The Story of How I Held an Event to Enjoy the Not-So-Fun 'Tax Return'

"Is cleaning fun?"

When a young Sanma Akashiya was asked that question by his mentor, Shofukutei Matsunosuke, it left a lasting impression on him.
That story has been stuck in my head ever since.

"No, it is not fun."

Sanma answered honestly at the time.
The exact same answer comes to mind when the season for tax returns arrives, and the thought that it is "not fun" or "not interesting" inevitably pops into my head.Just like cleaning was for Sanma, I think for most sole proprietors in the world, "tax returns" are not fun.

But, this story about Sanma continues like this.

When I heard this story, it was quite shocking.
Depending on how you think about things, there is always room for ingenuity.If so, then surely, depending on how you think about it, tax returns could also be interesting.

This time, with the help of many people, I put this seemingly absurd idea into practice in the form of an event called "The Tax Return and Office Supplies Exhibition," and I would like to share the results.

Scenes from The Tax Return and Office Supplies Exhibition

We rented out the first to third floors of "Kosugiyu Tonari," a coworking space next to the "Kosugiyu" public bath in Koenji, Tokyo, for the day to hold this event.

They even put up banners and posters outside, allowing us to welcome a wide range of customers, including not just coworking members, but also general visitors, passing tourists, and even people who had just finished a bath.

Upon entering the shop, you were greeted by a 5-meter-long giant receipt.
I prepared it enthusiastically for this event, and I think it served well to convey the image of the event.

At the venue, we sold items selected by our shop, Docket Store, themed around tax returns, accounting, and office supplies.

YACHT's TETAMPO, which allows you to warm your fingertips with heated adzuki beans inside while taking a break from your smartphone.
Since Kosugiyu Tonari lent us a microwave, many people were soothed by being able to experience the warmth on the spot.

HIMOJIMOJI's Worker's Box, which helps tidy up a room just by putting scattered documents, including tax return forms, into clear folders, was also well-received.
Fans of HIMOJIMOJI even traveled from outside the prefecture to enjoy shopping.

And, books from Tomei Shoten, which has a store in Kuramae, were also sold.

At the venue, Kosugiyu Tonari, the menu using craft cola provided at the cafe was very popular, with drinks served in unique cups labeled "Meeting Expenses" and "Entertainment Expenses."

The menu, which included not just soda but also cola concentrate mixed with milk, was something I tried myself and found very delicious, and it seemed many people enjoyed it as well.

With permission from the author, Awanimaru, we exhibited "The RPG for Working Hard on Tax Returns," which is a game that practices enjoying tax returns, and many game lovers were seen playing the publicly available prologue to the end.

When you went up to the second floor, you could experience the latest model of the 'ScanSnap' scanner, which boasts the top domestic market share from PFU, in a tatami mat space.
Some people were receiving explanations from the staff, while others had brought the receipts they had piled up to finish their tax returns, so someone was always using it.There were even people who decided to purchase a scanner on this occasion before heading home, so I feel we were able to play a role in streamlining the troublesome parts of the tax return process.

And the most popular part of the event was the consultation corner, 'Confessional for Tax Matters,' hosted by Masahiro Miyazaki, a tax accountant and representative of the Miyazaki Accounting and Tax Office.
The 13 reservation slots for 20-minute sessions filled up immediately, and we had many people visit us.

While tax accountants are reliable, normal points of contact, such as contacting them directly or being introduced through a Chamber of Commerce, can be nerve-wracking.
This time, the style of being able to consult casually within the fun atmosphere of the first floor was very well received, and I feel we were able to help people take a step forward from the anxious state of not knowing what tax returns or tax accountants are like.

Since it was a niche theme like tax returns and an event running from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, I was worried about how many customers would come, but when we opened the doors, it turned out to be a well-attended event with customers visiting steadily until closing time.

While I wouldn't go as far as to say 'Tax returns are fun!', I think it was a great success as an event where people could learn about something that feels troublesome and intimidating like tax returns in a fun atmosphere, and buy tools to make it more efficient.

If I can continue to plan things with this kind of approach in the coming years, tax returns might gradually become something that sole proprietors can 'enjoy'. Once again, thank you to everyone who visited and everyone who cooperated.
Thank you very much.

And if you are interested in the event, I would be happy if you could share this note or hit the like button, as it will be motivation for me to hold it somewhere again next year.

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