[GANYMEDE Employee Interview] Content Production Office: Tomohiro Nagashima & Yumeno Kuniyasu — 'Turning Creator Challenges into Value with Fans'
We interviewed Tomohiro Nagashima and Yumeno Kuniyasu from the Content Production Office at ZETA DIVISION (hereafter ZETA), operated by GANYMEDE Inc.
The Content Production Office turns the ideas of affiliated creators into reality from scratch. We spoke with these two employees about their different backgrounds, GANYMEDE's unique environment that allows them to pursue what they want to do, and the type of people the department is looking for.
Writing: Yukari Ayamoto / Photography: Makoto Sonoda
A Content Production Office that Realizes 'What Creators Want to Do'
— First, please tell us about your roles and departments.
Nagashima: Since joining in 2024, I’ve been involved in content production. Currently, I’m on the team responsible for SHAKA’s event series, 'LEGENDUS.' I also handle the 'ZETA FIGHT CLUB' events and video projects like Suzuki Noriaki’s 'FreeStyle NORIAKI.'
Kuniyasu: I joined in June 2025 and am part of the team that handles k4sen’s events, such as 'The k4sen' and 'The k4sen Con.' It hasn’t been a year since I joined, and I’m finally getting a grasp of the overall production flow. Right now, I’m at the stage of challenging myself to handle the entire process from planning to execution on my own.
— How is the Content Production Office structured?
Nagashima: When I joined, there was only one team of 6–7 people. Now we’ve grown to 10 members divided into three groups. There are four people in the group for SHAKA, four for k4sen, and the remaining members, including the department head, handle other content.
— Is the Content Production Office a department specifically for creating events?
Nagashima: Perhaps the closest description is a department that realizes what creators want to do. ZETA has various creators, led by SHAKA and k4sen. Our department works with the Creator Management Office to mobilize the company and bring those creators' ideas to life. So, it’s not limited to events; if a creator wants to do a video project, we support that too.
— A dedicated creator team separate from management is a very rare structure.
Nagashima: It is quite unique. Moreover, since our stance is 'let’s try what we want to do,' including offline events, I feel the company has a very strong spirit of challenge.
Two Paths: Joining with Production Experience vs. Joining with None
— Please tell us about your careers before GANYMEDE and what triggered you to join.
Nagashima: I graduated from an apparel vocational school and started my career as a sales clerk. After some twists and turns, I moved to a production company that handled events different from esports.
During the pandemic, gaming became very popular around me. Since I already loved games, I became interested in the esports industry and applied to ZETA. However, I didn't pass the selection—I actually failed about two or three times.
ZETA has great design, the players are cool, and it’s established as a brand. I had a strong desire to join ZETA specifically, not any other team. So, I first moved to an esports production company to gain industry knowledge and find what I could contribute.
Later, I had the chance to work with ZETA at a certain site. I worked my hardest to sell myself there, applied again, and finally got the job. I had decided to give up if that attempt failed, so it felt like a dream come true.
Kuniyasu: In my case, I applied with absolutely no experience. After graduating, I joined an EC marketing company selling women’s innerwear. It was a rapidly growing startup, and I worked in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. I was involved in everything from back-office logistics to brand management, influencer marketing, and product planning.
I worked there for seven years, and when I thought about changing industries, I wanted to work with something I personally loved. Having done marketing for so long, I felt that to convey the appeal of something to others, it’s vital to be interested in it yourself. At that time, I was obsessed with the VALORANT competitive scene. I even went to Korea to cheer for ZETA.
I thought it would be difficult since I had no esports experience, but I applied to an open position at ZETA, hoping my seven years of experience would count. During the interview, I discussed how I could apply my past experience, and as the process moved forward, they decided to assign me to production because I enjoyed thinking of things from zero to one.
Committing to What You Want to Do Without Being Bound by Numbers
— How do you proceed with work in the Content Production Office?
Nagashima: The workflow varies by team. For example, the 'LEGENDUS' group works as a whole team toward one event. 'The k4sen' happens frequently, so we handle events with a minimum number of people and run multiple projects in parallel within the team.
Kuniyasu: In event production, we handle planning (including rule design), casting, and coordination with clients if it's a sponsored project, all while preparing for the day of the event. For offline events, we also act as a bridge between the creator and the MD (Merchandising) department to produce goods.
— How long does it take to prepare for one event?
Kuniyasu: For 'The k4sen,' the preparation period is often limited. We sometimes move from planning to casting and creative production all at once as we head toward the live date.
— What are your duties on the day of the event?
Kuniyasu: For online tournament-style events, I handle the progression, such as telling performers on Discord which room to enter for their match. I’m constantly checking the stream and Discord during the broadcast.
Nagashima: Offline events require more people, so we work with partner companies, and our role is mostly to manage the whole thing. We used to do more ourselves, but recently we’ve developed a great rhythm with our partners, so we delegate what we can.
— Are there any behavioral guidelines you follow in the Content Production Office?
Nagashima: As we hold more events, audience expectations rise, so we always want to exceed those expectations. There is pressure, but we use reflections from the previous time to make the next one better. This is something our department head, Iwata, says constantly, and it’s our daily motivation.
— What has been the most memorable event for you so far?
Kuniyasu: For me, it was last year’s 'The k4sen Con.' It was a three-day event with a lot of content, and there were many things I was tasked with that I had never done before. No matter how much you prepare, irregular things happen, and it was chaotic behind the scenes.
However, I had a moment to look at the venue, and seeing a full house of fans smiling and enjoying the event made me tear up. Seeing the things we prepared integrated into the production to create such a wonderful event was moving.
Nagashima: The most memorable for me was 'K Summit,' a project for Kenki-san that I handled right after joining. I thought long and hard about how to realize it internally with a limited budget. I have many personal reflections on it, but I’m glad I just went for it.
Before joining, I had an image of the company producing things as a corporate entity, but being allowed to do what I wanted to do right away was huge. Doing my own planning was so much fun, and since then, I’ve been able to actively say, 'I want to do this kind of project.' The culture respects the will to challenge and provides opportunities, which is a major attraction of this company.
— Kuniyasu-san, what do you feel are the unique charms of GANYMEDE?
Kuniyasu: My previous job was at a marketing company, so I had to commit to numbers. Many companies are very conscious of metrics when running a business.
In that regard, ZETA pursues what is 'cool' and 'interesting' to create content. Of course, numbers have to be adjusted somewhere, but we commit to what we want to do without being solely bound by them. I think that balance is wonderful.
A Flat and Transparent Environment with Mutual Respect
— Are there any other charms unique to GANYMEDE regarding the internal environment?
Nagashima: It’s very easy to work here. Even as the number of people increases, everyone is truly close. We go to dinner or play games together after work; it feels like everyone is a friend, and the atmosphere is great.
Also, my second child was born last year, and the company was very considerate. I was able to take childcare leave, and our CEO, Nishihara-san, told me to 'put family first,' which made me very happy.
On certain days, I have to leave the office early to pick up my daughter, so I asked if I could come in earlier in the morning instead. He immediately said, 'You can start doing that tomorrow.' My colleagues were also very understanding, telling me to let them know if I needed anything. I was surprised by how much everyone cared.
Kuniyasu: Before joining, I had an image that there were fewer women in this industry, so I was worried about whether there was an environment where women could thrive. I even asked about it during my interview. But once I joined, I found an environment where women are very active.
If you have something you want to do or an opinion, you can discuss it and move things forward. It’s a very flat environment. The gender ratio is currently about 7:3 or 6:4, but I hope more women join. If anyone is worried about that, I want them to apply without hesitation.
— Were there any other gaps between your expectations and reality after joining?
Kuniyasu: The first thing I thought was how casual everyone’s clothes were (laughs). Another thing was the flatness. We sometimes have meetings with Nishihara-san, and usually, you don't get the chance to have the CEO judge your ideas directly. I imagined a CEO as someone at the end of a long series of steps, but I was surprised by the transparency and how I could go talk to him directly.
Nagashima: Nishihara-san always comes to the event sites. I wonder if there’s any other CEO who visits the field this much. His presence raises the quality of the event by a level, and if a problem occurs, he makes judgments and follows up on the spot. He protects us in many ways, which is a huge help. My image of what a CEO does has changed.
Seeking People with a 'Self-Driven Spirit' to Shape Projects
— Is there anything you want to achieve in your future careers?
Nagashima: In production, career progression is clear: from Assistant Director to Director, and Director to Producer. So, I aim to move up those steps.
Kuniyasu: I’ve finally grasped the overall flow of production, so I also want to aim for Director. I want to be someone who can handle consultations from the Creator Management Office and work with a wide range of creators, not just on 'The k4sen.'
— What kind of people do you want to join the Content Production Office?
Nagashima: Our department head, Iwata, always says we want 'good people.' If the supervisors who interview candidates feel they 'want to work with this person,' we naturally feel the same, and everyone becomes friends quickly after joining.
Also, we want people who have something they want to do and can create from zero to one. We are looking for people who are clear about who they want to work with and what they want to do at ZETA. There are many creators at ZETA besides SHAKA and k4sen, and there are projects that haven't moved yet. If we had more resources, we could achieve more, so we want people who can produce those.
Kuniyasu: Even if you are inexperienced, everyone has a strength. We need people who can think about how to apply that strength to ZETA and execute it themselves. Instead of waiting for instructions, we value those with a 'self-driven spirit' who constantly think and take action.
— Finally, a message for those considering applying.
Nagashima: If you’re hesitating, just send it! If you apply, they will definitely look at you. The number of positions is increasing, and there’s a lot you can do once you’re in. ZETA will look different a year from now, so if you want to do something with the current ZETA, apply now and let’s work together.
Kuniyasu: From an inexperienced person's perspective, you might think it’s too difficult because ZETA is a top-class team in Japan. But even if it’s unrelated to esports, your past experiences can connect to create something new. So, I hope people without experience will take the challenge.
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