From Village in the Mountains to the World

Advanced Manufacturing Rooted in the Community: Waka Manufacturing’s Omi Factory

Omi Village is located in central Nagano Prefecture, roughly halfway between Matsumoto and Nagano City. With a population of just over 2,000, this small mountain village is rich in natural beauty and history.
At first glance, it may seem surprising that products supporting the world’s most advanced communications infrastructure are manufactured in such a rural setting. Yet Waka Manufacturing’s Omi Factory embodies the essence of highly advanced manufacturing that is made possible precisely because it is rooted in a local community.

1. A Small Village at the Core of Cutting-Edge Technology

Waka Manufacturing’s Omi Factory is a production site for high-frequency coaxial connectors. These components are essential to the core of social infrastructure, including 5G communications, satellites, and electronic measurement equipment. They are also used in JAXA’s space development programs and must meet the highest performance standards.
The company’s strengths lie in its design and manufacturing technologies for millimeter-wave frequencies and other ultra-high-frequency applications. Manufacturing at these frequencies requires exceptional precision, as even minute machining deviations can affect performance.
In other words, this is more than a regional factory: it is a technology hub that helps support communications quality around the world.

2. Precision Technology Fostered by a Culture of Craftsmanship

Agriculture and forestry account for a significant share of Omi Village’s industries. At the same time, the area has a long tradition of meticulous handwork, including hemp weaving and handicrafts.
Many Waka Manufacturing products require the manual assembly of extremely small components, with precision measured in microns. Such work cannot be replaced by automation alone; skilled human hands remain indispensable.
At the Omi Factory, local workers—many of them homemakers—play a central role on the production floor. Their careful, detailed workmanship supports the quality of the products.
The combination of a way of life and a tradition of craftsmanship rooted in the community with state-of-the-art technology is one of the Omi Factory’s defining strengths.

3. A Sustainable Factory Where Women Thrive

Another notable feature of the Omi Factory is its working environment.
Most employees are local residents, and women make up a particularly high proportion of the workforce. Approximately 80% of the factory’s employees are women.
The work is primarily performed while seated in a climate-controlled environment, with very little heavy labor or hazardous work. Flexible employment arrangements—including the ability to switch between full-time and part-time work—also make it easier for employees to balance work and personal life.
This is especially significant in that it provides sustainable employment opportunities, an important issue in regions facing population decline.
The factory does more than manufacture products: it also helps sustain a system in which people can continue to live and work in their local community.

4. Deep Ties with the Local Community

The Omi Factory is more than a manufacturing site; it values its relationship with the local community. It has continuously built connections with local residents through activities such as donating equipment to schools and sponsoring community events.
The founder’s roots in the area have also been a factor in maintaining the factory in Omi for many years.
In a village with a relatively small population, a company that sustains employment for around 30 people plays a major role. For the community, the factory is not only an industry in its own right, but also an important part of the local foundation for everyday life.

5. A Next-Generation Factory in Harmony with Nature

Omi Village is a mountainous area surrounded by abundant natural beauty, making coexistence with the environment an essential consideration.
Waka Manufacturing is actively working to reduce CO₂ emissions through initiatives such as introducing energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy.
These efforts go beyond ordinary corporate activities. They demonstrate the responsibility of a company located in a community sustained by nature and contribute to the development of a sustainable local community.
 
We warmly invite you to visit the Waka Manufacturing Omi Factory in person. We welcome visits from our customers and factory tours.
We look forward to giving you a firsthand experience of the technical expertise and appeal of manufacturing that can only be appreciated on-site.