Marking the 200th Post—Things That Have Changed and What I Continue to Value

This blog, which began when I assumed the role of president in June 2020, has now reached its 200th post (including those shared only internally).
 I have consistently published this blog every month as a platform to share my thoughts with both internal and external audiences.
 I have written candidly about various topics, ranging from corporate milestones like financial results and business trips to overseas bases to occasional glimpses into my personal life.
While the first 100 posts focused primarily on topics from our domestic bases, the content has gradually expanded since then—especially following the COVID-19 pandemic—to highlight the achievements of our colleagues at overseas bases.
 I have expanded the content to highlight the sense of unity within our Group, and it is now read by many people alongside our financial reports.
 I hope that my thoughts have resonated, even if only a little, with all of you reading this. 

Continuity: Maintaining an Unwavering Core 

I continue to cherish "Banji Nissei" (devoting oneself wholeheartedly to every task)—one of the principles of the Sumitomo Spirit that I learned when I was a new employee.
Throughout my career—spanning six companies, including this one—I have met people across a wide range of industries, job functions, and generations.
Amidst these rapid changes, I have come to realize the vital importance of maintaining a core set of values—such as the Sumitomo Spirit.
 I hope that by continuing this blog, it will serve as a point of connection with all of you, ultimately leading to a shared understanding of the direction our entire Group is taking.
We have also become a wholly owned subsidiary of our parent company, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (hereinafter "Sumitomo Electric").
 I hope that the ideas and policies I have shared with you through this blog will evolve into more concrete value and lead to the creation of synergies.

The Seeds of Co-creation Taking Root 

I regularly make opportunities to have informal discussions with many of our employees.
Often, before meeting me, quite a few employees tell me they have done their homework by reading the blog.
I also sometimes hear comments like, "I learned about the initiatives of other business divisions through this blog."
Seeing departments and group companies that previously had no connection begin to interact and engage in new dialogues—sparked by this blog—has reaffirmed for me the value of consistent communication.
We have also received feedback such as, "I used to feel that the company as a whole and other business divisions had nothing to do with me, but through the President's blog, I’ve come to feel a closer connection to them."
Dialogue and collaboration that transcend divisional boundaries and roles seem to be gradually taking root.
I am convinced that when each of you realizes how these changes connect to your own daily work, it fosters a sense of organizational unity and becomes a driving force for forging our future.

Approaching Our Centennial: Changing What Should Change, Preserving Our Core Principles 

Our Group is approaching its 100th anniversary in 2029. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Electric is approaching its 130th anniversary in 2027, and each company holds values cultivated over its long history.
For both companies, the Sumitomo Spirit and our management philosophy serve as an unwavering core.
One example of this is Sumitomo Electric’s philosophy of "Five-Way Satisfaction" (*Goho-yoshi*).
This is a fundamental management principle we have long practiced, centered on steadily delivering benefits to five key stakeholder groups: customers, employees, business partners, local communities, and shareholders/investors.
Our Group has also structured our approach and philosophy toward stakeholders—as outlined in our medium-term management plan (2029M) running through fiscal year 2029—by building upon this concept of "Goho-yoshi".
We plan to share more details about this in the future.
We believe that the path our Group should take is to maintain a steadfast core even in an era of rapidly changing social challenges, and to sincerely address the needs of our customers and other stakeholders while continuing to deliver value by solving their challenges.
I intend to continue deepening mutual understanding and communication with all employees through this blog.
If you have any comments, please feel free to submit them via the form below on "Mitsukumi 2," as I will read them personally.