Japan's Largest Auto Body Repair Chain: Artisan Workforce Surpasses 100, Achieving ¥490,000 Average Monthly Income Through 'Artisan Sharing'

Ikeuchi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Miyuto Ikeuchi), specializing in automotive panel beating and painting services, is pleased to announce that the number of regular full-time panel beating and painting artisans working at its company-owned factories has surpassed 100. Amid growing labor shortages and a paradigm shift where on-site workers now earn more than office staff, the company has established a unique system combining 'direct-operated networks' and 'artisan sharing' to properly evaluate artisans' value. This has enabled the creation of an environment offering an exceptional average monthly income of ¥490,000 (※)—unprecedented in the industry. As a company embodying the forefront of 2026 Japan's economic transformation symbolized by the 're-evaluation and wage reversal of blue-collar workers,' Ikeuchi will continue to lead aggressive hiring of panel beating artisans and improve industry-wide working conditions. (※) Regarding the average monthly income of ¥490,000 Data on the company's salary performance is publicly available on its recruitment website (https://ikeuchi-jidousha.co.jp/recruit/numbers.html). [Background and Insights] The Social Challenge of 'Blue-Collar Labor Shortage': Why Has Our Company Become Japan's Largest? As of 2026, while workforce shortages are intensifying across all industries, economic media increasingly features special reports such as 'the era when blue-collar workers earn more' and 'on-site workers surpassing office workers in wages,' indicating a major shift in labor market values. In particular, the automotive repair industry faces rising repair demand due to 'longer vehicle ownership,' while simultaneously confronting a 'severe labor shortage.' This means the scarcity value of 'panel beating and painting artisans'—whose skills cannot be replaced by AI—has never been higher. Against this social backdrop, our company has grown into Japan's largest panel beating shop (with over 100 regular artisans). We believe that in the future labor market, securing blue-collar talent will require 'better working conditions,' and companies must establish 'structures and systems capable of sustainably maintaining such high compensation.' The reason we can welcome artisans at this scale is precisely because we were among the first to build and implement such a 'structure.' By addressing artisans' concerns about work-life balance and future stability, we have systematized a 'sustainable way of working that allows lifelong skill development and supporting one's family with peace of mind.' We believe that artisans' resonance with our initiatives is the driving force behind our popularity. [Background of Surpassing 100 Artisans] Defying Industry Norms: Counter-Cyclical Management and Mass Employment The typical panel beating and painting industry operates mostly through single-store setups, unable to bear the fixed cost (labor cost) risks during off-seasons. As a result, not only do they hire only the minimum necessary artisans, but due to operational limitations, they are 'physically unable to employ large numbers of artisans.' This has led to chronic labor shortages, and during peak seasons when demand spikes, the industry-wide dilemma of 'not having enough artisans, thus being forced to limit repair intake (turning away customers)' has become normalized. However, our company is tackling this structural challenge with a 'counter-cyclical management' approach—going directly against conventional wisdom. By leveraging our industry-leading network of 34 fully company-owned stores, we have established a foundation capable of absorbing fluctuations in demand across individual stores at the corporate level. It is precisely because of nationwide direct operation that we can promote 'deliberate mass employment,' building a business model that maximizes profits by never missing peak season requests—this is the primary reason behind surpassing 100 artisans. [Revenue Structure Supporting High Compensation] 'Artisan Sharing' Enabling an Average Monthly Income of ¥490,000 How can we achieve such high compensation—¥490,000 average monthly income—while conducting mass employment? The answer lies in the high productivity generated by our proprietary 'Artisan Sharing' system. Mechanism 1: Dynamic Reassignment by Treating 34 Nationwide Stores as 'One Giant Factory' Maximizing the advantage of being 'fully direct-operated' rather than franchised, we operate our nationwide factory network as if it were 'one giant factory.' We dynamically reassign artisans to stores with work (demand) based on seasonal fluctuations (off-peak and peak seasons) and regional differences (e.g., snowy regions in winter). This flexible staffing, possible only through nationwide direct operation, maintains stable operations without sacrificing overall company profitability. Mechanism 2: Eliminating 'Idle Time' for Overwhelming Productivity Through our proprietary dispatch system, we minimize artisans' 'waiting time without work (lost time)' to near zero, increasing the monthly vehicle intake per store to over 150—exceeding the industry average—and generating high profit margins. Mechanism 3: Directly Returning Profits to 'Salaries' We have established a compensation system that directly links profits from high utilization rates and improved productivity to artisans' salaries, creating an environment where not only experienced artisans but also young workers and career changers from other industries can acquire solid skills and work with pride. Future Outlook: Advancing Blue-Collar Empowerment and Transforming the Automotive Aftermarket Surpassing 100 artisans is merely a milestone for our company. Moving forward, we will accelerate nationwide expansion from our current 34 fully direct-operated stores, further strengthening the 'Artisan Sharing' network. Simultaneously, we will intensify the recruitment and development of blue-collar talent with 'hands-on skills' irreplaceable by AI, establishing industry-wide role models where they receive fair evaluation and high compensation. As a company leading the 'blue-collar wage reversal era,' we will promote the sustainable development of the automotive aftermarket and transform the industry structure into one where everyone can work with confidence. Company Name: Ikeuchi Co., Ltd. Headquarters: 2F, WeWork YTV Yotsuya Building, 3-23 Kojimachi 5-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083 Representative: President & CEO Miyuto Ikeuchi Business: Automotive panel beating repair and all related services Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikeuchi_bankin/ Official X: https://x.com/IKEUCHI_BANKIN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ikeuchijidousha Corporate Website: https://ikeuchi-jidousha.co.jp [About Ikeuchi Jidosha] Operated by Ikeuchi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), a nationwide chain of 34 specialized panel beating and painting shops. Under the concept of 'Fast, Affordable, and Meticulous,' we achieve industry-leading cost performance and short delivery times by eliminating middle margins through direct factory operation and rigorous process management. In FY2025, we surpassed 30,496 annual repair vehicles. Leveraging abundant repair data and skilled craftsmanship, we serve as the 'trusted neighborhood car clinic' specializing in scratch and dent repair, offering transparent services through digital estimates and social media. ◾️ For Media and Press Inquiries Public Relations, Ikeuchi Co., Ltd. Email: info@ikeuchi-jidousha.com ◾️ For Recruitment Inquiries