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Industry First: Hiraoka's Paper Acrylic Stand

Hiraoka Co., Ltd., a long-standing paper manufacturing and wholesale company established in 1933 in Ueno, Tokyo, is embarking on an exciting new venture inspired by the dynamic voices of social media. The company has announced its unexpected yet innovative product, the paper acrylic stand, affectionately dubbed "Kami-Suta," which will begin OEM production order intake on December 16, 2025, celebrated as Paper Day.

The company's recent social media post on platform X (formerly Twitter), which amassed an incredible 13,000 likes and 1.69 million impressions, showcased a sincere appeal for user input. This led to an outpouring of approximately 1,000 comments, with a strong majority advocating for the creation of a paper version of the popular acrylic stand. This marked an intriguing shift for Hiraoka, which specializes in producing custom entertainment-related paper products, as it steps into a new realm following the prevalent trend of acrylic products.

Background

For decades, Hiraoka has served the entertainment sector, focusing primarily on custom paper products. However, the company faced significant challenges as acrylic products gained dominance in the market. Recognizing the need for innovation amidst a shrinking industry, Hiraoka decided to initiate a heartfelt inquiry via social media, reaching out to users for their honest feedback.

The response was overwhelming, resonating deeply within the community, and prompting nearly 1,000 poignant comments, the most common being a strong desire for the creation of a paper variant of the acrylic stand. This demand illustrated a notable shift towards environmentally conscious products that are lightweight, easy to transport, and nostalgic in nature.

Development Journey

Motivated by the enthusiastic feedback, Hiraoka took a bold step toward manufacturing this innovative product. By transitioning from primarily order-based production, the company set out to realize its mission of producing character stands in paper. The journey to develop Kami-Suta was fraught with challenges and passion, as integrating the delicate features of paper with the required sturdiness and functionality of a stand tested the bounds of the company’s expertise.

Hiraoka's development team dedicated eight months to perfecting the product, leveraging 92 years of paper product manufacturing experience. They worked tirelessly to overcome significant hurdles, such as achieving precise cutting accuracy and ensuring the stand’s overall strength and insertion mechanism.

Features and Eco-Friendly Benefits of Kami-Suta

The Kami-Suta is a result of collaborative engagement with fan communities, bringing forth a new kind of entertainment merchandise that prioritizes environmental sustainability.

• - Product Name: Paper Acrylic Stand (Kami-Suta)
• - Eco-Friendly: Contributes to plastic reduction and features easy waste separation upon disposal.
• - High-Quality Coloration: The product boasts a warm aesthetic characteristic of paper, enhanced by advanced printing technology that ensures vibrant colors.
• - Pricing: Customized quotes per request.
• - Order Intake Start Date: December 16, 2025

This innovative paper version of the acrylic stand, known as Kami-Suta, embraces a fresh perspective on fan merchandise while staying committed to environmental considerations.

Remarks from the President

Naoki Hiraoka, the president of Hiraoka Co., Ltd., emphasizes the significance of this moment: "For a traditional company like ours, being able to directly receive feedback through modern social media and embark on product development based on that feedback marks the most significant change in our 92-year history. Kami-Suta represents a pivotal step for our company, reinforcing our belief in the potential of paper products; we aspire to evolve into a manufacturer that responds consistently to the voices of users seeking paper goods."

Company Overview

• - Company Name: Hiraoka Co., Ltd.
• - Location: Hiraoka Building 8F, 6-1-11 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
• - President: Naoki Hiraoka
• - Founded: 1933
• - Business Scope: Manufacturing and wholesale of paper products, planning and development of paper products for the entertainment sector.
• - Website: Hiraoka Website