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In April 1923, at the age of 34, Kahei Sato established his independent lumber business, Sato Kahei Shoten. Five years later, in the summer of 1928, he embarked on a journey to the United States and Canada. At that time, passenger airplanes were not yet available, so the trip was made by ship, taking 15 days each way between Yokohama and San Francisco.
Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he was greeted by a representative based in Vancouver, Canada, who accompanied him on a month-long tour of lumber facilities in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. During this trip, he purchased lumber from H.R. MacMillan, then president of MacMillan Export Co. The profits from this venture more than covered his travel expenses and left a surplus.

Biography of Kahei Sato
Born in 1889 in Okabe Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kahei Sato grew up in a family business that sold charcoal, rice, and oranges, among other goods. His mother, known for her intelligence, was the main force behind the family business. After graduating from Shizuoka Commercial School, he began his career at a canned food manufacturing company, then worked for several transport companies. His last position was as the Yokohama branch manager of Asahi Marine Transport Co., Ltd., before he ventured into his independent business.