Chief, RD&S Department
Ken Ninomiya

Naigai handles every stage of glove production, from planning and development through manufacturing, across fields ranging from sports and fashion to work gloves.

Drawing on decades of expertise and experience, the company takes a collaborative approach to manufacturing, offering proposals from the earliest stages of design and material selection.

This approach supports the creation of approximately 500 designs each year—the equivalent of nearly two new designs every working day.

We spoke with Ninomiya, Chief of the RD&S Department and a central figure in this development process. What mindset and daily practices make it possible to keep creating so many new designs?

Trusting Yourself When There Is No Single Right Answer

As a child, Ninomiya loved drawing characters and experimenting with lettering. That interest led him to study design at university, where he acquired CAD skills.

He put those skills to work after joining Naigai and has now been with the company for 20 years. Today, he leads the RD&S Department as its chief.

The department’s responsibilities span design proposals, concept development, materials research, technical development, and the preparation of specifications for mass production. It currently has nine members, including three designers responsible for approximately 500 designs a year, proposing two or three options for each style.

In design, there is no single right answer.

“I have to believe the product will sell—and trust myself.”

These are the words Ninomiya uses to keep himself moving forward.

Because there is no way to know the right answer at the planning stage, his decisions draw on the instincts and knowledge he has developed through experience. That willingness to trust his judgment and take on challenges has also taken root within his team.

Building on Experience to Find the Next Idea

Naigai has been manufacturing gloves for more than 70 years. Over that time, it has built an extensive collection of data and samples.

The RD&S Department builds on this recorded data and accumulated expertise, adding fresh ideas and working with other departments to develop new products.

Still, producing a steady stream of ideas is no easy task. Amid a demanding workload, Ninomiya keeps one question in mind:

“How can I make time to give each style the care and attention it deserves?”

Analyzing other companies’ products, exploring the archives at headquarters, and researching new materials and trends—these steady, everyday efforts help new ideas take shape, one product at a time.

Even when faced with a difficult problem, Ninomiya keeps exploring other possibilities and refuses to give up. His approach reflects Naigai’s vision: “A spirit that never gives up—taking on a challenge is the beginning; failure is part of the process.”

He continues to work at the forefront of development, striving to stay true to each client’s brand identity while proposing ideas that take it a step further.

What Keeps Him Creating

Outside work, Ninomiya enjoys staying active through golf, fishing, and cycling to work. These activities are more than hobbies: they also give him firsthand experience of using gloves, providing insights he can bring into product development.

Thinking about gloves is itself something he enjoys. Everyday experiences become a source of inspiration.

For Ninomiya, hearing that a glove he helped develop is doing well brings immense satisfaction—and the motivation to create the next one.

“Ninomiya, those gloves are selling really well!”

“Those gloves were featured in a magazine!”

Comments like these give him the energy to take on new challenges.

Today, the RD&S Department is exploring new initiatives. Its work continues, bringing together the customer’s perspective and technical expertise to create the next generation of products.