"Double Cut Price, Over 80% Repeat Rate" Technical Education Transforms Hair Salon Management Figures
KIWAMI Inc. launches "SOBUE Coaching" on April 6, 2026, a technical education service to solve hair salon management challenges, aiming for double cut prices and over 80% repeat rates.
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- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 19:00
KIWAMI Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; Representative Director: Motoshi Sobue) will begin offering "SOBUE Coaching," a coaching service for corporations and individuals that solves hair salon management challenges through the power of technical education, nationwide starting April 6, 2026 (Monday).
This service provides a one-year program combining online video education and monthly in-person training (12 sessions in total) based on a cutting technique method uniquely systematized by Motoshi Sobue, who has 21 years of experience as a hairdresser, over 1,000 people trained, and 152,000 Instagram followers.
It aims to solve the three structural challenges facing the beauty industry: "difficulty in recruitment," "unstable sales," and "escape from price competition," through a fundamental approach of raising technical skills.
Background of Service Launch
Currently, many salon owners in the beauty industry face three challenges: "difficulty in recruitment," "lack of customer attraction," and "price barriers."
At the root of these lies a structural problem in the beauty industry's technical education. The cutting textbooks widely used in Japan today are mainly imported and adapted techniques for Westerners.
However, the hair quality of Westerners and Asians is completely different, and it has been difficult to fundamentally solve the hair problems of Asians.
SOBUE Coaching was born as a service that achieves a fundamental improvement in technical skills at the salon level, using its unique cutting technique method specialized for Asian hair quality as its weapon.
Features of SOBUE Coaching
SOBUE Coaching offers two technical systems tailored to the growth stages of hairdressers.
Type 1: Techniques that attract customers
This is a technical system with low difficulty and a short learning period. It trains stylists to create highly reproducible styles that look good on social media, enabling them to generate sales immediately after their debut. It shortens the conventional stylist debut period of over 3 years to 1.5 years.
Type 2: Techniques that impress
This is a technical system that achieves overwhelming differentiation in finish. Stylists will be able to provide styles that set perfectly just by drying, without using an iron, aiming to double the current cut price. Introducing salons maintain a repeat rate of over 80%.
Maximum Feature: Manualized Technical System
Details such as the number of times to use the razor, how to lay it, and how to pinch the hair are meticulously manualized. Through systematic instruction that does not rely on intuition, anyone who learns can acquire highly reproducible techniques. For corporate adoption, the system allows 1-2 representatives to acquire the skills and then autonomously develop education within the salon.
Service Offerings
1. Systematic cutting technique instruction through online video education (platform: Onclass)
2. Monthly in-person training and technical checks (12 sessions / 1 year)
3. Unlimited Q&A and progress checks via LINE
4. Educational video content covering everything from counseling to finishing
Achievements
Voice of an Introducing Salon: JIL BLAN
We have received the following feedback from JIL BLAN, a hair salon that pre-introduced SOBUE Coaching.
■ Background of Introduction
"Honestly, we felt the limits of our own cutting theory. Especially, many staff members had a苦手意識 (weakness) for short haircuts, which inevitably narrowed the range of proposals we could offer to customers. This was a long-standing issue. Mr. Sobue's technique is meticulously manualized, down to the number of times to use the razor and how to lay it, so as instructors, we could immediately integrate it into our salon's education. The point about highly reproducible designs for the adult generation was exactly what we were looking for."
― From an interview with JIL BLAN CEO
■ Voice of a Participating Staff Member
"I myself have always valued reproducibility, so Mr. Sobue's explanations resonated deeply with me. I was convinced that the direction I had been taking was not wrong, and at the same time, I gained hope that I still have room to grow. I truly feel glad that I participated."
― From an interview with a JIL BLAN stylist
Representative's Comment
Motoshi Sobue
Representative Director, KIWAMI Inc. 21 years of experience as a hairdresser. Spent the first 10 years as a colorist, then switched to cutting at age 30. Taught himself techniques without a mentor, and for the first 3 years as a stylist, he didn't get results and even considered quitting hairdressing. However, he continued to struggle and learn, eventually establishing his unique cutting method specialized for Asian hair quality.
Currently, his cut fee is 16,500 yen, and his monthly sales exceed 10 million yen. He has 152,000 Instagram followers. He holds seminars not only throughout Japan but also in China and Taiwan.
"Many hairdressers in this industry are struggling. They earnestly want to learn, improve, and truly delight their customers, but despite their efforts, they don't always see results. I was exactly like that in the past. It was because of those three years of desperately struggling without a mentor that I was able to arrive at my current unique method. Through this experience and method, I strongly wish to help all hairdressers who are working hard.
If technical skills improve, hairdressers can confidently offer the best styles to their customers. If customers are delighted, hairdressers can charge fees commensurate with their value. As a result, hairdressers' lives and minds will become richer.
SOBUE Coaching was launched to realize a future where hairdressers take pride in their work from the bottom of their hearts, and that leads to many smiles from customers."
― Motoshi Sobue, Representative Director, KIWAMI Inc.
Service Overview
Future Outlook
In the first year, we aim to introduce the service to 5 corporate clients and promote technical education reform in hair salons.
In the future, we will expand our services and strengthen our provision system to deliver this method to even more hairdressers.
Company Profile
This service provides a one-year program combining online video education and monthly in-person training (12 sessions in total) based on a cutting technique method uniquely systematized by Motoshi Sobue, who has 21 years of experience as a hairdresser, over 1,000 people trained, and 152,000 Instagram followers.
It aims to solve the three structural challenges facing the beauty industry: "difficulty in recruitment," "unstable sales," and "escape from price competition," through a fundamental approach of raising technical skills.
Background of Service Launch
Currently, many salon owners in the beauty industry face three challenges: "difficulty in recruitment," "lack of customer attraction," and "price barriers."
At the root of these lies a structural problem in the beauty industry's technical education. The cutting textbooks widely used in Japan today are mainly imported and adapted techniques for Westerners.
However, the hair quality of Westerners and Asians is completely different, and it has been difficult to fundamentally solve the hair problems of Asians.
SOBUE Coaching was born as a service that achieves a fundamental improvement in technical skills at the salon level, using its unique cutting technique method specialized for Asian hair quality as its weapon.
Features of SOBUE Coaching
SOBUE Coaching offers two technical systems tailored to the growth stages of hairdressers.
Type 1: Techniques that attract customers
This is a technical system with low difficulty and a short learning period. It trains stylists to create highly reproducible styles that look good on social media, enabling them to generate sales immediately after their debut. It shortens the conventional stylist debut period of over 3 years to 1.5 years.
Type 2: Techniques that impress
This is a technical system that achieves overwhelming differentiation in finish. Stylists will be able to provide styles that set perfectly just by drying, without using an iron, aiming to double the current cut price. Introducing salons maintain a repeat rate of over 80%.
Maximum Feature: Manualized Technical System
Details such as the number of times to use the razor, how to lay it, and how to pinch the hair are meticulously manualized. Through systematic instruction that does not rely on intuition, anyone who learns can acquire highly reproducible techniques. For corporate adoption, the system allows 1-2 representatives to acquire the skills and then autonomously develop education within the salon.
Service Offerings
1. Systematic cutting technique instruction through online video education (platform: Onclass)
2. Monthly in-person training and technical checks (12 sessions / 1 year)
3. Unlimited Q&A and progress checks via LINE
4. Educational video content covering everything from counseling to finishing
Achievements
Voice of an Introducing Salon: JIL BLAN
We have received the following feedback from JIL BLAN, a hair salon that pre-introduced SOBUE Coaching.
■ Background of Introduction
"Honestly, we felt the limits of our own cutting theory. Especially, many staff members had a苦手意識 (weakness) for short haircuts, which inevitably narrowed the range of proposals we could offer to customers. This was a long-standing issue. Mr. Sobue's technique is meticulously manualized, down to the number of times to use the razor and how to lay it, so as instructors, we could immediately integrate it into our salon's education. The point about highly reproducible designs for the adult generation was exactly what we were looking for."
― From an interview with JIL BLAN CEO
■ Voice of a Participating Staff Member
"I myself have always valued reproducibility, so Mr. Sobue's explanations resonated deeply with me. I was convinced that the direction I had been taking was not wrong, and at the same time, I gained hope that I still have room to grow. I truly feel glad that I participated."
― From an interview with a JIL BLAN stylist
Representative's Comment
Motoshi Sobue
Representative Director, KIWAMI Inc. 21 years of experience as a hairdresser. Spent the first 10 years as a colorist, then switched to cutting at age 30. Taught himself techniques without a mentor, and for the first 3 years as a stylist, he didn't get results and even considered quitting hairdressing. However, he continued to struggle and learn, eventually establishing his unique cutting method specialized for Asian hair quality.
Currently, his cut fee is 16,500 yen, and his monthly sales exceed 10 million yen. He has 152,000 Instagram followers. He holds seminars not only throughout Japan but also in China and Taiwan.
"Many hairdressers in this industry are struggling. They earnestly want to learn, improve, and truly delight their customers, but despite their efforts, they don't always see results. I was exactly like that in the past. It was because of those three years of desperately struggling without a mentor that I was able to arrive at my current unique method. Through this experience and method, I strongly wish to help all hairdressers who are working hard.
If technical skills improve, hairdressers can confidently offer the best styles to their customers. If customers are delighted, hairdressers can charge fees commensurate with their value. As a result, hairdressers' lives and minds will become richer.
SOBUE Coaching was launched to realize a future where hairdressers take pride in their work from the bottom of their hearts, and that leads to many smiles from customers."
― Motoshi Sobue, Representative Director, KIWAMI Inc.
Service Overview
Future Outlook
In the first year, we aim to introduce the service to 5 corporate clients and promote technical education reform in hair salons.
In the future, we will expand our services and strengthen our provision system to deliver this method to even more hairdressers.
Company Profile
FAQ
What kind of service is SOBUE Coaching?
It's a coaching service for corporations and individuals provided by KIWAMI Inc., aimed at solving salon management issues through technical education. It systematically teaches cutting techniques specialized for Asian hair types.
What results can be expected from the service?
Expected results include doubling cut prices, maintaining over 80% repeat rates, shortening stylist debut periods (from 3+ years to 1.5 years), and raising the overall technical skill level of the salon.
What does the service include?
The service includes online video education, monthly in-person training sessions (12 sessions over one year), unlimited Q&A via LINE, and educational video content covering everything from consultation to finishing.