Will you stand by, watching a nation fade?
Or will you stake your life fighting for Japan?
For a resource-poor Japan, one weapon remains—our last and greatest: tourism. Across this country, land and vacant homes that hold the key to the tourism industry lie dormant by the mountainload. Transforming those empty houses into places to stay that travelers from around the world will visit—that is the work, and the mission, of Stay Buddy.
This nation is flooded with nothing but negative headlines, yet I am truly in love with Japan, and I am grateful to the society that raised me. That is precisely why I have no intention of standing idly by, watching it decline. I am prepared to stake my life on halting that decline and driving this country forward.
This is the work of selling the value of "Japan" to the world through the lens of tourism. The work of developing this country by relentlessly championing that value. It is the polar opposite of following a manual—it is the work of forever seeking answers in the dark: extraordinarily difficult, yet extraordinarily thrilling. The battlefield is Osaka. The very front line of Japanese tourism.
If any part of this message resonates with you, please reach out. And if even a flicker of "this may not be for me" crossed your mind, please do not contact us.
President & CEO Shuhei Makiki
Hanshin Tigers Beat Reporter
Rigorously honed the "reporting and articulation" skills that move people's hearts through words.
Salaryman × Side-Hustle Founder
Launched a food-sector venture while working a corporate job. Surpassed 20,000 followers as a gourmet influencer, learning B2C business on the front lines.
Copywriter/Producer
Directed PR and brand strategy for over 100 companies at a branding firm. Sharpened the craft of converting ideas into "words that sell."
Opened a Restaurant
Opened a yakiniku restaurant in Osaka. Established hands-on expertise in attracting inbound customers to a physical storefront.
Founded Stay Buddy Inc.
Founded the company to pour every ounce of that experience into "Japanese tourism."
Stay Buddy by the Numbers
Properties Managed
30
buildings
Property Revenue
22
M JPY / month
CEO's Age
32
years
Total Social Followers
50
K
*As of November 2025
The Work at Stay Buddy
MARKETING&SALES
Uncover the diamond in the rough, and run alongside the owner.
Sourcing & Proposals
Pound the pavement to research vacant homes and underperforming properties hidden throughout the city. Armed with a hypothesis—"This place could become a stay like this"—you propose a utilization plan to the owner.
This is no ordinary sales role. It is the work of earning trust, taking on the responsibility of someone's assets and their life.
PRODUCE&CREATIVE
Turn a vacant house—a liability—into a revenue-generating asset.
Planning & Production
Affluent Western travelers, or Asian families? You design the concept—"Why stay here?"—and craft the entire world of the space, from interior design to furniture styling.
Working alongside our creative director, you bring a one-of-a-kind "work of art" to life.
WEB MARKETING
Generate lasting revenue through strategy and storytelling.
Marketing & PR
A single tweak to a photo's saturation, one line of copy—these can change the bottom line. Wielding know-how passed down directly from our former-influencer CEO and insights forged through real results, you deliver our appeal to guests around the world.
This is the work of actively "bringing in" your target audience—never simply waiting for them to arrive.
OPERATION & HOSPITALITY
Hospitality beyond borders. Creating moving experiences and loyal fans.
Operations
From booking inquiries to in-stay support—through multilingual communication and cleaning quality perfected down to the last detail, you deliver truly moving experiences to every guest.
You practice the ultimate hospitality that AI could never replicate—turning even a mishap into the spark that creates a devoted fan.
Job Openings
- Positions
- Tourism Producer (Sales & Planning) / Operations Management (Admin & General Affairs)
- Who We're Looking For
- Loves Japan Ready to stake their life on the work
- Compensation
- Negotiable
- Location
- Osaka / Sapporo