My Career and Achievements

I am Butler Bell, also known as Yuichi Ishii, and I serve as the third-generation Chairman of the All Japan Butler Association. My grandfather was a butler in the same association, and watching him at work inspired me to enter the profession at the age of twenty-eight. In March 2023, at forty-one, I became the third-generation Chairman. Since then I have continued working in the field while overseeing the association and promoting butler culture. Here I set out my journey in chronological order, based solely on verifiable facts.

Why I Aspired to Become a Butler

The starting point was that my grandfather was a butler affiliated with the All Japan Butler Association. Having grown up watching his work closely, I chose the path of a butler in order to carry on his aspirations.

My grandfather never referred to his work as “a servant’s job”. He always spoke with pride, saying it was “a calling that entrusted one with another person’s life”. The formal residences, the white gloves and the silver trays he described formed a world that, to the young Butler Bell, was nothing short of captivating. The idea that one could devote oneself to others and find such deep fulfilment became the foundation of everything that followed.

I wished to inherit his spirit. That desire led me, at twenty-eight, to enter the profession. I had already pursued another career, so this was a deliberate change rather than an automatic succession. The fact that I chose the path for myself is reflected in the way I have approached the work ever since.

Close-up of Butler Bell’s hands adjusting the white gloves inherited from his grandfather

The Situation the Profession Faced

Although the word “butler” was known, very few people realised they could actually engage one. That sense of crisis later prompted me to accept the chairmanship.

When I entered the profession, the role of butler in Japan was on the verge of disappearing. While people recognised the figure from stories and fiction, almost no one understood it as a service that could be commissioned in real life. The number of practitioners was small, and there was a genuine risk that the skill itself would die out.

This concern became the driving force behind my later decision to take on the role of third-generation Chairman. Simply performing good work as an individual would not preserve the profession; it was necessary to move into a position where systems could be built.

My Appointment as Third-Generation Chairman

In March 2023, at the age of forty-one, I was appointed third-generation Chairman of the All Japan Butler Association. The guiding principle I set out was to make butlers an ordinary choice rather than an exceptional one.

Since taking office I have consistently emphasised that butlers should not remain distant figures. Rather than serving only in the homes of the very wealthy, we needed to establish a service that responds to the varied lifestyles of today. It was under this thinking that the brand THE BUTLER was created.

Even as Chairman, I remain a working butler. I believe that if I were to stop standing at the side of clients and learning directly from the field, the words I speak would lose their authenticity. That is why I continue to work on site to this day.

Top hat and white gloves placed on a staircase

What I Have Advanced Since Taking Office

I have focused on three areas: revising the fee structure to widen access, publishing a register of butlers to ensure transparency, and promoting internationalisation.

First, I broadened the point of entry. Previously, contracts were typically monthly and the scale of fees put many people off even considering the service. By introducing options from short sessions to full-time residence, clients can now try the service before committing. The judgement was that once people experience the value, it speaks for itself. Specific terms are listed on the official THE BUTLER website.

Second, I made the register of butlers public. Allowing clients to compare profiles and choose increases their confidence, while also encouraging each butler to continue refining their skills. Being in a position where one must be chosen motivates every individual to develop their strengths.

Third, I have pursued internationalisation. This includes exchanges with overseas butler schools, developing services for visitors to Japan, and training butlers who can work in English. A butler who combines the traditions born in Britain with Japanese hospitality will be valued anywhere in the world. I regard proving this as the task of my generation.

My Media Appearances

Appearances on television, in magazines and on web media are simply a means of bringing the reality of the profession closer to people. Publicity itself is not the goal.

When the public sees what a butler actually does, that knowledge becomes the first step towards considering engaging one. There is a gap between the image created in fiction and the work as it is performed. I use every opportunity to convey the reality of the field in order to close that gap.

A record of publications and appearances is compiled on the media page. I also welcome enquiries about interviews and appearances.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been working as a butler?

I entered the profession at the age of twenty-eight. My grandfather was a butler affiliated with the All Japan Butler Association, and I chose the career in order to carry on his aspirations.

When were you appointed Chairman?

In March 2023, at the age of forty-one, I became the third-generation Chairman of the All Japan Butler Association. I have continued to work as a butler in the field ever since.

What has changed since you became Chairman?

I have focused on three areas: revising the fee structure to widen access, publishing a register of butlers to ensure transparency, and advancing internationalisation through overseas exchanges and the training of English-speaking butlers.

Philosophy and Principles My Role as Third-Generation Chairman Qualifications and Specialist Skills For Media

Enquiries

We welcome enquiries regarding interviews, lectures and training.