Founder's Philosophy

Japan, a country poor in resources, takes pride in its "advanced technological capability" as a source of national strength. Recently, however, foreign companies have been actively acquiring Japanese companies that hold advanced technology, and people and technology are flowing overseas, which seems to be weakening our national strength. Considering the price gap with overseas products that continues to widen, it seems that small and micro manufacturers have no choice but to survive through their own efforts.

In this era of change, Obitsu Plastic Manufacturing has, for more than 40 years since our founding, shifted its focus from manufacturing and exporting toys to manufacturing and selling for the domestic market, and has remained committed to "Made In Japan."

Molds for slush molding, our main molding method, can be made at one-sixth to one-eighth the cost of molds for injection molding, and in a shorter time. Taking advantage of these strengths and characteristics, we pursue the theme of "creating highly polished toys through slush molding."

As major toy makers have shifted production overseas one after another, and their subcontractors and artisans have lost work and changed or closed their businesses, we have continued domestic production in order to protect domestic manufacturers and the livelihoods of their artisans. Among slush molding manufacturers, Obitsu's production technology has been highly regarded and has led the industry — with elaborate soft vinyl toys that can only be made in Japan, small-batch original character products from individual brands that cannot be handled overseas, figure models, and the long-selling "OBQP (OBITSUKEWPIE)."

In particular, the development, manufacture, and sale of "OBITSU BODY," a fully articulated doll, has broadened the base of figure and doll model enthusiasts. OBITSU BODY, for which we have obtained various patents, keeps out copy products from overseas and creates work for artisans. Having obtained intellectual property rights and trademark registrations in the United States, EU countries, China, and South Korea as well, we have come to be recognized and loved by customers around the world through the internet.

We have also built a new business model to ensure the survival of Japan's soft vinyl industry.

As aging molding furnaces — built from brick 40 to 50 years ago and heated by propane gas — are decommissioned and decrease in number every year, we succeeded in designing and developing the industry's first large electric rotational molding furnace, which contributes to CO2 reduction and energy savings and is kind to the global environment. This large rotational molding furnace makes it possible to mass-produce, at low cost, large figures and dolls that were previously impossible, as well as outer skins for robots, which are now attracting attention, and large display products that replace FRP.

We believe that passing on to the future the production technology of slush molding — a local industry of which Katsushika, Tokyo, is proud — and inheriting handcrafted, analog techniques rather than digital technology is the way for small and micro domestic manufacturers to survive. Together with slush molding artisans, we will plan and develop new products that are safe, secure, and of high quality.

Please look forward to Obitsu Plastic Manufacturing, which remains committed to "Made In Japan."