Notes from the founder
Occasional notes from the KAZENA team — Taro and the people building alongside him — about Indonesia, the Philippines, and running a small business here.
- Accounting & taxJuly 17, 2026
Is your business really making a profit?
Many owners feel busy and see money moving all day, yet aren't sure whether they're actually profitable. A note on the single most important number for a small business — and why it isn't revenue.
Kei — KAZENA teamRead the post - Accounting & taxJuly 17, 2026
Bookkeeping for a small business, without the pain
I keep meeting small-business owners in Indonesia wrestling with a pile of receipts past midnight. A few honest notes on simple bookkeeping — what actually matters, and three small habits that lighten the load.
Taro — Founder, KAZENARead the post - Company & moreJuly 16, 2026
The real thing moves
Anime, food — and game centers. Japanese culture is crossing the sea faster than I expected. A note about our new product, KAZENA Amusement, and why a real machine moving is something no graphics can replace.
Taro — Founder, KAZENARead the post - Company & moreJuly 15, 2026
Work is not a solo game
My own ignorant mistake pushed KAZENA to the edge of survival. All of it was my fault. But some people hadn't given up. A story about Coach Anzai's famous line — and how I honestly feel right now.
Taro — Founder, KAZENARead the post - Company & moreJuly 12, 2026
Paying it back
What can I actually return to the two countries that carried me? On why we keep building plain, unglamorous software — and on the Japanese owners working hard in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Taro — Founder, KAZENARead the post - Company & moreJuly 2, 2026
What Manila taught me
The traffic really was terrible — I won't defend it. But almost every other memory I have of the Philippines is about the warmth of its people, and a kind of strength they taught me.
Taro — Founder, KAZENARead the post - Company & moreJune 18, 2026
In Jakarta, I was the one being helped
I landed without the language, without knowing a single street. What I remember most about my early days here is how often strangers helped me — and a phrase called gotong royong.
Taro — Founder, KAZENARead the post