In March 2026, the TOMY Group held a sustainability workshop at the TOMY head office in Tokyo.
This was the first time we had invited participants from among our employees. A total of 26 employees, ranging from first-year employees to managers, came together across generations and departments to discuss the theme, "The Future in 2050." What was the true purpose of bringing TOMY Group employees together to exchange ideas? Below, we introduce the goals and significance of this workshop, highlight the day's events, and share honest feedback from the participants themselves!
FOR THE NEXT VISION
What is
the Sustainability Framework?
In 2024, to commemorate our 100th anniversary, the TOMY Group globally adopted the Sustainability Vision 2030: "A creator of quality Asobi that promotes the sustainable well-being of society." This vision sets forth our commitment to providing high-quality Asobi by developing an environment where our employees are able to passionately devote themselves to it, and to attaining both a sustainable society and TOMY Group's growth by considering customer confidence and safety, the global environment, respect for human rights, and our sound management system.
To fulfill this, we have developed a sustainability framework consisting of five main pillars, 11 materialities, and 15 medium-term sustainability targets/KPIs. In particular, the medium-term sustainability targets/KPIs (FY2024-2026), which set forth the targets we aim to achieve over the three-year period starting from FY2024, are now in their final year. The Group as a whole is working to achieve all of these targets, including "create toys and Asobi that take into account universal design/DEI perspectives" and "continual upswing in the employee work engagement score."
Alongside our final push toward achieving our targets, we are also currently working on re-establishing our medium-term sustainability targets/KPIs for FY2027 and beyond, as well as carrying out a comprehensive review of our sustainability framework, in order to realize our Sustainability Vision. As part of this process, TOMY's Sustainability Strategy Division, the division in charge, planned a workshop where employees can exchange opinions about the future, which is the theme of this story.
Sustainability Framework Review Process*Details represent our plans as of September 2026
and are subject to change.
Reorganization of our vision
for each materialities
-
1
Benchmark research (understanding and organizing social issues)
-
2
Study sessions
for officers -
3
Interviews with responsible divisions and task forces within the TOMY Group
-
4
Workshop
for employees (Sustainability Workshop: Let's Discuss the Future of the TOMY Group!)
-
5
Expert Dialogs
-
6
Creation of draft vision
Re-establishment of sustainability targets/KPIs
-
1
Organization of targets/KPIs
-
2
Coordination of responsible divisions
and task forces within the TOMY Group -
3
Reporting to the Sustainability Committee
Finalization
-
1
Final adjustments
to establish targets/KPIs -
2
Approval of targets/KPIs
by the Executive Committee -
3
Approval of targets/KPIs
by the Board of Directors
Formulation of the updated
Sustainability Framework!
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Employees Talk and Think
About
the Future of the TOMY Group
The workshop was attended by 26 volunteers from various Group companies in Japan. The participants were divided into five groups of five to six people. Once they took their seats, the workshop kicked off with an opening speech from the head of the Sustainability Strategy Division.
First, as an icebreaker, the participants, most of whom were meeting for the first time, introduced themselves. After some casual conversation to break the ice and create a friendly atmosphere within each group, the thinking time for the first theme, "Our 2050 vision for society," began. Each participant wrote down their vision for society on sticky notes, which were then posted on a large sheet of paper to share with the other participants. Discussions were then held about commonalities and differences in each other's opinions. Because the theme was so broad, participants exchanged a wide range of opinions, such as peace, the environment, the future of children, human connections, and the use of AI.
Based on these discussions, the session moved on to the main theme: "2050 vision for the TOMY Group." In addition to using sticky notes and large sheets of paper to advance their discussions, as with the "vision for society" theme, participants incorporated ideas from other groups, feeding fresh perspectives and insights back into their own team's work. All opinions were then linked to each materialities, giving concrete shape to the vision for the TOMY Group.
The workshop concluded with each group presenting their discussion outcomes. After all participants had shared their final outputs, the two-hour workshop came to an end in what felt like an instant. Participants expressed sentiments such as, "I wish we'd had more time to discuss," "Since we're all here, I'd love to have a social get-together afterward," and "I'd definitely join again if there's another sustainability workshop!" This initiative proved to be a meaningful step toward future sustainability activities for the TOMY Group as a whole.
-
Introduction
The workshop began in a relaxed atmosphere, with self-introductions and warm-up exercises to loosen up participants' minds and bodies.
-
Group work:
"Thinking about our 2050 vision
for society"Participants held discussions as they imagined what society would be like in 2050, 24 years from now. Honest, heartfelt ideas flew across the room, ranging from "a world without war" to "a society where we can continue enjoying delicious food every day."
-
Group work:
"Thinking about the 2050 vision
for the TOMY Group"From ideal forms of Asobi yet to exist to employees' work styles and connections with society, participants held serious discussions on the TOMY Group in 2050, a year in which many young employees will still be playing an active role.
-
Inter-group observation
Participants visited other groups' tables to check what kinds of opinions were being exchanged. They actively absorbed ideas different from those of their own group and useful opinions they could take on board.
-
Finalization of group work
The opinions raised thus far were selected and mapped onto a large sheet of paper, linking them to the materiality under the TOMY Group's sustainability framework. Each group used them to further refine their own visions.
-
Group presentations
Finally, each group presented their opinions. This brought the employee workshop initiative, which transcended Group companies, departments, and job titles, to a close, generating numerous insights and valuable lessons along the way.
INTERVIEWS
We asked the participants
what they thought
about the workshop!
Takahiro Endo
Specialist
EC Operations Team, EC Promotion Group,
Digital Commerce & AI Strategy Division,
Digital Business,
TOMY Company
Becoming a North Star guiding
the future of the TOMY Group
It sounded like a very interesting workshop, so I immediately signed up to participate. I’m the type to actively participate in events and training, so I always keep an eye out for new company initiatives. I met a lot of people for the first time that day, but thanks to the workshop facilitator’s skillful management, we were able to exchange many opinions from the get-go in a comfortable atmosphere. What particularly stood out about my group was that everyone expressed their opinions from the perspective of putting children first. The same was true when thinking about what society and the TOMY Group might look like in 2050. Without even having agreed beforehand, we connected over a shared focus on children, which I found very fitting for a toy manufacturer. If another opportunity like this comes around, I want even more people to participate. I also think that narrowing the theme down will result in more specific opinions and ideas. I hope that one day the thoughts and visions born from this workshop will become a North Star that guides the direction the TOMY Group should pursue.
Yui Tsushima
Team 1, Sales Group 2, Sales Division,
TOMY MARKETING COMPANY
Applying the experience gained from the workshop
to my sales activities
I've always been interested in sustainability and the SDGs, but I wasn't sure how I can contribute to the world. That's when I learned about this workshop. Even though I was only in my first year at the company, I decided to take the plunge and participate. Until then, I had only considered sustainability and environmental issues from broad perspectives, like carbon dioxide emission reduction and forest conservation. The group work helped me realize that thinking about children and how we work as employees also connects to the SDGs. To realize a sustainable society, it may be important to start by re-examining our daily lives. By the way, I volunteered to be the presenter for the final group presentation. I'm not usually the type to step forward, but I really wanted to convey the opinions that everyone in my group had shared, so I instinctively raised my hand (laughs). The workshop helped deepen my understanding of the sustainability activities being implemented by the TOMY Group. I've also been able to apply this experience in my work, which has enabled me to convey not only the appeal and fun of the products themselves, but also our underlying thoughts and approach when working with my clients.
Yumi Sato
Senior Staff,
Administrative Department,
Shared Services Promotion & Management Division,
TOMY IBIS
Increased interest in company products and initiatives
I was familiar with the term "sustainability" and the TOMY Group's initiatives, but I had never delved deeper into them myself. It was when my interest had been piqued after my daughters learned about the SDGs at school that I heard about this workshop. I decided to participate because I thought it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about it. Once the workshop began, the exposure to various opinions and fresh ideas made me keenly aware of everyone's passion for their work and their deep attachment to the company. Discussions about people's 2050 visions for the TOMY Group were particularly lively, providing a valuable opportunity to discover everyone's shared commitment to join forces as a Group to realize a better society and a better TOMY Group. Realizing that this collective passion is what drives our sustainability initiatives forward was truly inspiring. I also feel that this workshop has enabled me to feel more connected to the Group's products and initiatives, encouraging me to pay more attention to their true value and ingenuity. Lately, I've been wanting to get the mesh GACHA capsules (GACHA capsules that are more resource-saving than conventional products), so I've been going to various places to play the GACHA machines with my children (laughs).
Tomoki Kagamihara
Senior Staff,
Event Section,
T-FIELDTEC Company
The workshop format, which allowed for open discussion,
was the deciding factor in my participation
Since the T-FIELDTEC office where I work is a bit far from the TOMY Group head office, I don't often get the chance to interact with people from other Group companies. Because of this, I'd really wanted to participate in an event that brings employees from various Group companies together to talk. On top of this, the workshop format allowed for open communication among participants rather than a lecture format. Since I enjoy talking to people, this was the deciding factor in my participation. During the group work, I was surprised by how much diversity of opinion can emerge simply because people come from different Group companies or departments. When you only hold meetings with colleagues from your own company, ideas and opinions tend to converge in the same direction. In contrast, this workshop was very inspiring because I felt my perspectives broaden each time someone expressed a new opinion. Incidentally, following this workshop, we immediately implemented a new approach at an event we hosted. We redesigned the empty capsule drop box for the GACHA machines set up at the event venue. By making the signage on the collection box much clearer, we reduced the amount of trash mistakenly thrown inside, allowing us to reuse the empty capsules more smoothly.
Shin Inagaki
Senior Assistant Manager,
Corporate Management Section,
Administration Department, L&A Headquarters,
TOMY MARKETING COMPANY
The difficulties and joys of
uniting diverse values
I had always kept up with disclosure related to the TOMY Group's sustainability, such as the Sustainability Vision and medium-term sustainability targets/KPIs. However, I struggled to fully grasp them or translate them into concrete actions, so I joined this workshop hoping it would help me connect sustainability more closely to my own work. While exchanging opinions during the group work, I was surprised to find that my own personal hopes, such as wanting a world without war or wanting a better work-life balance, were actually connected to sustainability and the SDGs. My biggest takeaway from the workshop was the vast diversity in how people think. Something I considered deeply important might not matter as much to someone else, and vice versa... It really hit home how challenging it can be to derive a single, shared direction from such a wide range of values and ideas. Nevertheless, the group work itself was carried out in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere, enabling me to thoroughly enjoy the discussions. We bonded over the fact that everyone in our group had moved to Tokyo from the countryside, so I hope we can all get together and chat again someday.
VOICE OF THE ORGANIZER
Thoughts and Results of
Hosting the Workshop
Natsumi Fujiyama
Senior Staff,
Sustainability Strategy Team, Sustainability Strategy Group,
Sustainability Strategy Division,
TOMY Company
Turning a first-time initiative
into a place of learning and discovery
Holding a workshop to gather input from employees was a first-time initiative for the TOMY Group as part of a comprehensive review of the sustainability framework. We launched this project believing that many employees would gladly share their opinions if given the chance, and because we felt that driving the Group's sustainability initiatives forward required listening to the perspectives of people in various roles.
Initially, there were more than a few concerns about whether enough people would show up or if the discussions would be lively enough. However, those anxieties quickly vanished the moment we saw participants enthusiastically filling sticky notes with their thoughts and actively exchanging opinions across company and positional boundaries during the workshop.
Our primary goal at the Sustainability Strategy Division was simply to listen to our employees. Yet in practice, we received an overwhelming amount of feedback expressing how the workshop helped participants deepen their understanding of sustainability and allowed them to reaffirm their pride in the company and their dedication to future generations. I was greatly surprised and delighted to discover that this initiative ended up being a valuable opportunity for learning and discovery for the participants themselves.
Empowered by the invaluable feedback and positive energy everyone shared, we will continue our efforts to formulate the next sustainability framework. Thank you very much to everyone who participated!
