Happy New Year!

At the start of 2026, I would like to extend my New Year's greetings to everyone at the Sumitomo Riko Group.
As usual, I spent the New Year's holidays taking early morning walks and reading.
A little after 6 a.m., while it was still dark, I went to a nearby park and walked for about an hour, imagining what kind of year 2026 would be and what I should do. Almost every day, I watched the sunrise from the foot of the mountain.
Of the several books I read, the one that left the biggest impression on me was one that described how Japanese history developed in the context of world history.

The current global situation is uncertain, but I have once again come to realize that it is important to take a positive approach to the various changes in the situation and respond accordingly. So, this is reflected in our slogan.
The slogan for 2026, which continues from last year, is "Let's not be bound by past concepts, but see change as an opportunity and take on bold challenges."
I believe that accepting major changes in the environment in a positive manner and continuing to work together with all colleagues to take on challenges will lead to the growth of each of us and further growth for the Sumitomo Riko Group.

In addition to international sporting events such as the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and the WBC, 2026 will also see the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games and Asian Para Games being held in the fall, making it a year in which sports will feel closer to us.

Our employee, Ms. Natsumi Ouchida, is also expected to do well as a member of the Japan women's rugby team.

I'm definitely planning to go and cheer her on this year.

The appeal of sports, especially team sports, is that through trust and cooperation among teammates, you can produce results that you could not achieve alone.

This also applies to our work.
I believe that working together as an organization or team and achieving consistent results will deepen mutual understanding and trust, and create a positive sense of unity and connection in the workplace.

Following the takeover bid by Sumitomo Electric Industries announced last year, 2026 will also be the year when we officially begin a new stage of challenge and growth.

In this milestone year, let's take this opportunity to reflect on and reexamine the work environment and daily communication that each of us feels in the workplace.

This sense of unity and connection is fostered not only through proactive communication between individuals, but also through a culture of fair evaluation and respect for each individual's values.
This accumulation will generate the energy to take on the next challenge in the workplace.
I would like managers/supervisors who are responsible for creating an organization and working environment, to value dialogue with each member of the team, express your gratitude on a daily basis, and provide feedback that will lead to fair evaluations and career development.

I also hope that all employees will utilize the knowledge and experience you have gained through your daily work, deepen your understanding of the organization's values and culture through proactive communication, and cherish an attitude of mutual learning with your superiors and colleagues.
I believe that the accumulation of these actions will strengthen our team and become the driving force that allows us to continue to take on challenges in a positive manner, even in times of change.
This year marks the final year of "25P" and also the start of our new medium-term management plan, "29M (2029 Medium-Term Plan)."
In 2026 , let's continue to thoroughly implement S.E.C.Q. (Safety, Environment, Compliance, Quality) and work sincerely in our daily work, based on the Sumitomo Spirit of "Banji-nissei," "Shinyo-kakujitsu," and "Fusu-furi."

Together with you, I would like to turn this change into a driving force and make this a year in which we achieve growth into “a leading solution provider taking on social challenges by collecting whole resources of Sumitomo Riko and its partners.”

2026.01