Someday, someone's strength.
牛越 智之 Tomoyuki Ushikoshi
President & CEO, ray art works CORP.
Born March 15, 1990
In Azumino, Nagano, Japan, I make merchandise for fans and the things they love.
WHY — Why I do this work
I don’t believe acrylic stands and keychains are just pieces of printed plastic.
People we admire, stories we love, places and memories. These objects help us keep a connection to what moves our hearts close at hand.
I think the things we make are a little like a Buddhist statue, or a letter from a small child to a parent saying “I love you.”
Read more about WHY
As physical objects, they may be nothing more than wood, metal or paper. Yet someone may find comfort in them, or the strength to face another day.
What matters most is not the object itself, but the feelings that arise between that object and a person.
Something we make might become someone’s treasured possession for decades. On a difficult day, a glance at an acrylic stand on a desk might make them think, “I can keep going a little longer.”
That is why I never want to dismiss them as “just merchandise.” And why I never want to cut corners simply because something is inexpensive.
I want to make things that might, someday, become someone’s strength.
Our company lives by the belief: “Our work can contribute to someone feeling glad to be alive.”
Today, we happen to make acrylic merchandise. But our purpose reaches far beyond acrylic. I see limitless possibilities in work that brings more moments of “I’m glad to be alive” into the world.
The story behind this belief
One night in our busiest season
Late one night during our busiest season, I was running the printing machines alone.
I was exhausted, physically and mentally, and felt quite cornered.
I hated the work so much that even my sense of who I was had begun to waver.
“I have money, so why am I working this hard?”
“If it weren’t for work, I could be relaxing on a tropical island tomorrow.”
Deep down, I had always believed that having money was all it took to be happy.
But I was shocked by the reality that I had money and still wasn’t happy.
“Why do I have to do this work at all?”
Then, suddenly, I looked at the merchandise I was printing and realized something.
When someone is suffering, as I was then, perhaps they look at these items the way I look at photos of my wife and children, or read a letter from my child saying “I love you.” Perhaps many people find comfort in these items, and the strength to keep going just a little longer.
Someone might see one of these items in the morning and think, “I’ll do my best today!” or “I’m so glad I’m alive today because I have something I love.” It might be the trigger for exactly that feeling.
When things are unbearably hard, when someone is struggling to take those last one or two steps, perhaps the thing they hold tightly in their hand is this very keychain.
When I realized that, tears began to flow.
Until then, my reasons for maintaining quality had been things like “Good products at low prices will sell” and “I don’t want defective products exposed on social media.” They were reasons driven by money and self-interest.
“It’s cheap, so this much is fine.”
“Ninety-eight people out of a hundred would never notice a scratch or printing flaw like this.”
That was how I approached my work. Of course, those items were still within the quality standards we had set at the time for their price.
“How could I have been so terribly wrong all this time?!”
They were tears of regret and remorse.
For something so precious, something that could become another person’s emotional anchor, I thought: “Had I been including items with flaws I knew were there?”
I could not accept that. There was no way I could accept it.
Even if nobody else in the world would notice a flaw, once I had noticed it, I could no longer let that item leave our factory. I felt that from the bottom of my heart.
Something I make might become a source of comfort for someone.
When life is especially painful, it might give them the strength to take one more step.
And who can say for certain that it won’t?
From that point on, I made three promises to myself.
① Never knowingly cause harm.
② Stay true to WIN-WIN, without sacrificing either myself or the other person.
③ For the rest of my life, the work I do must connect to someone’s feeling that they are glad to be alive.
“Someday, someone’s strength.”
That is what I mean.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU? — How can I be of help?
Is there something you’re trying to do, or struggling with, in Japan? Business, travel, or even a small question?
What I can do alone is limited. But I can think it through with you, help find the right people, and take action. I also have friends and colleagues I can turn to.
Tell me what you need. I’d love to see whether I can help.
A few things I know well
I’ve worked with Japanese fan culture, the fandom market and character merchandise production since I was 18.
Need someone to show you around Comic Market (Comiket), the major fan-created works event held in Tokyo in August and December? Leave it to me! I’ve been going since I was 16, and I’m still there at 36.
If you have questions about Japan, please feel free to reach out.
ABOUT ME — A little about me
Through my work, I want to contribute to other people’s happiness. Two principles matter especially to me:
- Do no harm when you know better.
- Keep looking for ways for customers, colleagues, myself and the people beyond us all to be happy.
I joined BNI on June 1, 2026. That October, I traveled to Monaco for the BNI Global Convention.
There are so many people in the world I haven’t met yet. That thought genuinely excites me.
More about me
Hobbies
Strength training / BBQ, preparing meat 10 kg at a time / Men’s tailoring, fashion and accessories / Wine and sake / Cars / Travel / Gems, minerals and fossils
Interests
Fan culture / Making things / Factory equipment and machinery / Finding ways to live better through Buddhism, philosophy and religion / Community revitalization / Social contribution
Family
My wife and our two daughters (ages 7 and 10 as of October 2026).
WHO I’D LOVE TO MEET — People I hope to meet
Right now, I especially hope to meet people who know the fandom markets in the United States and Europe.
What kinds of fan cultures exist locally? What merchandise do people love, and who makes it all happen?
I want to explore whether the experience and skills I’ve developed in Japan could be useful to someone in Europe or the United States.
I’d love to hear your perspective!
Beyond industries, company size or titles, I want to meet people who put pride, purpose and passion into their work.
I love hearing not just what people do, but why they do it.
See related industries
I’d also love to connect with people in areas such as:
- Printing, advertising agencies and design studios
- Event planning and operations
- Publishing, characters, IP and licensing
- Tourism, leisure attractions and facility operations
- People interested in Japanese culture and markets
I hope we can share our experiences and ideas, and perhaps discover new possibilities together.
COME VISIT JAPAN — Come visit Japan!
Read about visiting Japan
I live in Azumino, Nagano, a beautiful area surrounded by the Northern Japanese Alps.
If you’re coming to Japan, please get in touch. Whether it’s sightseeing, food or unusual places, I’d be happy to think it through with you.
I may even be able to suggest local experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.
LET’S CONNECT — Stay in touch
Grateful for this connection.
Thank you for taking the time to read about me.
I hope this connection becomes something wonderful for both of us.
Let’s talk again.
BNI · Givers Gain!