At Thousand, we have a guiding principle we call Independence and Self-Discipline. Amidst an influx of new members,
this is an important mindset championed by President Masuda, who emphasizes it at every opportunity.
Employee growth directly fuels company growth. We value each employee and encourage them to grow to become self-reliant.
Sometimes, moments of self-discipline and perseverance are necessary.
If you seek personal growth through craftsmanship, let's succeed together at Thousand!
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Prototype Creators
Employee interview
Business Development
Thousand has come to earn the support of many customers through our operations centering on a diverse range of figures. The reason is simple. We do more than make figures; we sincerely engage with the worldview of each specific source material and the passion of its fans.
Our ability to shape both universally acclaimed masterpieces and lesser-known gems into tangible products comes from each employee thinking autonomously and driving the process forward as an independently motivated engine while also working as a team to support each other.
Employee expertise varies by role, but what unites us all is the desire to deliver the very best to our customers. We strive daily to create products that meet expectations by sincerely engaging with the requests of fans and customers, as well as the ideas of our colleagues.
Thousand fosters an environment where everyone can freely share ideas with others of differing career lengths and positions, and at times even differing departments, to ensure work progresses smoothly and transparently.
We are seeking individuals who are passionate about a creative process that aims for the ultimate in bringing fan dreams to life, while also incorporating your own excitement for creation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Starting from the planning stage, we exchange ideas from the perspectives of form and structure, and as a team, we produce prototypes based on decisions made during planning and approved by the client.
Although our various tasks are grouped under the name prototype production, the actual scope of our work is diverse. It encompasses the process ranging from digital modeling to 3D printer output, as well as surface finishing, adjustments to replicas for colored samples, decal creation and affixing, and checking samples coming from the manufacturing department.
I assign tasks to team members while also building prototypes myself.
Within the field of manufacturing, a prototype serves as the foundation for mass-produced items.
We bear a significant responsibility for determining the quality of products, so I constantly feel pressure. But when we present prototypes or colored samples to customers or release a product and people tell us that it is cute or that they want one themselves, I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
This is the opposite side of the same coin as the job being interesting and rewarding. Since we borrow other IPs from other companies, there will always be similarities, and we constantly have to think of what we can add to that to make the product even more appealing as a figure.
For every single project, I always agonize over whether we're creating a prototype that will satisfy the customer.
The reason I decided to join Thousand was its corporate culture. It consistently encourages employees to cultivate Independence and Self-Discipline, and everyone is expected to develop the capabilities needed to thrive in today's challenging environment. This aligns perfectly with the role of a Prototype Creator, a profession that requires specialized skills, and envisioning my future growth within this company is what led me to join. Also, because this company handles everything up to and including production, I saw it as an opportunity to gain multifaceted knowledge.
I believe this is a company that strives to fulfill customer desires.
Because of this, you can feel up close how Thousand constantly adapts to meet the needs of the moment.
Of course, it's also interesting how your own personal growth and change directly impact the company's growth.
The figure market itself will continue to have a future, but due to changes in the balance of supply and demand caused by a diversification of content, and also due to an increase in rival competition, we are no longer in an era of "if you make it, it will sell."
I believe that instead of thoughtlessly repeating the same processes as a company, enhancing the significance of our presence by adding value not seen anywhere else through efforts like focusing on the individual growth of each employee and trying new things will ultimately contribute to the future of the industry.
Most aspiring prototype creators have probably experienced that exciting moment of thinking, “I love this figure! It's so amazing! I want to make something like this, too!”
I look forward to working with people who are extremely motivated to work hard to build the skills needed to bring that same sense of wonder to many other people.
In my third year at the company, I handle prototype modeling while also refining output and duplicate prototypes. Since the face is the most important part of a figure, I also work carefully to create and apply decals.
There's a real sense of accomplishment when you finish refining and assembling a prototype you modeled yourself. And it feels even better when the surface finish turns out beautifully after output and replication.
It was when I couldn't quite get the eye placement right while applying decals. And in modeling as well, at times when my skills weren't up to par and things didn't go well, I had to repeat corrections over and over.
I wanted to join because my professional training college teacher recommended it, and I was impressed by the products the company was producing.
If you have any questions about tasks like prototype production and surface finish, people will thoroughly teach you how to do things.
I think the advent of 3D prototype creation will make knowledge and skills related to physical creation ever more necessary. At the same time, manufacturing is rapidly digitizing, so in the future, high-quality figures may be produced without work by human hands.
I look forward to working with new people who love anime and figures, and who are enthusiastic about working, even if they have no prior experience!
I handle planning for our proprietary brand GOLDENHEAD PLUS, licensing applications to publishing companies, distribution sales, and serve as the point of contact for OEM partners.
I find joy and fulfillment in being able to bring my own plans to life, and in receiving direct feedback on product evaluations through social media and the internet.
Additionally, through OEM work, I assist client companies with prototyping and mass-producing their products. When we receive praise that exceeds expectations, it brings me immense satisfaction.
Once, a plan I had been considering was actualized by another company first in this competitive environment. Since then, I've made it a point to engage with a wide variety of content to hone my ability to sniff out potential hits early on.
I joined the company through an introduction from a group affiliate. The deciding factor was what the president told me when I first met him: "I want to support young people striving toward their dreams." Currently, I'm funneling my previous experience in merchandise sales towards the new challenge of working in the figure business.
I believe this is a company that values initiative.
To fulfill customer demands, you can truly feel the importance of devising your own strategies and ideas and taking action, rather than just waiting around for instructions.
This applies to daily life, too. Instead of just going with the flow, you have to constantly think about how to perform at your best, think for yourself, and take action, or you'll be left behind by those around you, so this provides a consistent source of motivation.
As Mr. Masuda often says, I believe figures will become a genre Japan can be proud of, just like automobiles and traditional crafts. I'm proud to be involved in this kind of an industry, and would be delighted if I could play a part in sharing Japan's amazing content with the world.
Whether you're passionate about figures or eager to challenge yourself in a new industry you have never experienced before, I believe enthusiasm for your work is what truly matters. I look forward to welcoming passionate individuals to join our team!
I conduct hearings with client companies and propose figure concepts that maximize the appeal of their IPs. Once a concept is approved, I manage the entire process from prototype production through mass production and delivery.
I also develop and execute plans and promotional campaigns for our own products.
When planning concepts, I carefully consider costumes and poses that maximize each character's appeal. Hearing customer feedback like, “They really understand this character,” after release gives me a strong sense that our creative intent came through, which makes me incredibly happy.
Beyond product planning, I also come up with promotional strategies like social media outreach and event tie-ins to reach more customers. What makes this job uniquely rewarding is being involved not just in creating, but also in the process of figuring out how to get our products into the hands of customers.
The most difficult time for me was when trying to reproduce my ideal form through manufacturing turned out to be more difficult than I had imagined, and I had to proceed without time for revisions. I also had regrets because I knew I could have made improvements if only I had more time.
During my interview, I heard that many employees have a craftsman's spirit, which made me feel that this company has many people who take pride in their work and strive relentlessly without compromising on results. I also learned about the Thousand company culture that values healthiness, leading me to be sure that it offers an environment where I can work long-term while maintaining a good work-life balance. This convinced me that this was the place for me.
This company maintains an exceptionally high standard for technology and quality, yet I feel it fosters an open environment where everyone can freely share their opinions. Most employees are deeply engaged in their own work, yet teamwork among colleagues is also valued, and to me, it's a company where you can feel secure taking on new challenges.
I want to develop products that resonate with ever more anime and game fans, making them really want to buy our offerings. I think the best path forward, which will also achieve that goal, is to devise compelling projects and promotions, thereby broadening the base of the entire industry.
Thousand has an environment where everyone can create great things together while bringing their own ideas to life. Even if you lack experience, rest assured that more experienced members will fully support you if you have the desire to try. If you love figures or are interested in making things, let's have fun working together!
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