw voices. I still use that Excel data as valuable sample data today.
I want to reach a total of 1 million social media followers in my 20s!When I said that, I was mocked and told, "You're not a celebrity, so there's no way you'll grow that much."
But currently, I have been able to exceed 1 million followers across my four Instagram accounts, and by creating a massive amount of Reel videos for PR projects, my video editing skills improved. That led to an experience where I was recommended and appointed as an executive at a major PR company.
This 1,000 Authors Project is the same.
People say it's "impossible," but I'm just going to make it a "reality."
So, how will I generate 1,000 authors from Karube Publishing?
The first thing is a system where anyone can become an author.
By injecting all the know-how I have cultivated over 14 years in SNS marketing and branding into the publishing process, I have kept initial costs to less than one-tenth of other self-publishing companies.
I have set the price so that it is more accessible than ever if you think, 'I want to publish'.
At Karube Publishing, I have prepared an environment that realizes the ideal that anyone can have the chance to become an author as long as they have the desire to write.
And then, a strategy that links SNS and publishing. This is my greatest area of expertise.
I don't just "publish books," I provide thorough support on how to utilize the books that have been published.
Furthermore, I will build a community exclusively for authors who have published through Karube Publishing.
I want to create a community that brings together 1,000 authors who have published books through Karube Publishing.
I plan to hold author networking events once a month, both online and offline, to create a culture of recommending each other's books and a system for mutual support.
And to create an environment where they can consult on their next publishing projects and aim for a second or third book.
I believe that this community will become the greatest value of Karube Publishing in the future.
4. My personal thoughts behind this challenge
To be honest, generating 1,000 authors from my own publishing company is quite a difficult challenge from a business perspective.
If I only thought about profit margins, there are plenty of easier ways to make money. But I decided to take on this challenge.
Why is that? It is because
Because I myself was saved by 'writing' in the past.
For all six years of elementary school, I lived in hell because of my stutter. I couldn't get the words out. I couldn't speak. I was ignored. I was laughed at.
In those daily struggles, the only thing that saved me was 'text.' With writing, I didn't stutter. I didn't have to make others feel uncomfortable. Depending on how I wrote and expressed myself, I could convey my thoughts with even greater precision than in conversation.
And since starting my own business, I have also worked with many people as a publishing producer.
Business owners, professionals, freelancers, students, homemakers, specialists...
Everyone has wonderful knowledge and experience.
But there are far too many people who haven't been able to give that form.
It is truly a waste.
Your life experience has the power to change someone's life.
Your expertise can be the key to solving someone's problem.
Your story can give someone courage.
That is why I will create 1,000 authors through the form of book publishing.
I will change 1,000 lives for the better through publishing, and with the books those authors create, I will influence the lives of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands more.
I want to trigger that kind of chain reaction.
I will change the world's perception that only the wealthy can 'become authors.'
I will create the option in this world for people who want to publish a book to 'become an author.'
This is my new challenge as a 28-year-old.
Thank you for reading this far.
My writing may be clumsy, but I hope you have been able to understand my passion for publishing.
If somewhere in your heart you think, 'I want to publish a book someday'
If you feel, 'I want to use my experience to help someone'
If you are thinking, 'I want to accelerate my business with the title of author'
If you feel that way, why not create a book with Karube Publishing?
Thanks to everyone, the official Karube Publishing LINE account has surpassed 2,000 subscribers!
Thank you so much!
* (Updated as of February 2026) The official LINE account has surpassed 8,000 subscribers!
In fact, regarding the demographics of people inquiring with Karube Publishing, it is roughly:
Business owners/Professionals (60%)
Sole proprietors/Freelancers (25%)
Homemakers/Full-time homemakers (5%)
Students (5%)
Athletes/Specialists (3%)
Others (2%)
This is the trend!
I am truly grateful to receive inquiries from a wide range of people, not just business owners!
I understand better than anyone the anxiety of wondering, 'Can someone like me really publish a book?'
I am also available to talk via Zoom or in person to explain things until your anxiety about publishing is resolved!
Click here for publishing service materials
Why don't you join us and become an 'author' too?
We look forward to hearing from you!