This is a brief history of the company. Details can be found on our company's representative Akiyama profile page.

DEFI Inc. is established as a bridal service company

DEFI Inc. started jewellery sales

DEFI Inc. started investment and IPO support in Silicon Valley

Lien Co. is establiched as luxury business

Akiyama was born in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Akiyama’s father was also an entrepreneur. He was the third son in a family of a kimono shop, which, up to this day has, lived on for three generations. Inspired by his elder brother, who had succeeded the family business, he decided to start his own business, a successful knitting manufacturing company, which, in those days, was a growing industry. His attempts to diversify his business, unfortunately failed, as they came ahead of the time.

Akiyama herself learned early that success in business management requires a breadth of knowledge and skills. She moved to the United States in order to study in the business center of the world, although back then it was still rare to study abroad. During this time, she noticed that the expat Japanese community, especially many Japanese students from a wealthy background, were forming a closed group. Wishing to focus on her studies and adapt to the new culture in the US, she distanced herself from this group. This overseas study gave her skills in a foreign language and business management, and above-all, global views.

After graduating from the Brewton Parker College in the US, she returned to Japan and aimed to interact with leaders in the industry, taking advantage of her language skills. At that time, only few people in Japan could speak English. She had opportunities to work with the executives of leading foreign companies.

1) Leaders Magazine Co., Ltd.She had the opportunity to have direct contact with the former Prime Minister Takeshita, former Prime Minister Miyazawa, Mr. Inamori, the founder of KYOCERA Corporation, presidents of megabanks. Touching the top philosophy and business minds, working with them became a big turning point to her.

2) Upjohn Corporation
3) Wella Japan Co., LtdShe worked as a secretary of a British president at Kadath Japan, a subsidiary of Wella Japan, and learned a lot from his management style and human philosophy. However, it was the peak of the economic bubble and the mood in the company was overly optimistic. Thus, she realized there was not much more to learn in this environment, and decided to start her own business.

"My goal is not to be employed, it is to be a better business entrepreneur than my father. And that is why I have invested a lot of time for this. I shall not put myself in an easy environment. I have to continue refining myself in a harsh environment and reach my dreams."

She founded DEFI Inc. in February 1996.
She selected bridal services as a business domain, because of her own distinct feeling that “things could be a lot better” while attending her friends’ weddings in Japan, where ceremonies always followed the stereotypes, without any individual character. She recalled weddings in the US were a lot freer, with a much more personal touch.

Soon the economic bubble in Japan burst. Despite modest sales, continuing the bridal business alone was proving challenging. In 2004 DEFI Inc. started jewellery sales business, as jewellery was directly related to the bridal side of the business, and was also happened to be the local industry of her hometown in Yamanashi prefecture. With the help of her brother, a highly-skilled jewellery craftsman, the business took off.

"There was a big difference between helping someone's business and taking care of my own. When I noticed that I had always been supported by my family, I became more stoic, and as a result I could succeed."

Although the bridal and jewellery business was successful, Akiyama was convinced these alone won’t provide her with the freedom in time, money, and meaningful personal human network at the level she wished. Becoming an investor seemed to her to be the only solution, so she left Japan again, seeking investment option. Investing in Silicon Valley, she succeeded in receiving enormous funds through the IPO of the companies she invested.

IPO support became a crucial part of her company, and in just two years, she got the freedom of time and capital to her satisfaction, the freedom to meet friends whenever she wished. Therefore Miki Akiyama was semi retired in.

2006, it was around this time that she appeared frequently in the media.

< Television >
NHK "Future of Japan" / TV Asahi "Wide Scramble" / TBS "Bari Bari ★ Value" / TBS "2 o'clock Chao" etc.

< Magazine >
"My Choices of Cars", "STORY", "Nikkei WOMAN", "EX 35+", “Glamorous" etc.

"I have got everything I ever wanted."

Akiyama, who was enjoying her life at full scale, began to feel that she might still have a mission left. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 she wished to use her skills for survivors who lost a lot in the disaster to help them recover and live again fully.

In order to restart her business, she decided to study abroad again. In search of broader global views and world’s executives, she now is based in Monaco, for half a year. After a lot of learning from her circle of friends, she launched a new business in 2014.

"I will continue working hard to complete my life’s work. I will work not only for myself, but also for people who believe in me to get the three riches in life: “Time”, “Money”, and “Friends."