THA Co., Ltd. Introduces "AI Shacho" to Imai Accounting Office in Fukushima, Inheriting 40 Years of Trust and Integrity from Predecessors to the Next Generation with "AI Director"

THA Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Asako Nishiyama) announces the introduction of "AI Shacho," an AI organizational support tool developed by THA, to "Imai Chie Tax Accountant Office / Imai Accounting Office Co., Ltd." (Director: Chie Imai), which has supported local business owners in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture for 40 years. We have developed and provided a dedicated AI, "AI Tomoe Director," for the office.

## Background of "AI Tomoe Director" Introduction

"AI Tomoe Director" is a dedicated AI developed with the aim of enhancing the "judgment" and "expertise" of all staff members by incorporating the value of "balancing correctness and empathy," which Imai Accounting Office has cherished since its establishment, and Director Chie's specialized knowledge in tax and accounting. In an office where many staff members join without prior experience, it provides an environment where they can consult "how Director Chie would think" 24 hours a day when they are unsure about tax judgments. Through friendly dialogue and specific advice with clear justifications, it offers a "sense of security as if consulting with the director," rather than just a manual search.

## About Imai Chie Tax Accountant Office / Imai Accounting Office Co., Ltd.

Imai Chie Tax Accountant Office / Imai Accounting Office Co., Ltd. is an accounting firm opened in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture in 1986 (Showa 61) by certified public accountant and tax accountant Akira Imai. It handles a wide range of services including preparation of various tax returns, bookkeeping, management consulting, financial analysis, organizational restructuring, and business succession support, flexibly responding to clients from small local shops to large corporations. Currently, under the second-generation director Chie Imai, with a staff of 4 men and 3 women, the office is committed to a client-visiting style, aiming to be an "accounting firm that evolves with its clients," and has earned deep trust from local business owners.

## Objectives of Introduction

- Establishment of a human resource development environment where staff members, many of whom join without prior experience, can consult 24 hours a day when they are unsure about tax judgments.
- Unification of "Imai Accounting-like judgment standards" to achieve the vision of becoming an accounting firm that continues to develop with the local community as the most trusted partner for clients.
- Reduction of time spent on basic questions, allocating more time to providing added value to clients and staff development.
- Continuous training of tax professionals who can explain with justification, emphasizing "being able to speak rather than just memorize."
- Strengthening organizational capabilities to build client relationships where all staff members can make clients say, "I'm glad I chose Imai Accounting."

## Features of "AI Tomoe Director"

- AI that embodies "correctness and empathy"
Based on Director Chie's values, it provides sincere advice centered on "thoroughly facing clients' businesses."
- Inheritance of the philosophy passed down from the predecessor
Conveys the founder's spirit of "a correct accounting firm trusted in the region" to the next generation, fostering a sense of unity within the office.
- Friendly dialogue style
Explains according to the other party's level of understanding, conveys thoughts and enthusiasm through words, and builds trust with staff through human-like conversational language.
- Specific guidance with clear justifications
Supports the development of professionals who can "speak rather than just memorize" by explaining tax judgments with reference to articles and notifications.

## What is "AI Shacho"?

"AI Shacho" is an enterprise-original AI chat service that protects the "company's unique identity" of small and medium-sized enterprises from the risk of homogenization by general-purpose AI.

- Transforms corporate philosophy into living judgment standards - It embodies the ideal vision that a company aims for, rather than merely imitating the past, and functions as a concrete judgment standard for daily operations based on abstract corporate philosophy.
- Company-specific answers through a two-layer structure - It integrates the search and utilization of internal knowledge using RAG technology with the company's values verbalized through thorough interviews, achieving in-depth answers unique to that company.
- 24/7 virtual consultation desk - Employees can easily ask questions from familiar communication tools, as if consulting with an ideal superior, and receive specific advice based on the corporate philosophy.
- Supports sustainable growth of SMEs - Beyond mere operational efficiency, it also functions as a source of job satisfaction and emotional support for employees, acting as an AI partner that "transforms philosophy into living judgment standards" to support sustainable growth while maintaining the company's unique competitive advantage.

## Conversation Examples

## Representative Comments

### Comment from Chie Imai, Director of Imai Chie Tax Accountant Office

Our office has upheld the philosophy of "a correct accounting firm trusted in the region" since my father opened it in Fukushima in 1986. What I value is the balance between honesty, clearly stating "what's wrong is wrong," and an empathetic approach, thinking together with our clients. With the introduction of "AI Tomoe Director," an environment has been established where all staff members can confirm and practice these values at any time. Most of our staff started without prior experience, which is precisely why they needed "someone they can consult with anytime they are unsure." I hope that AI Tomoe Director will support everyone's growth and enable each staff member to build relationships where clients say, "I'm glad I chose Imai Accounting." We will continue to walk alongside local business owners and aim to be an accounting firm that keeps evolving.

### Comment from Asako Nishiyama, Representative Director of THA Co., Ltd.

What impressed me most during our interviews in Fukushima was Director Chie's approach to each task, guided by the standard of "I can confidently explain this decision to anyone." Her predecessor, her father, thoroughly researched court precedents and notifications, building a foundation of work based solely on evidence. This attitude, over 40 years, has fostered unwavering trust from local business owners, making them say, "Imai Accounting is reliable."

For a long-standing accounting firm rooted in the community, correctness is not just a policy; it is the very foundation for maintaining client relationships for decades. Because Imai Accounting Office has protected that foundation, most clients from her father's generation have remained, passing on to Director Chie's generation. This is truly invaluable and cannot be built overnight.

In designing "AI Tomoe Director," we placed this "commitment to correctness" at the core of the AI's judgment axis. Our utmost effort was to support staff members in consistently performing work that meets the standard of being able to confidently explain to clients, citing legal articles and precedents. We strived to deliver Director Chie's natural thought process in client interactions to the entire office through AI.

I heard that her father used to tell the staff, "Even if you're just the person in charge, you are the face of Imai Accounting when you visit clients." If AI Tomoe Director can help nurture professionals who embody those words and assist in passing on the 40 years of trust built with the community to the next generation, nothing would make us happier.

## Company Information

### [About Imai Chie Tax Accountant Office / Imai Accounting Office Co., Ltd.]

Location: 19-3 Sanai, Yagita, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-8164
Representative: Director Chie Imai
Founded: 1986 (Showa 61)
Business Activities: Preparation of various tax returns, bookkeeping, management consulting, financial analysis, organizational restructuring, business succession support
Staff: 4 men, 3 women (5 of whom have passed some subjects of the Certified Tax Accountant Examination)
Website: https://imaikaikei.com/

### [About THA Co., Ltd.]

THA Co., Ltd., under the vision of "The strongest enhancement magic for the heroes supporting Japan," provides various IT and creative technologies, primarily AI technology, to support companies in improving their business performance. Since the launch of its services in August 2023, it has accumulated extensive implementation achievements and know-how.

AI Shacho Service Page: https://ai-syacho.com/
Company Website: https://tha-inc.com/
Contact: THA Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department
Email: info@tha-inc.com
Companies considering service details or usage should contact the above.