Comment by immibis

20 hours ago

So... how does a new person open a shop?

Fair point. What if you start completely naked, with no master and no connections? As a banker, I see two main paths for "Outsiders":

1. *The "Inheritance" Route (Muko-yoshi / M&A):* As I mentioned, you can inherit an existing engine. In Japan, "Shinise" with no successor often legally adopt talented outsiders as CEOs (Muko-yoshi). Or, you can buy the company. My job is often matching these "Old Trust" with "Young Energy".

2. *The "Newcomer" Route (Startup Support):* If you want to build from zero, the system actually protects you. Depending on the municipality, there are massive subsidies for startups. For example, "0% interest" and "0 guarantee fees" for the first 5 years.

    Culturally, we have a soft spot for the "Shinzan-mono" (Newcomer) who works hard. If you humbly present yourself as a beginner, the community and local government often step in to support you.
    Japan is strict with "Rude Outsiders," but surprisingly warm (Humanity) to "Sincere Beginners."