Why a FIRE Investor Picked Up an AI Pen: My New Doctrine for the Next Decade

Why is a FIREd investor drawing manga with AI now?"

I am asked this question often lately. I spent 11 years as an expat in Asia—Vietnam, Thailand, and Beijing—building a career in IT management and B2B intangible asset sales. Today, I manage two corporations and own an "Infinite Fountain" of rental income, dividends, and bond interest.

To be honest, I no longer need to work to survive. Yet, I have picked up a "new pen" called Generative AI to breathe life into my characters, Chita the Cheetah and the Snow Leopard.

I do this because of a deep-seated regret—"I will never watch a third strike again"—and a cold, calculated conviction as an investor looking at the next decade.

From the Stands to the Batter's Box: The Distance from Jeff Bezos

In 1995, I was at the heart of an IT company when Windows 95 changed the world. My company successfully transitioned from mainframes to downsizing and continued to grow. But what about me, as an individual? I was merely watching the torrent of the times from the safety of the "salaryman" spectator stands.A perfect strike was flying right down the middle, but I let it go without swinging the bat.

There is a man almost the same age as me: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. The words he spoke at his Princeton graduation are burned into my mind.

“I took the less safe path to follow my passion. I am proud of that choice.”

There is a celestial gap between his net worth and mine. What was the difference? He took the risk, stood in the box, and swung the bat. I watched from the stands, biting my nails. That first step is what manifested into the massive gap we see today.

Now, a giant wave called the AI Revolution is coming—the biggest since the Internet Revolution. I don't want to have the same regret again. I have decided to stand in the batter's box this time and be on the side that rides this wave.

Why Tell the Story Through "Manga"? Investment is "Physical Education," Not Math

Investment education in Japan has a fatal flaw. The old label of "Investment = Shady or Fraud" has still not been peeled off. Savings might have protected you during the deflationary era, but in today's inflationary world, keeping money in the bank is like holding a time bomb called "depreciation." Supporting your life solely with salary, savings, and a pension is a concept from the dinosaur era.

Through my experience in investing, I have realized one thing. Investing is not a "classroom subject" like Math. It is a "practical subject" like Physical Education—you must put skin in the game and place yourself in the savannah of the market.

My first investment was real estate. I still cannot forget the thrill of receiving cash flow (rental income) generated by an asset. Compared to the struggle of "labor," how light and powerful is the wealth born from a system? I want to convey this truth. However, in Japan, the more seriously you talk about it, the more suspicious you seem.

That is why I chose "Manga." I let Chita—a salaryman who represents my former self—and the Snow Leopard—a symbol of intellect—do the talking. Inspired by Tsutaya Juzaburo from last year's drama "Berabo," I want to hit the essence while maintaining a playful, "reckless" spirit. To my former self, who lived with a furrowed brow in the corporate world, I want to say: "Live more recklessly. Live for yourself, not for others."

AI Transforms "Ordinary Salarymen" into "Asset Owners"

The biggest reason I am using AI is that I believe it can be the key to the "Salaryman Cage."

Until now, there was a massive wall to starting an independent business. The cost of hiring, education, labor disputes...Fear of these things kept many people inside the "Zoo Cage" of lifetime employment.

However, Generative AI is the "Ultimate Employee" who never complains, works 24/7, and never asks for a raise. By using a digital twin like AI, even our senior generation can build a "self-running organization" alone with minimal risk.

With the arrival of the AI era, the era of the salaryman ends. From now on, it is the era of the "Business Owner" who creates their own work, organization, and roles. You don't need extraordinary talent like Shohei Ohtani in the MLB. By sublimating your unique experience into intellectual property called "Doctrine" and using AI as your arms, anyone can hold the tools for independence.

Riding the Wave of the Times

There are words by Niccolò Machiavelli, the medieval Italian thinker I admire, in his work "Discourses on Livy."

"Whoever desires to accomplish something, the greater the undertaking, must possess a deep understanding of the times in which they live and the circumstances in which they must work, and adapt themselves accordingly." "...Those who are able to ride the flow of the times will be able to achieve what they desire."

Today, we are in the midst of the AI Revolution. Those who master AI will master the era.

Conclusion: Hold Your Own "Doctrine"

Playing in the AI era is not a "game of finding the right answer." AI already has the answer. The game that is starting now is about having a philosophy—a Doctrine—of "what do I want to do?"

Let's stop glorifying the resignation of "I'll just be a salaryman" with words like "cooperation." Now that AI exists as a "weapon for independence," choosing to stay in a company is no longer a default choice. It is equivalent to deciding to "stay in the cage" by your own will.

▪Disclaimer

The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial or investment advice. We do not provide third-party asset management or individual management services. Please make investment decisions at your own risk.

"This character and setting are the intellectual property of Julius Inc., based on its own doctrine."

■Author Profile

About the Author Kenji Kamioka
AFP (Certified by the Japan Association for Financial Planners), Licensed Real Estate Transaction Specialist
President and CEO of Julius Co., Ltd.

An investor and media owner with over 10 years of business management experience in three Asian countries: China, Thailand, and Vietnam. While actively managing real estate and financial assets through his own company, he promotes a lifestyle that leverages the structure of capitalism. He has authored numerous books.

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