Commercial Manga 'Sakajo ~Plasterer Toko~' Born from Corporate Investment, Now Available for Distribution

NPO LEGIKA (Location: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Director: Fumie Kozaki), which operates the manga production and IP production business "LEGIKA Studio," has jointly produced the commercial manga 'Sakajo ~Plasterer Toko~,' themed around plastering, with Yabuuhara Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kenzo Yabuuhara), a general trading company for wet building materials and machinery. The manga will begin distribution on over 130 platforms starting April 24, 2026.

While cases of companies utilizing manga have increased in recent years, most are created for direct information dissemination, serving purposes such as marketing, sales, recruitment, public relations, and training. This work differs from such PR manga; it is conceived and funded by a company based on its industry expertise and produced as a "commercial work" to be sold in e-book stores. Cases where companies take the lead in producing commercial manga in this manner are still few. This is also LEGIKA Studio's first commercial manga distribution through corporate collaboration.

This method of elevating corporate knowledge into IP is considered an innovative business model for companies with extensive specialized knowledge within their organizations, creating revenue opportunities through manga.

**Background of Production – "We want more people to know about plastering."**

The genesis of this work was an in-house competition within Yabuuhara Corporation, a general trading company that has led the industry since its founding in 1901 (Meiji 34) with plastering materials and other building materials and machinery, for launching a new business.

The point of contention in the competition was "how to convey the work of plastering to people outside the industry."

Although plastering technology, which involves coating walls and finishing spaces, is essential for Japanese architecture, it is generally unfamiliar to the public, and the shortage of skilled craftsmen is a serious issue. Yabuuhara, having walked alongside craftsmen for over 120 years, knows the depth of their skills and their pride. Manga was chosen as the medium to widely share that knowledge.

By combining LEGIKA Studio's manga production capabilities with Yabuuhara's industry network and specialized knowledge, this work was created to reach both within and outside the industry.

**Synopsis of the Work**

"You don't have to come tomorrow."
—That's what a 19-year-old newcomer, who had just started on-site, was told.

Touko Tsutsui, the protagonist, is an apprentice plasterer who jumped into the world of plastering, where women are rarely seen. Although she chose this path by her own will, aspiring to the skills her grandfather had built, a harsh reality awaited her on-site.
"We're only taking care of you because you're family."
Symbolized by such words, she was not given sufficient opportunities to learn skills, and her work primarily consisted of auxiliary tasks.
Even in strenuous tasks like carrying materials, she faced difficulties in performing at the same level as others. Gradually, her struggle deepened due to the gap between ideals and reality. Yet, there is only one reason why she continues to stand on-site:
The sound of the trowel she heard over her grandfather's back when she was little—she is driven by that memory.

This work depicts the growth of a young artisan against the backdrop of industry challenges such as the inheritance of traditional techniques, while re-evaluating the value and appeal of plastering from a perspective not fully explored before. Furthermore, it portrays the growth process of an individual "artisan" as she confronts her work.

**Comment from Toru Sugita, Sapporo Branch, Yabuuhara Corporation**

"I applied for the in-house competition with the desire to let the general public know the fun and coolness of plastering. I thought that if it was a manga that anyone could easily pick up, the appeal of 'plastering' would reach many people. Just as soccer boys used to aspire to be soccer players after reading 'Captain Tsubasa,' I would be happy if this manga encourages even one more person to become interested in the work of plastering."

**Work Outline**

Title: Sakajo ~Plasterer Toko~

Total Episodes: 7 episodes, 200 pages

Distribution Start Date: April 24, 2026

Distribution Platforms: Various e-book companies (over 130)

Price: Each episode: 90 yen / Complete edition: 480 yen

Supervised by: Yabuuhara Corporation

Produced by: LEGIKA Studio (NPO LEGIKA)

**LEGIKA Studio Overview**

Established: August 2019

Service Overview: Realization of manga production and IP production for manga publishers and corporate organizations.

Business Activities: Production of corporate manga for internal newsletters, recruitment, education/training, advertising, social issue resolution, etc., commercial manga production, IP production services, and operation of collaboration projects with businesses requiring manga talent.

Existing Clients: Inabata & Co., Ltd., Hakuhodo Inc., Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Consulting LLC, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, etc.