Welfare x Creativity: TOMOS company, operator of Type A and Type B continuing employment support facilities, celebrates its 10th anniversary with an event report [Archival Edition] TOMOS company Press Release: October 16, 2025 To Members of the Media Welfare x Creativity: TOMOS company, operator of Type A and Type B continuing employment support facilities, celebrates its 10th anniversary with an event report [Archival Edition] [Industry First] “Open Factory” with Group Home Announced to Open in Utsunomiya City at the End of 2026 (Planned)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-8ea609e0c7d70caeaca89842db8eda5a-1280×720.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-a6ef9e365797116416febda56ce63c43-3900×2600.jpg Artists with whom we have had previous interactions gathered from all over the country, and users of Type A and B continuing employment support facilities also participated, livening up the event. It was a day where people could experience TOMOS’s vision of a “borderless world” where people with and without disabilities can work and live together. More than 300 people attended the event, including users, their families, staff, creators and other collaborators, government and media representatives, and people in the music industry. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-f03e01fa2d421301d792ea4fd35c3a17-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-5f5e495d61a6ddf68c90258934444edf-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-3775bc1771f26f4386b589aa73dc324b-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-76453f7e47c9f09963362e57c7515ad7-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-affbf5cb2c805e78fc20aec437fe1ee6-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-6cbd5da7346808eec0d912d97af15c4c-3900×2600.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-3895ef97f595926375baa923d5768cc0-3900×2600.jpg At the event, the company looked back on its progress over the past 10 years and announced plans to open an “Open Factory” with an attached group home in Utsunomiya City at the end of 2026 (planned). It also shared its intention to hold pop-up events overseas to accelerate overseas transactions. Marking its 10th anniversary, TOMOS continues to take on new challenges under the motto “Local Company, Global Products.” Centered on open factories and group homes, TOMOS creates new employment opportunities through manufacturing and designs a future where everyone can work with pride. SPECIAL LIVE Performers Spinna B-ILL / Insist BAND / Miya Takehiro Band / Kami Suzuki Brothers / Danchou Iku
Event Session Highlights 1. Future Vision 2. Special Session “What TOMOS Can Do in Utsunomiya” 3. Current Status of TERAS 4. TOMOS welfare (on-site report) 1. Future Vision [Industry First] Opening of Open Factory with Group Home Attachment Announced(※1) Speaker: Ryo Iijima (CEO, TOMOS company, Inc.) Industry’s first “eye-catching” base launches in Utsunomiya
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-fb416bcd2c8fcb248567dc1096994315-3900×2600.jpg Iijima: “Important announcement. The location of our ‘Open Factory’ facility, which will also house a group home, has been decided. For many years, due to the nature of our welfare industry, we faced the hurdle of being turned down even for a viewing, but thanks to the cooperation of the local community, we have finally made it this far. Not a “tour,” but a “show.” This is not about putting people with disabilities on display. (Participation is voluntary and operated with the consent of users.) By disclosing the reality of working and living to society, we hope to dispel the negative image that companies have of employing people with disabilities and create a space where people can come and take a look around casually. We also address parents’ concerns about what will happen if they’re no longer around by providing a space where living and working are on the same level. TOMOS’s “Borderless World”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-b7928b446bd3b9c7522933b01618c589-1477×1108.jpg Planned site for the open factory, approximately a 10-minute walk from Tobu Utsunomiya Station (3-story property on the right) – Neighborhood information sessions are also planned. Iijima: “At the Open Factory, we will offer workshops and tours where you can experience TERAS manufacturing. It’s not just a tour facility; we’re challenging ourselves to a future where we work together and make a profit. What does it mean to “eliminate boundaries”? Working and living together, regardless of whether or not people have disabilities. We believe this means doubling or tripling sales for Type A and Type B continuous employment support programs (※2) and implementing a structure in which wages and benefits increase in line with business expansion. While there are few precedents in Japan, we are determined to make it a reality. Iijima concluded by saying, “I will continue to take on challenges for the next 20 or 30 years, cherishing current culture while creating a world that does not yet exist.” ※1 According to our company ※2 ・Continued Employment Support Type A:Employees sign an employment contract with the company and are paid a wage above the minimum wage. Labor-related laws and regulations apply, and working hours and social insurance (if requirements are met) are the same as for regular employment. The main goal is to establish a work style similar to that of regular employment. ・Continued Employment Support Type B:Employees do not sign an employment contract and participate in production activities according to their physical condition and pace. They are paid wages based on the amount of work and results (note that this is legally distinct from wages). The main objectives are job training, social participation, and skill development. ・Position at TOMOS:Both Type A and Type B employees participate in the production and sales of the same brand, “TERAS,” creating a “borderless” workplace. 2. Special Session “What TOMOS Can Do in Utsunomiya” Speakers: Keduka Mikito (Urban Management Advisor, Former Deputy Mayor of Tsukuba) Iijima Ryo (CEO, TOMOS company, Inc.)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-4920c1a5ceed0de83886fd879807a04b-3900×2600.jpg From the right: Mr. Kedzuka, and Mr. Iijima in the center From Welfare Given to Creativity in Giving
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-422f787e8d9f209258b7cd768baa87b3-3900×2600.jpg Keduka: “When I first saw the site, I was amazed at how warm it was and how cool the things that came out of it were. I had no idea there was a place like this in Utsunomiya. TOMOS’s manufacturing is of a quality that “people want and choose.” Our efforts to foster diversity and tolerance are directly linked to creating a city that young people will choose to live in. The best way to understand is to first experience the manufacturing process at our open factory. I hope that TOMOS will become a company that represents Utsunomiya, not just in terms of sales, but that the local community can be proud of. ” Iijima: “Toward a ‘borderless world’ – From welfare that is given to creativity that gives, we will expand our connections with society through collaborations, business meetings, and demonstrations, centered on TERAS. It is said that there are approximately 4,400 Type A businesses in Japan (as of October 2025), but less than 1% are monetizing their own brands. We are currently part of that 1%. We’re not looking to start a revolution. We simply want to be a ‘trigger’ and an ‘option.'”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-1b377f6b0d734ea9aae6ed1f1088a01a-3900×2600.jpg Both speakers shared the importance of making welfare facilities a new “option” for society, and presented a vision of a future in which all “boundaries,” such as those based on disability, gender, and age, disappear. They also shared the importance of collaboration between businesses, government, and citizens to create a local culture in which everyone can participate. 3.TERAS current location Speaker: Tomohiro Yamanaka (Director, TOMOS company, Inc. / TERAS Type A Product Planning and Sales) Becoming a brand that people choose because they want it – Our growth story
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-a1ba3e43f72365c4382b7f580aab01d9-3900×2600.jpg Yamanaka: “Our craftsmanship is about creating opportunities. For the past 10 years, we’ve been building one step at a time to connect people, welfare, and society. Continuing our work is our goal, and we’ll mark this milestone and climb a new ladder from here. TERAS started in 2017 as a Type A continuous employment support program. We first encountered sashiko and started out, groping our way through, making coasters and brooches for 600 yen. Now, we can make coats costing up to 150,000 yen. Starting out at local markets, we’ve expanded into department stores and select shops, and have even established a permanent presence at Harakado in Harajuku. We have many international customers, and our collaborations have expanded to include apparel, household goods, and even hotels. We’ve expanded into the Kansai region, and we also ship to the United States, Australia, and Shanghai. We’ve been featured in media outlets like Forbes, and were even picked in Billie Eilish’s sustainable selection for her Japan tour.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-44e823acc05f5acb087d3fdd0a5149f2-900×903.png Rather than “buying it because it’s for welfare,” as a brand, “people choose it because they want it” — he said he wants to continue building on this common sense.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-5ba363e40ecd3a4960381c80550e0921-477×320.png 2024 Tokyu Plaza Harajuku TERAS Harakado store opened
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-3fb42e5538fad9acae93fb0f634dfc11-382×409.png 2025: Published in Forbes
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-ed0e972e0a43107fc97b594bdb540fbd-290×367.png 2025: Billie Eilish featured in Japan Tour Guide
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-2082e972af74cf655ce4ae65bec7a5df-434×315.png Sold at HONOUR, Sydney, Australia
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-622ffa34af16d7ee2579c5fea9758417-360×269.png Visit to the Fashion Department at the University of Illinois, USA TERAS Brand Site 4. TOMOS Welfare (Field Report) Speaker: Keisuke Yoshida (Director, TOMOS company, Inc.) Tetsuhiro Aizawa (TOMOS / Facility Director and Service Manager) Tomomi (TOMOS / Facility Director and Service Manager) Fun and serious — a “workplace where you can continue” builds confidence.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-f319c6c0f0f0ac32276952845c4e1fae-3900×2600.jpg The facility members shared their 10-year history and the values of their workplace. They emphasized the importance of working together to envision the future for each individual and encouraging independence when necessary through “non-indulgent support.” In creating a workplace, we thoroughly adhere to the principles of “staff enjoyment first” and “team support,” thereby achieving continuous support by keeping turnover low.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/170753/2/170753-2-8733b41d42f84dc9d379947a220d65b0-3900×2600.jpg In Harajuku, in addition to demonstrating sashiko, the participants also experienced customer service and sales. The vibrant and crowded Harajuku area can often make users feel anxious about even visiting, but the experience of actually going there, taking on a role, and accomplishing a task gave them great confidence. We carefully designed and repeatedly realized this “I could do it” and “I did it”
experience. This accumulation of experience has led to the
participants’ confidence and peace of mind for their families. Based on the principles of “putting in the effort and effort without cutting corners” and “building confidence through our products,” the company concluded that it will work to create a “borderless world” where people with and without disabilities can work and live together, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, starting from their daily worksites. TOMOS will continue to take on new challenges