How to Apply to Tsuburaya Productions

10 min read Last updated April 20, 2026 1 current role tracked
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

ResumeGeni's employer crawl shows Tsuburaya Productions runs its own custom application flow behind 1 live opening. Standard parser rules still apply: conventional section headings, text bullets, no tables. See the general ATS formatting guide.

Key Takeaways

  • Tsuburaya Productions is the Japanese tokusatsu studio behind the Ultraman franchise, founded in 1963 by special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya
  • The company is owned by Fields Corporation (TYO: 2767) following a 2018 acquisition, with Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (TYO: 4839) as the listed parent following the TYO Inc. merger
  • Headcount runs roughly 200 to 300 full-time staff supplemented by a much larger freelance pool of suit actors, sculptors, miniature builders, and special effects specialists
  • The Ultraman franchise spans more than 50 series and films since 1966, with current entries including Ultraman Blazar (2023), Ultraman Arc (2024), and Ultraman Omega (2025)
  • Recent global momentum is real: Ultraman: Rising on Netflix (June 2024, co-produced with Industrial Light and Magic) and Shin Ultraman (2022) have driven international and adult-Japanese audience growth
  • Tokyo HQ and production-facility roles require business-level Japanese; English matters for international licensing, Netflix collaboration, and Ultraman Connection global community work
  • Hiring uses a custom Japanese-language ATS at recruit.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp, with shinsotsu postings also surfacing on Mynavi and Rikunabi
  • Be candid about the Fields Corporation pachinko parent-company context; some employees navigate that adjacency with mixed feelings and interviewers respect honest engagement

Source basis: This guide combines the company's public careers materials, detected ATS-provider data, and ResumeGeni analysis. Employer-specific details should be read alongside the Sources section below; interview-culture guidance may synthesize public candidate reports when official documentation is limited.

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (株式会社円谷プロダクション) is a Japanese tokusatsu (special effects) film and television production company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya — the legendary special effects director who created the practical-effects techniques behind Toho's original 1954 Godzilla and decades of subsequent kaiju cinema — the studio has spent more than six decades defining the visual grammar of Japanese live-action superhero and monster storytelling. The company is best known as the home of the Ultraman franchise, launched in 1966 as a weekly tokusatsu television series and now spanning more than 50 series and films across nearly six decades, including Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Cosmos, Ultraman Mebius, Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman X, Ultraman Geed, Ultraman Trigger, Ultraman Decker, Ultraman Blazar (2023), Ultraman Arc (2024), and Ultraman Omega (2025). Headcount runs roughly 200 to 300 full-time employees, supplemented by a much larger floating pool of freelance specialists — suit actors, sculptors, miniature builders, special effects supervisors, and animators — who work on a per-production basis. Corporate ownership is complex following Fields Corporation's 2018 acquisition: Fields Corporation (TYO: 2767), a major Japanese pachinko and pachislot machine manufacturer, sits as the parent group, and a subsequent merger with TYO Inc. produced Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (TYO: 4839) as the listed entity above the production studio. Candidates should understand that the Ultraman license is monetized in part through pachinko machines under the parent group, and some prospective employees find that adjacency uncomfortable. Recent franchise momentum has been notably strong: the June 2024 release of Ultraman: Rising on Netflix — an animated feature co-produced with Industrial Light and Magic — was a deliberate global push, while Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's 2022 Shin Ultraman theatrical film (a Toho and Tsuburaya co-production) brought adult Japanese audiences back to the franchise in a major way. International expansion is real: Ultraman has long-standing strength across Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and broader Southeast Asia, and US and European awareness has been growing through Netflix, manga licensing, and Ultraman Connection global community work. NFT and Web3 partnerships from 2022 to 2024 generated controversy and have since stabilized. Competitively, Tsuburaya operates in a small, specialized Japanese tokusatsu industry alongside Toei Company (the source of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai, which Saban adapted into Power Rangers), with periodic co-production crossover with Toho Pictures (Godzilla), Bandai Visual within the Bandai Namco group (Gundam tokusatsu and animation), and global kaiju and superhero peers including Legendary Pictures (the Godzilla MonsterVerse including 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire), Toho International (Godzilla US licensing), Marvel Studios (Disney), DC Studios (Warner Bros), and Industrial Light and Magic (Lucasfilm/Disney, which partnered with Tsuburaya on Ultraman: Rising). Be candid: this is a specialized craft-driven Japanese studio with a small permanent staff, heavy freelance reliance for production, on-site Tokyo expectation, Japanese-language operating environment, and a pachinko-industry corporate parent that some employees navigate with mixed feelings.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Apply through the Tsuburaya Productions Japanese-language careers portal at recr

    Apply through the Tsuburaya Productions Japanese-language careers portal at recruit.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp; the company uses a custom in-house ATS rather than Greenhouse, Workday, or another global SaaS platform

  2. 2
    For new graduates (shinsotsu), follow the Japanese spring hiring calendar with e

    For new graduates (shinsotsu), follow the Japanese spring hiring calendar with entry sheets opening March through May for an April start the following year — postings typically also surface on Mynavi and Rikunabi

  3. 3
    Mid-career (chuuto) hiring is sporadic and heavily relationship-driven; many pro

    Mid-career (chuuto) hiring is sporadic and heavily relationship-driven; many production roles are filled through industry referrals and prior freelance collaboration rather than open postings

  4. 4
    Freelance and per-production roles for suit actors, sculptors, miniature builder

    Freelance and per-production roles for suit actors, sculptors, miniature builders, costume designers, and special effects technicians are negotiated directly with line producers and production managers, often outside the formal recruit portal

  5. 5
    Prepare a Japanese-format rirekisho (履歴書) with photo and a shokumu keirekisho (職

    Prepare a Japanese-format rirekisho (履歴書) with photo and a shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書) listing every credited tokusatsu, film, television, or animation project with role and episode-level detail

  6. 6
    Portfolio is mandatory for craft roles: include reels for VFX and animation cand

    Portfolio is mandatory for craft roles: include reels for VFX and animation candidates, photographs of sculpted maquettes and miniatures for sculptors, costume construction documentation for costume designers, and suit action footage for suit actor candidates

  7. 7
    Expect a written or in-person aptitude screen for production assistant and corpo

    Expect a written or in-person aptitude screen for production assistant and corporate roles, plus essay questions about your relationship with the Ultraman franchise and Japanese tokusatsu more broadly

  8. 8
    First-round interviews are conducted in Japanese at the Shibuya headquarters or

    First-round interviews are conducted in Japanese at the Shibuya headquarters or at the Tsuburaya production facility, typically by the line producer or department head who would supervise the role

  9. 9
    Final-round interviews involve senior producers, the studio president (Takayuki

    Final-round interviews involve senior producers, the studio president (Takayuki Tsukagoshi as of recent reporting — verify current), and for some roles a Tsuburaya Fields Holdings parent-group HR representative

  10. 10
    Document signing and onboarding follow Japanese employment norms including hanko

    Document signing and onboarding follow Japanese employment norms including hanko (personal seal) registration; freelance contracts are negotiated per production with Japanese-language master service agreements

Resume Tips for Tsuburaya Productions

recommended

Use the standard Japanese rirekisho format with photo, full education history, a

Use the standard Japanese rirekisho format with photo, full education history, and reverse-chronological work history; pair it with a shokumu keirekisho detailing each tokusatsu, film, or television production credit

recommended

List every Ultraman series, film, or tokusatsu project credit with title, year,

List every Ultraman series, film, or tokusatsu project credit with title, year, role, and episode numbers where applicable — the hiring producer will cross-check against the credits database, so vague entries are a red flag

recommended

Demonstrate authentic knowledge of the Ultraman franchise across decades, not ju

Demonstrate authentic knowledge of the Ultraman franchise across decades, not just the current series — interviewers expect candidates to understand the lineage from Eiji Tsuburaya through to Ultraman Omega

recommended

For suit actor candidates, document height, weight, physical conditioning histor

For suit actor candidates, document height, weight, physical conditioning history, martial arts or stunt training, and any prior suit action work; suit acting is a specialized craft with measurable physical requirements

recommended

Sculptors and miniature builders should include high-resolution photographs of f

Sculptors and miniature builders should include high-resolution photographs of finished work, in-progress shots showing technique, and notes on materials and scale; practical effects craft is evaluated on tactile execution

recommended

VFX and animation candidates should include a reel under 90 seconds with shot br

VFX and animation candidates should include a reel under 90 seconds with shot breakdowns clarifying which elements were personally executed versus team contributions, with attention to hybrid practical-plus-digital integration

recommended

Producers, directors, and screenwriters should provide a project list with budge

Producers, directors, and screenwriters should provide a project list with budgets, runtime, broadcast or distribution outcome, and any awards or international festival placements

recommended

Mention any experience with international co-production, Netflix or streaming wo

Mention any experience with international co-production, Netflix or streaming workflows, or English-language collaboration relevant to Ultraman: Rising, Ultraman Connection, and ongoing global expansion work

recommended

Include language certifications honestly — JLPT N1 is the standard expectation f

Include language certifications honestly — JLPT N1 is the standard expectation for full-time Tokyo roles, and TOEIC scores matter for any role touching international licensing or Netflix collaboration

recommended

Avoid Western-resume embellishment language; Japanese hiring managers and produc

Avoid Western-resume embellishment language; Japanese hiring managers and producers in the tokusatsu industry value restrained factual descriptions over marketing-style achievement framing

ATS System: Tsuburaya Productions Custom ATS (recruit.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp)

Tsuburaya Productions operates a Japanese-language in-house applicant tracking system at recruit.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp rather than a global SaaS platform. New-graduate (shinsotsu) postings also frequently appear on Mynavi and Rikunabi, the dominant Japanese new-grad job platforms. The portal is built around the Japanese hiring calendar with separate flows for new-graduate and mid-career (chuuto) candidates, and it integrates with the standard Japanese entry sheet, aptitude testing, and multi-round interview workflow. Many freelance and per-production roles are filled outside the portal through direct relationships with line producers.

  • Set browser language to Japanese and use a Japanese IME; the portal is not designed for English-only navigation
  • Submit entry sheets within the published shinsotsu window — late submissions outside the Japanese new-graduate calendar are typically not accepted
  • Upload PDFs of your rirekisho and shokumu keirekisho in standard A4 Japanese formatting, not US Letter or Western templates
  • Cross-check Mynavi and Rikunabi listings for Tsuburaya Productions postings, since some shinsotsu cycles surface there before or alongside the company portal
  • Use a real Japanese mobile number if possible; producers and HR coordinators often confirm interviews by phone or LINE rather than email
  • Check your spam folder regularly — Japanese ATS notifications sometimes get filtered by Gmail and other Western providers
  • If pursuing freelance suit actor, sculptor, or production roles, supplement the portal application with direct outreach to known producers and prior collaborators in the tokusatsu community

Interview Culture

Tsuburaya Productions interviews follow traditional Japanese big-company norms with a specialized tokusatsu craft overlay.

Expect three to five rounds: an initial HR screen, a hiring-manager panel with the line producer or department head, a craft-evaluation round (portfolio review, on-site sketching for art roles, physical evaluation for suit actors, or scene breakdown discussion for production candidates), and a final interview with a senior producer or the studio president. Dress conservatively in business attire (recruit suits for new graduates, dark business suits for mid-career) and follow standard Japanese interview etiquette including the formal greeting at the door and waiting to be invited to sit. Substantively, interviewers will probe your relationship with Ultraman and Japanese tokusatsu — expect to be asked which Ultraman series shaped you, what you think of recent entries like Ultraman Blazar or Ultraman Arc, how you read the Shin Ultraman 2022 reinvention, and what you would do to grow the franchise globally given the Netflix and Ultraman: Rising trajectory. Genuine fan knowledge across multiple decades of Ultraman, plus broader tokusatsu literacy spanning Toei's Kamen Rider and Super Sentai, is meaningfully evaluated. For producer and director roles, prepare a viewpoint on the practical-effects-plus-digital hybrid that defines modern Tsuburaya production. For suit actor roles, expect physical evaluation including movement tests, suit-fit assessment, and discussion of stamina under hot studio lights. Sculptors and miniature builders may be asked to walk through specific pieces in their portfolio with attention to material choices and on-set durability. International co-production candidates should expect questions about Netflix workflows, English-language collaboration with partners like Industrial Light and Magic, and the cultural translation challenges of Ultraman expanding into Western markets. The pachinko parent-company context occasionally surfaces in honest career-trajectory discussions; be prepared to address it candidly rather than evasively.

What Tsuburaya Productions Looks For

  • Authentic multi-decade knowledge of the Ultraman franchise and broader Japanese tokusatsu, not surface-level fan interest
  • Japanese language proficiency at business level (JLPT N1 or native equivalent) for Tokyo HQ and production-facility roles
  • Specialized craft skill in tokusatsu disciplines including practical effects, miniature construction, suit acting, sculpting, costume design, or hybrid practical-plus-digital VFX
  • Long-term career orientation; Japanese big-company employers and the tokusatsu craft community both still favor multi-year tenure and apprenticeship
  • Cross-cultural collaboration ability for international Ultraman expansion, Netflix co-production, and global licensing work
  • Producer and production assistant stamina; tokusatsu shoots involve long hours, physical sets, and tight television production schedules
  • Brand stewardship instincts that respect a 60-year franchise and the Eiji Tsuburaya legacy without fossilizing the creative future
  • Comfort with the freelance-heavy production economy where many crew members are not full-time employees and per-production contracts dominate
  • Honest engagement with the Fields Corporation parent-company context including the pachinko and pachislot industry adjacency
  • Comfort with traditional Japanese corporate processes including hanko documentation, lifetime-employment framing for full-time roles, and consensus-driven decision making

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns Tsuburaya Productions?
Tsuburaya Productions is owned by Fields Corporation (TYO: 2767), a major Japanese pachinko and pachislot machine manufacturer that acquired the studio in 2018. A subsequent merger with TYO Inc. produced Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (TYO: 4839) as the publicly listed entity above the production studio. The Ultraman license is monetized in part through pachinko machines under the parent group.
Do I need to speak Japanese to work at Tsuburaya Productions?
For Tokyo HQ and production-facility roles, business-level Japanese (JLPT N1 or native equivalent) is essentially required. English matters for specific functions touching international Ultraman licensing, Netflix collaboration on projects like Ultraman: Rising, and Ultraman Connection global community work, but core hiring still favors bilingual or Japanese-fluent candidates.
When does Tsuburaya Productions hire new graduates?
Tsuburaya follows the standard Japanese shinsotsu calendar: entry sheets typically open in spring (March through May), with screening, testing, and interviews running through summer, and offers (naitei) issued by early autumn for an April start the following year. Postings frequently appear on Mynavi and Rikunabi alongside the company recruit portal.
What ATS does Tsuburaya Productions use?
Tsuburaya Productions operates a custom Japanese-language in-house ATS at recruit.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp rather than a global SaaS platform like Workday, Greenhouse, or SuccessFactors. New-graduate postings also typically surface on Mynavi and Rikunabi, the dominant Japanese new-grad job platforms.
How do I become a suit actor (Ultraman performer) at Tsuburaya?
Suit acting is a specialized craft with measurable physical requirements including height, weight, conditioning, and often martial arts or stunt training. Most suit actors enter through prior tokusatsu freelance work, stunt-school training, or referral from established performers; full-time staff suit-actor roles are extremely rare. Document your physical specs, training history, and any prior suit action footage when applying.
Are most production roles freelance or full-time?
Tsuburaya runs a small full-time staff (roughly 200 to 300) supplemented by a much larger freelance pool. Suit actors, sculptors, miniature builders, costume designers, special effects technicians, and many production crew positions are typically filled per-production through line-producer relationships and industry referrals rather than the formal recruit portal.
How do I get involved with Ultraman: Rising or other international projects?
International co-productions like Ultraman: Rising (the June 2024 Netflix animated feature with Industrial Light and Magic) involve cross-cultural production teams. Candidates with English-language collaboration experience, Netflix or streaming workflow exposure, and animation or hybrid-VFX backgrounds are best positioned. Global licensing and Ultraman Connection roles also touch international work.
How should I address the Fields Corporation pachinko parent-company context in interviews?
Interviewers respect honest engagement over evasion. The pachinko industry is a long-established and legal Japanese gambling and entertainment sector, and the Ultraman pachinko license is a meaningful revenue stream for the parent group. If asked about it, acknowledge the corporate structure factually and discuss your comfort with the broader business model rather than pretending the parent-company context doesn't exist.
Is Tokyo on-site work required?
Yes for the vast majority of roles. The Shibuya headquarters and the production facility are the hubs of operations, and tokusatsu production is fundamentally physical — sets, suits, miniatures, and practical effects all require on-site presence. Remote or hybrid arrangements are uncommon outside specific corporate functions.
How does Tsuburaya compare to Toei Company for tokusatsu careers?
Toei Company is the other major Japanese tokusatsu studio and the home of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai (the source franchise for Power Rangers), making it the closest peer to Tsuburaya. Toei is significantly larger and more diversified across film, television, and animation; Tsuburaya is more specialized around the Ultraman franchise. Some craft specialists move between the two studios over a career, and many freelance crew work on both.
What kind of background helps for production assistant (seisaku shinkou) roles?
Production assistants need stamina, organizational instinct, comfort with long hours and overnight shifts during production windows, willingness to chase down freelance crew across Tokyo, and basic Japanese business correspondence (keigo). New-grad hires from any university discipline are common; the role is a traditional entry path into Japanese television and film production more broadly.
What recent and upcoming Ultraman projects should I know going into interviews?
Recent entries include Ultraman Blazar (2023), Ultraman Arc (2024), and Ultraman Omega (2025) on the television side; Ultraman: Rising (June 2024, Netflix animated feature with Industrial Light and Magic); and the 2022 theatrical film Shin Ultraman by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi (a Toho-Tsuburaya co-production that brought adult Japanese audiences back to the franchise). Familiarity across these is the baseline expectation for any creative or production role.

Current Role Context

ResumeGeni currently tracks 1 role for Tsuburaya Productions. Use the company profile for current role context before tailoring your resume.

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Sources

  1. Tsuburaya Productions — Official Corporate Site —
  2. Tsuburaya Productions Recruit Portal —
  3. Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (TYO: 4839) — Investor Relations —
  4. Fields Corporation (TYO: 2767) — Corporate Profile —
  5. Ultraman: Rising — Netflix —
  6. Industrial Light and Magic — Ultraman: Rising Production —
  7. Shin Ultraman (2022) — Toho Pictures Official —
  8. Ultraman Connection — Global Fan Community Hub —
  9. Eiji Tsuburaya — Tsuburaya Productions Founder Biography —
  10. Mynavi Shinsotsu — Japanese New-Graduate Job Platform —
  11. Rikunabi — Japanese New-Graduate Job Platform —
  12. Toei Company — Tokusatsu and Tokyo Production Peer —