Yuko Tashiro, Chairman of the Board, Accordia Golf Co., Ltd.

"Golf will definitely help you in life"

Yuko Tashiro, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Accordia Golf Co., Ltd. (As of December 13, 2024)

■ Profile
Born in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1954, she married and moved to the United States at the age of 19. She studied accounting at university while raising her children. After graduating, she joined KPMG as a certified public accountant and became a partner (co-owner). After returning to Japan, she served as CFO at the Japanese branches of several American companies. In 2011, she moved to Tohoku and volunteered to support companies affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. She became president of Accordia Golf in 2016 and has been chairman since 2021. Her books include "SHINE: Women, Let's Shine More Brightly."

Accordia Golf (hereafter referred to as Accordia) has been attracting attention for running golf courses from a female perspective and hosting women-only golf events, including Yotsukaido Golf Club (Chiba Prefecture), which is based on the concept of being "Japan's most female-friendly golf course." Since becoming president, Yuko Tashiro, the company's chairman and CEO, has been pushing for company reforms. We spoke to her about her experiences in the United States, Accordia's management policies, and the ideas she values.

■The difficulties I faced overseas are what led to my current career

I started attending university in the United States in my late twenties while raising my children. The students were younger than me, and I was the only Japanese student there at the time. I had to do housework and raise my children, so I couldn't hang out with friends after school or participate in club activities, but I was able to focus on my studies.
Thanks to that, my grades improved and I realized that if I worked hard, I could be recognized by society. It was a major experience that has helped me to this day.

What will happen to employment after graduation? I am a Japanese housewife in my 30s. I thought that if I had some kind of qualification, I would be able to find employment, so I decided to obtain an accountant qualification. However, I did not expect to have the career I have now.
Just before graduating, a partner at KPMG, one of the world's four largest accounting firms, asked me, "If you can speak Japanese, why not come work for us?" Until then, I had thought that being Japanese was a disadvantage for me, but I was shocked to learn that it could actually be a factor in getting selected!

It taught me that "even things that you think are negative for you now can become positive if you change your perspective." Even if the experience was tough at the time, it was those hardships that made me who I am today. Before attending university, I never even considered building a career in America, but a series of coincidences led me to where I am today, and I think that my determination to take on the opportunity and give it a try has led me to where I am today.

■ Connections with people are assets

I believe that connections with people are the most important assets in life. However, if we leave these connections alone, they will naturally fade away as each person's environment changes. That's why we need to make an effort to maintain them. It can be something small, like exchanging updates over email or sending New Year's cards. I feel that by making these kinds of efforts, we can maintain long-lasting connections with others. And connections with people can influence our lives in unexpected ways. I came to Accordia because a colleague from my time in the United States asked me, "Why don't you try working for a company called Accordia?" I believe it's important to cherish connections with people and have the courage to take the first step yourself.

■Golf courses that meet changing needs

Since becoming president of Accordia, I have constantly considered how to make golf courses more attractive to customers. While long experience on the management side tends to bias one's perspective, I have long been a customer of golf courses, so I wanted to utilize that experience. For example, I thought that if Japanese golf courses were more casual, they could attract a wider variety of visitors. I'm not a very good golfer, so I tried to thoroughly consider questions from the customer's perspective, such as, "I want to enjoy golf with friends casually without worrying about scores," "I want to be able to carry my luggage at my own pace," and "Why is it necessary to wear a jacket at golf courses?" I also thought that by applying a female perspective to the previously male-dominated golf industry, we could increase the number of female golfers. Accordia's golf courses are equipped with popular Dyson and ReFa brand hair dryers in their powder rooms. Quickly drying hair significantly reduces the stress women feel when getting ready. I aim to create golf courses where both men and women can enjoy themselves.

■Golf event for beginner women and children

Accordia's women-only events are open to beginners, and the concept is to enjoy golf without worrying about the score! The events feature a variety of unique features, including a best dresser contest and a golf-specific bingo game. For children, we hold an event called "First Tee." First Tee is an educational program that uses golf to help children lead fulfilling lives. Participants learn values ​​that lead to life skills, such as greetings and self-introductions, and cheering on friends even if they're not the best. We teach children the basics of life while also giving them a taste of golf. We believe our role is to broaden the reach of the golf industry as a whole.

■Toward a golf course that anyone can enjoy as a sport and leisure activity

I believe that the success of a golf management company lies in meeting customer needs and continuing to grow.
Customer needs change with the times. A company must constantly evolve with innovative plans and the ability to execute them. I want to incorporate the perspectives and values ​​of new generations like you, and I have high hopes for those joining Accordia as new university graduates.

■Message to students

No one can live alone. We are supported by many people. Don't forget to be grateful and cherish the connections you have with others. Golf can be enjoyed throughout your life and enriches your connections with others. This is because golf is a sport that doesn't discriminate against others. You can play with anyone who says, "Do you want to go golfing?" and "Sounds good, let's go!" We hope you will incorporate golf into your life as one way to increase your connections with others.

Student Newspaper Online December 13, 2024 Interview by Toyo University sophomore Rinno Koshiyama

Rinno Koshiyama, second-year student at Toyo University; Yuko Tashiro, chairman of the board of directors at Accordia Golf Co., Ltd.; Toraki Mochizuki, first-year student at Tokyo Keizai University; Masaaki Uchida, CEO of TOP CONNECT Co., Ltd.