A member of the Operations Team, chiefly in charge of making the firm cotton core of the shikibuton. He also takes part in the cotton-filling of comforters and the roll-cotton shaping of three-layer shikibuton, and supports inspection and packing across teams.
Making the firm support core
My main job is making the firm support core. Its density, firmness and resilience affect the feel of the finished shikibuton. I also help fill quilts and shape the inner filling for our three-layer models.
Keeping each piece consistent
When making the firm support core, I aim for consistency in size, thickness, weight and firmness. If we make fifty pieces in one batch, I want them to differ as little as possible. That careful consistency is the foundation of our work.
Cross-team support
Everyone in the workshop is a “multi-skilled worker” — beyond our own core process, when inspection or packing is short-handed we go over and fill in. That cross-team flexibility is the basis on which the workshop can stay small yet steady. Helping “across the boundaries of teams” is everyday life here.
Working for the customer’s better sleep
I hope the firm cotton I handle can lift a customer’s sleeping comfort just a little — “if it leads to an improvement in our customers’ sleep, I would be glad.” That is the fundamental drive behind every shift.