Daiki Kasai
Managing Partner & CEO | US & Japan CPA
Fourteen years in Japan spent tackling the challenges before me, followed by an overseas assignment that began at the staff level. Looking back, more than 30 years of hands-on accounting and tax experience in Japan and the United States have shaped who I am today. Drawing on this experience and the latest expertise, we strive to provide practical, results-driven solutions and serve as a trusted partner to Japanese companies. We are also committed to supporting the growth of our young professionals and fostering a strong spirit of teamwork.
Profile:
He passed the Japanese Certified Public Accountant (JCPA) examination during university and joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC in 1994, later moving to Yotsuya Audit Corporation. In Japan, he gained experience in audits, tax, and consulting, while also passing the U.S. CPA exam.
In 2008, he joined Deloitte Guam as a Senior Manager, leading the Japanese Business Services team and supporting audit framework development for captive insurance companies under the Federated States of Micronesia captive insurance laws. He has since provided cross-border accounting and tax services to Japanese companies in the United States.
In 2020, he became Managing Partner of Premier Kaikei LLP. He is a member of JICPA and AICPA and a graduate of Soka University.
Hidehito (Jake) Kanai
Partner & COO | US CPA
With 30+ years of experience, I’ve guided companies through financial crises, COVID-19 pandemic, and market shifts that test leadership. At Premier Kaikei, we bridge Japanese and U.S. business cultures to deliver solutions that honor both sides. We are not just accountants—we provide M&A, board, and recruiting support with empathy and foresight. Our mission is simple: create lasting win-win outcomes, not just short-term fixes.
Profile:
In 1993, he joined KPMG’s Los Angeles office. Over the past 30 years, he has built an extensive career in international finance and accounting through roles at accounting firms, investment banks, and as a business owner.
A licensed U.S. CPA, he previously served as an audit partner at KPMG. In Japan, he was also a co-owner of a financial services firm specializing in the resolution of non-performing loans and has significant international work experience.
He currently serves as Quality Control Partner and Advisor at Premier Kaikei and as a strategic advisor to an IoT and mobile application development startup in Long Beach, California, with a strong presence in the Asian market.
He is a member of the AICPA and a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hideo Takada
Professional Practice Director | US CPA
In contrast to Japan’s relatively stable tax regime, U.S. tax laws are designed as dynamic policy tools—encouraging capital investment, innovation, and R&D, while also moderating excessive or misaligned growth. These constantly evolving rules can significantly accelerate business expansion and profitability when applied strategically. We advise clients on how U.S. tax laws impact their specific circumstances, translating complexity into practical, actionable solutions that support sustainable growth.
Profile:
After beginning his career in audit at KPMG’s Tokyo office, he transferred to the Atlanta office, where he became its first Japanese partner and helped establish KPMG’s Japanese Practice across the southeastern United States.
With more than 35 years of experience, he has provided audit, tax, and advisory services to Japanese companies operating in the United States. In 2020, he joined Premier Kaikei LLP as Director of Professional Practice.
He takes a practical, principles-based approach to advising clients, with a focus on solutions that address real-world business needs.
He is a member of the AICPA, a Standing Director of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, and a graduate of Keio University.
Masafumi Suzui
Audit Senior Manager | Japan CPA
When Japanese companies establish or expand operations in the United States, they face many challenges, including differences in regulations, accounting standards, tax systems, and business culture. Our mission is to carefully navigate these complexities so our clients can focus on their business with confidence. In an uncertain environment, we provide practical and effective solutions across accounting, tax, finance, and M&A to help turn challenges into meaningful results. More than technical advisors, we strive to be trusted partners who share our clients’ vision and grow alongside them. Our clients’ success is our greatest pride, and supporting them every step of the way is at the heart of what we do.
Profile:
In 2018, he was seconded to PwC’s Chicago office, handling audits and fraud-related engagements for U.S. subsidiaries of Japanese companies. After returning to Japan in 2020, he served as a Manager leading audits for listed and private companies.
In 2023, he joined EY’s Los Angeles office as a Manager in Japan Business Services. Since joining Premier Kaikei LLP in 2024, he has provided audit and review services, J-SOX support, accounting advisory, financial due diligence, and PMI support.
He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and is a member of JICPA.
Tetsuya Usui
Audit Senior Manager | US CPA
With 26 years of experience in external and internal audits as well as controller roles in both Japan and the United States, I bring a balanced perspective that bridges hands-on practice and management. My experience conducting on-site audits of subsidiaries worldwide, combined with 20 years of living and working in the U.S., provides a global mindset that distinguishes me from many firms. Rather than simply identifying issues, I work closely with clients to develop practical, actionable solutions. As a “hands-on, partner-oriented CPA,” I support the sustainable growth of global enterprises.
Profile:
As a U.S. Certified Public Accountant, he spent approximately 12 years with Big Four accounting firms in New York and Tokyo, performing financial statement and internal control audits across industries including financial services, manufacturing, retail, and food service.
He also spent about eight years conducting internal audits of overseas subsidiaries for major Japanese companies and has hands-on experience as a Controller.
In October 2023, he helped establish Premier Kaikei’s Japan entity. He currently provides audit, M&A due diligence, internal audit, J-SOX advisory, and other support for Japanese companies expanding overseas. He is a graduate of a university in Oregon.
Akira Oda
Tax Manager | EA
The experience I have accumulated across diverse industries, along with the knowledge and adaptability cultivated beyond sector boundaries, is what connects to my current work. I value open communication and teamwork, and I strive to approach each step with sincerity so that I can propose speedy, practical, and optimal solutions for our clients.
Profile:
After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, he moved to the United States and gained hands-on experience in industries including import/export, logistics, and trading. He later transitioned into accounting, working at accounting firms and related organizations before joining Premier Kaikei LLP in 2020.
He became an Enrolled Agent (EA) in 2018 and supports Japanese companies in the United States with responsive and reliable accounting and tax services, drawing on his broad business experience and practical understanding of company operations.
He is a graduate of Soka University and holds an MBA from San Diego State University (SDSU).
