PERSON
Hiraku Takahashi
Paint Plant Manager, Production Department Joined the company in 2020
Before joining Senkosha, Takahashi built guitars for a major manufacturer as well as in his own workshop. He now oversees the painting process, drawing on that experience.
The Painting Team applies paint to the fixtures assembled by the Production Department, completing them for delivery. As this is the final stage of production, we work with great care to avoid even the smallest scratch or speck of dust. We also occasionally visit installation sites to perform minor touch-ups before handover. One of the unique privileges of being a creator is getting to see our fixtures beautifully illuminated in shops preparing to open.
A crucial pre-painting step is color mixing, where paints are blended to match the sample or color code specified by clients. Even the slightest variation in the mixing ratio can result in an unintended hue or texture. This highly delicate task requires repeated test applications and fine adjustments to achieve the perfect color.
*fixture: furniture and equipment used for displaying and selling merchandise in a shop
One of the challenges in painting is that color tone and texture can shift—almost like a living thing—depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, wood type, and surface condition. Our company uses a paint booth similar to those found in automotive body shops to create a stable environment for painting and drying. Even so, the finish is never exactly the same.
We are also occasionally asked by clients to create color samples. However, after receiving approval for a sample, we often struggle to reproduce the exact same color when painting the actual fixtures. This is one of the common challenges faced by painters.
That said, this is where a creator’s experience and instincts come into play to achieve consistent color even under varying conditions and environments. These challenges further motivate creators to hone their skills. In addition, we maintain a database of past productions at our plant to support efficient color mixing.
Those with no prior painting experience begin by learning the basics, such as how to use a spray gun or how to thin paint, during the undercoating process. Applying undercoat evenly is essential to achieving the intended color, as all subsequent layers of paint depend on it. Trainees also practice other key techniques, such as maintaining the proper distance between the spray gun and the surface, as well as controlling movement speed, until these become second nature.
Those with patience and a passion for delving into the art of painting are well suited to the Painting Team at our company. As mentioned earlier, this job involves far more than mechanically spraying paint onto surfaces. If you are willing to engage in repeated trial and error to achieve the ideal color, you are likely an excellent fit.
In fact, one of our junior team members, now in his 20s, joined the company with no prior painting experience, and is already taking on the challenge of color mixing. Many people discover their hidden talents once they begin. If you’re interested, we encourage you to take the first step.
When I ran my own guitar workshop, I often worked nights and weekends, leaving little time for my family. However, since joining Senkosha, my work-life balance has significantly improved. Now I can easily take days off and attend my child’s sports events and open classes whenever I wish.
As most of our team members commute by car and have families, we rarely go out for drinks after work. Instead, I sometimes enjoy family barbecues with colleagues from the Production Department on holidays.
