Fukuhara Needle Certified as 'Best Practice Enterprise' for Achieving 85% Paid Leave Utilization in Resort Town Shirahama
Fukuhara Needle Co., Ltd., a knitting needle manufacturer based in Shirahama, Wakayama, has been certified as a 'FY2025 Best Practice Enterprise' by the Wakayama Labour Bureau. The company achieved an 85.4% leave utilization rate and over 60% paternal leave through its innovative 'multi-skilling' system.
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- 📰 Published: May 26, 2026 at 17:18
- 🔍 Collected: May 26, 2026 at 08:31
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Fukuhara Needle Co., Ltd., based in the resort town of Shirahama, Wakayama, has been officially certified as a 'FY2025 Best Practice Enterprise' by the Wakayama Labour Bureau. The company, which exports high-quality knitting needles to over 90 countries, was recognized for its breakthrough labor reforms in the manufacturing sector.
### Employee Security Securing 62 Years of Tradition
Since its founding in 1964, Fukuhara Needle has specialized in manufacturing essential needles for knit fabrics used in sportswear and car seats. Their philosophy, 'The company exists only because of its employees,' drives their commitment to creating an environment where workers can balance career and personal life, ensuring the long-term preservation of their world-class craftsmanship.
### Achieving 85.4% Paid Leave and 60% Paternal Leave
Through close collaboration with the labor union, the company has achieved metrics rarely seen in manufacturing:
- Paid Leave Utilization Rate: 85.4%
- Paternal Leave Rate: Over 60%
- Average Length of Service: 18.4 years
These figures are supported by a culture of mutual aid and a flexible 'hourly paid leave' system that accommodates personal needs like childcare and medical visits.
### Overcoming Barriers with 'Multi-Skilling'
To address the manufacturing challenge where 'production stops if someone is absent,' Fukuhara Needle implemented a 'multi-skilling' (Tanoko-ka) strategy. By training employees to handle multiple production processes, the company created a resilient system where the team can naturally support each other during sudden illnesses or long-term parental leave.
### CEO Message: Yuji Fukuhara
'Prioritizing an environment where every employee can work with peace of mind is our top priority. This certification is a result of our joint efforts with the labor union. We will continue to pursue a work style that doesn't compromise on either professional excellence or personal life in the beautiful nature of Shirahama.'
### Employee Security Securing 62 Years of Tradition
Since its founding in 1964, Fukuhara Needle has specialized in manufacturing essential needles for knit fabrics used in sportswear and car seats. Their philosophy, 'The company exists only because of its employees,' drives their commitment to creating an environment where workers can balance career and personal life, ensuring the long-term preservation of their world-class craftsmanship.
### Achieving 85.4% Paid Leave and 60% Paternal Leave
Through close collaboration with the labor union, the company has achieved metrics rarely seen in manufacturing:
- Paid Leave Utilization Rate: 85.4%
- Paternal Leave Rate: Over 60%
- Average Length of Service: 18.4 years
These figures are supported by a culture of mutual aid and a flexible 'hourly paid leave' system that accommodates personal needs like childcare and medical visits.
### Overcoming Barriers with 'Multi-Skilling'
To address the manufacturing challenge where 'production stops if someone is absent,' Fukuhara Needle implemented a 'multi-skilling' (Tanoko-ka) strategy. By training employees to handle multiple production processes, the company created a resilient system where the team can naturally support each other during sudden illnesses or long-term parental leave.
### CEO Message: Yuji Fukuhara
'Prioritizing an environment where every employee can work with peace of mind is our top priority. This certification is a result of our joint efforts with the labor union. We will continue to pursue a work style that doesn't compromise on either professional excellence or personal life in the beautiful nature of Shirahama.'
FAQ
福原ニードルが認定された「ベストプラクティス企業」とは何ですか？
和歌山労働局がワーク・ライフ・バランスの推進や製造現場の働き方改革において顕著な成果を上げた企業を認定する制度です。
福原ニードルの有給休暇消化率はどのくらいですか？
85.4％という高い水準を達成しており、これは和歌山県内の平均を大きく上回る実績です。
製造業で休暇を取りやすくするためにどのような工夫をしていますか？
「多能工化」を推進し、一人の従業員が複数の工程をカバーできるようにすることで、急な欠員や長期休暇があっても現場が止まらない体制を整えています。
福原ニードルはどのような製品を製造していますか？
スポーツウェアや自動車のシートなどに使用されるニット（メリヤス）生地を作るために不可欠な「編針」および編み機部品を製造しています。
男性の育児休暇取得率はどのくらいですか？
60％以上を達成しており、制度だけでなく実際に休みを取れる職場環境の整備が進んでいます。