In 2001 Tosh Ota moved to South West WA from Tokyo Japan to start a new life. He currently lives in Busselton, works for Creatures of Leisure in Dunsborough and surfs the SW coast.
This is Tosh’s story
What bought me to the South West
My ex-wife is a Busselton original and we met in Japan in 1994 and moved here in September 2001. I first came to WA in 1995 and it was mind-blowing trip for me. The South West looked so different compared to Sydney, Byron Bay, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast where I have travelled before. Mother Nature was so raw but the people were unbelievably friendly. The funny thing was that I didn’t know how good waves were here!
In Japan we lived in a place called ‘Shonan’ and it was the closest area where you can catch some waves from Tokyo CBD. Both of us were working in Tokyo and commuting by crowded public transport to our work was pretty hectic. We left home just after 6am and got back home around 9-10pm. City life! Philippa studied Japanese Culture at Curtin Uni, so living in Japan was her dream come true, and we really enjoyed it until we decided to start a new life in Australia.
Every time we had holidays, we spent time with her family and friends in Busselton. Rather than move here on a temporary basis, I knew I wanted to live here permanently. It was a big sea change for me! Anticipations always win over worries and what-if feeling. When we saved enough money to buy a house and had some savings, we looked at each other and said “ok let’s do it.”
As for my first surf in South West WA, a close friend of Phillipa’s mum Leigh Sanflieu took me to North Point to have fun. I was totally smashed and couldn’t even make any drop. Thanks Leigh, for my precious experience 😊
How I joined Creatures of Leisure
After I moved to WA, I did some surfing related work before joining Creatures of Leisure including sending SW local surfboards to Japan and surf media work. I was a contributing writer for TRANSWORLD SURF Japan magazine. It was fun but didn’t bring me enough work unfortunately.
A year or so later, a good friend of Philippa’s parents Mal Bird contacted me and told me that a company called Otis Eyewear in Dunsborough was seeking a person who could find a distributor in Japan. It was in 2003. Seizing the opportunity, I decided to visit the office and met John Malloy, Shane Partington and Bob Armstrong. Bob was a friend of Mal Bird and an accountant/partner. The meeting was successful and I employed as a part-timer. Shane was an International Sales and Marketing Manager and I started closely working with him. I remember on the first day the Creatures staff all welcomed me but they must have wondered what this Japanese guy was doing here. I tried hard to be friendly!
The second year working at Creatures, John and Shane asked me to take care of Creatures brand for Japan. Japan was potentially a big market but sales were small. I noticed the brand needed to improve in lots of areas. Next year in 2005, we started to see Creatures and Otis sales improve and I was offered me a full-time position.
I was lucky enough to join the company at time when we were making Leash Cords and Board Covers in Dunsborough, so I could see all the process and understand the materials etc. Then later if I got a quality issue reported by the distributor, I discussed with John and the factory guys and we found a solution straightaway rather than fly to China. I have always been confident about what I do, but it took a while for me to acclimatise to working in an Australian company and work out how to perform at my best. We launched ‘Bearing Swivel’ in 2003 the year I joined. It was one of the best features Creatures invented, that is a friction free rotated cuff which prevents urethane cord tangle around your ankle. That was a turning point for Creatures and enabled the Coy to go to the next level in terms of sales worldwide including Japan, before we released DNA Mould.
There is one thing that has never changed from day one, that is my passion. It is always a pleasure for me to come to the office and work hard with my colleagues. Every now and then negative things happen in business, but there are always positive vibes around and people here are super supportive and helpful. Without doubt, for me, it is by far the best company to work for 100%.
After John Malloy retired, Nathan Omodei became CEO and run the company with Shane Partington, they have taken Creatures to the next level. I am so lucky to be a part of the team and have the trust of management and the team.
Photos
2002 surf trip to Gnaraloo for TRANSWORLD job. L-R Neil Poore, Tosh, Shane Dawson2015 After a long meeting at the office in Dunsborough. L-R Jay Robbins, Tom Sullivan, Ryan Thomas, Tosh, Nathan Omodei, Paul Anderson, Shane Partington.Crew gathered in front of Creatures of Leisure Dunsborough office when Margaret River Masters was on in 20152015 Creatures Head Office in Dunsborough. L-R Shane Partington, Jay Davies, Tosh, Paul Anderson & Arron Bruce. 2016 Tosh (second from right) with Tom Carroll at INTERSTYLE Show in Yokohama Japan.2016 Tosh with Tom Carroll in Hakone Japan. “After the show, I took him to a hot spring with a half day trip”2016 Maneuverline Osaka office Japan. L-R Oku, Bono, Shimono, Ikeda from Maneuverline Inc, Shane Partington & Tosh. 2018 Sales Conference in Bali.2019 Harajuku Tokyo. L-R Shane Partington, Beau Campi & Tosh.2019 Creatures office L-R John Malloy, unidentified, Shane Partington & Tosh.
Surfing in the SW
We have a variety of quality waves in the SW. My fav spots would probably be Yallingup inside right and Inji Car Park for sure. I used to surf around Grace Town a lot at South Point and the Lefties area, but over last few years 9 out of 10 times I just surf at Yallingup, riding on 5’10” fish for rights and 7’6″ mid-length for the left. I hate surfing in crowded hectic situation and having to compete with other people catching waves. Good thing at Yalls is that you can ride any type of board from Shortboard, Fish to Longboard & SUP. On the other hand, it has created more crowded conditions along with the population growth and tourists, which makes it hard to deal with sometimes. Having said that, we are still spoiled when it comes to surfing conditions, so I should keep my mouth shut.
Joe Jordanoff is an ex-pro body boarder and close friend of mine. Creatures used to sponsor him when he was young. Currently he is working at JMW Reality Dunsborough. Joe took the following surfing shot.
2014 Tosh surfing at Smiths Beach Yallingup. Photo by Joe Jordanoff.
In 2001 Tosh Ota moved to South West WA from Tokyo Japan to start a new life. He currently lives in Busselton, works for Creatures of Leisure in Dunsborough and surfs the SW coast.
This is Tosh’s story
What bought me to the South West
My ex-wife is a Busselton original and we met in Japan in 1994 and moved here in September 2001. I first came to WA in 1995 and it was mind-blowing trip for me. The South West looked so different compared to Sydney, Byron Bay, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast where I have travelled before. Mother Nature was so raw but the people were unbelievably friendly. The funny thing was that I didn’t know how good waves were here!
In Japan we lived in a place called ‘Shonan’ and it was the closest area where you can catch some waves from Tokyo CBD. Both of us were working in Tokyo and commuting by crowded public transport to our work was pretty hectic. We left home just after 6am and got back home around 9-10pm. City life! Philippa studied Japanese Culture at Curtin Uni, so living in Japan was her dream come true, and we really enjoyed it until we decided to start a new life in Australia.
Every time we had holidays, we spent time with her family and friends in Busselton. Rather than move here on a temporary basis, I knew I wanted to live here permanently. It was a big sea change for me! Anticipations always win over worries and what-if feeling. When we saved enough money to buy a house and had some savings, we looked at each other and said “ok let’s do it.”
As for my first surf in South West WA, a close friend of Phillipa’s mum Leigh Sanflieu took me to North Point to have fun. I was totally smashed and couldn’t even make any drop. Thanks Leigh, for my precious experience 😊
How I joined Creatures of Leisure
After I moved to WA, I did some surfing related work before joining Creatures of Leisure including sending SW local surfboards to Japan and surf media work. I was a contributing writer for TRANSWORLD SURF Japan magazine. It was fun but didn’t bring me enough work unfortunately.
A year or so later, a good friend of Philippa’s parents Mal Bird contacted me and told me that a company called Otis Eyewear in Dunsborough was seeking a person who could find a distributor in Japan. It was in 2003. Seizing the opportunity, I decided to visit the office and met John Malloy, Shane Partington and Bob Armstrong. Bob was a friend of Mal Bird and an accountant/partner. The meeting was successful and I employed as a part-timer. Shane was an International Sales and Marketing Manager and I started closely working with him. I remember on the first day the Creatures staff all welcomed me but they must have wondered what this Japanese guy was doing here. I tried hard to be friendly!
The second year working at Creatures, John and Shane asked me to take care of Creatures brand for Japan. Japan was potentially a big market but sales were small. I noticed the brand needed to improve in lots of areas. Next year in 2005, we started to see Creatures and Otis sales improve and I was offered me a full-time position.
I was lucky enough to join the company at time when we were making Leash Cords and Board Covers in Dunsborough, so I could see all the process and understand the materials etc. Then later if I got a quality issue reported by the distributor, I discussed with John and the factory guys and we found a solution straightaway rather than fly to China. I have always been confident about what I do, but it took a while for me to acclimatise to working in an Australian company and work out how to perform at my best. We launched ‘Bearing Swivel’ in 2003 the year I joined. It was one of the best features Creatures invented, that is a friction free rotated cuff which prevents urethane cord tangle around your ankle. That was a turning point for Creatures and enabled the Coy to go to the next level in terms of sales worldwide including Japan, before we released DNA Mould.
There is one thing that has never changed from day one, that is my passion. It is always a pleasure for me to come to the office and work hard with my colleagues. Every now and then negative things happen in business, but there are always positive vibes around and people here are super supportive and helpful. Without doubt, for me, it is by far the best company to work for 100%.
After John Malloy retired, Nathan Omodei became CEO and run the company with Shane Partington, they have taken Creatures to the next level. I am so lucky to be a part of the team and have the trust of management and the team.
Photos
L-R Neil Poore, Tosh, Shane Dawson
L-R Jay Robbins, Tom Sullivan, Ryan Thomas, Tosh, Nathan Omodei, Paul Anderson, Shane Partington.
L-R Shane Partington, Jay Davies, Tosh, Paul Anderson & Arron Bruce.
“After the show, I took him to a hot spring with a half day trip”
L-R Oku, Bono, Shimono, Ikeda from Maneuverline Inc, Shane Partington & Tosh.
L-R Shane Partington, Beau Campi & Tosh.
L-R John Malloy, unidentified, Shane Partington & Tosh.
Surfing in the SW
We have a variety of quality waves in the SW. My fav spots would probably be Yallingup inside right and Inji Car Park for sure. I used to surf around Grace Town a lot at South Point and the Lefties area, but over last few years 9 out of 10 times I just surf at Yallingup, riding on 5’10” fish for rights and 7’6″ mid-length for the left. I hate surfing in crowded hectic situation and having to compete with other people catching waves. Good thing at Yalls is that you can ride any type of board from Shortboard, Fish to Longboard & SUP. On the other hand, it has created more crowded conditions along with the population growth and tourists, which makes it hard to deal with sometimes. Having said that, we are still spoiled when it comes to surfing conditions, so I should keep my mouth shut.
Joe Jordanoff is an ex-pro body boarder and close friend of mine. Creatures used to sponsor him when he was young. Currently he is working at JMW Reality Dunsborough. Joe took the following surfing shot.
Thanks Tosh, for sharing your story.
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