On April 3rd, we held our entrance ceremony for this year's new employees at the Chunichi Building (Naka Ward, Nagoya City).
Congratulations to all 119 new employees on joining our company!

Since last year, in order to make the event a memorable one for our new employees, we have significantly revised the orientation program that accompanies joining the company, allowing new employees to deepen their relationships with each other before attending the entrance ceremony.

Furthermore, this is also to accommodate the wishes we heard beforehand, such as "We want all 119 new employees to participate in the entrance ceremony together, rather than having separate ceremonies at each job function and location," and "We want to interact with executives and senior employees."
I was pleased to hear your frank opinions during the Q&A session with me and senior employees, as well as during the lunch meeting with the executives, following the ceremony in the building's main hall.
Going forward, we will continue to provide opportunities for interaction with new employees to deepen their understanding of our group and to create a space that leads to improved employee engagement.
We will gather feedback on areas for further improvement and use it to further enhance the program for next year.

Looking ahead to the future through sports – Words of encouragement from Mr. Oshima

At this year's new employee entrance ceremony, we had the honor of having Kengo Oshima (track and field sprinter), a para-athlete with whom we have recently signed a sponsorship agreement and who is expected to perform well in future international competitions, take the stage.
During the session, he said, "Think about what you need to work on today, and fill in your shortcomings one by one. This accumulation of effort, though gradual, will surely yield results."
I believe this message resonated deeply with everyone starting new challenges in a new environment.
I was deeply impressed by Mr. Oshima's high aspirations as he continues to challenge himself on the world stage. Let's all support Mr. Oshima's success and move forward together.

Our products will also spread into the society of the future.

The environment surrounding us is constantly changing.
The current situation in the Middle East and other geopolitical tensions, as well as the uncertain outlook regarding fluctuations in raw material and energy prices, remain uncertain.
Nevertheless, we are driving our business activities forward in order to contribute to solving social issues and providing new added value.
For example, we have developed a "cab mount" that improves handling stability and ride comfort while driving, and "resin tubes for cooling piping" that contributes to weight reduction and improved battery life in line with the advancements in BEVs.
Furthermore, the "TRC Damper", anti-vibration system for buildings, is also used in the Chunichi Building, which was the venue for this company's entrance ceremony.
In new business areas, we are accelerating research and development on products such as "culture bags for cell agriculture" and the dental occlusal force meter "Oramo2," anticipating future food crises.
In the future, we are also considering providing support for the spring technology used in the prosthetic legs that Mr. Oshima will wear for competition.

While we remain a manufacturing company that sincerely responds to customer needs, we are constantly striving to remain a company that is essential to society, based on our core competencies of "polymer material technology" and "comprehensive evaluation technology" that we have cultivated since our founding.

I would like you all to approach things from various perspectives, without being bound by past concepts.
To our new employees, who will play a vital role in the future of our company, I offer the phrase "Banji Nissei". This is one of the core principles of the Sumitomo Spirit, a major guiding principle for our group, and a phrase I myself have kept in mind since joining the company as a new employee.
This means "to become a person who, as an individual, dedicates yourself wholeheartedly to everything you do."
First and foremost, please strive to handle your assigned tasks with sincerity and dedication.
The three directions of our company's management vision, "2029V," which I discussed during the ceremony, will serve as a major "axis" in how we approach our daily work.
I believe that by firmly understanding this axis will allow you to confidently tackle each challenge as you face various difficulties.
I wholeheartedly support your endeavors.
Senior colleagues, please warmly welcome the 119 new members joining us this year.
Let's actively communicate, build a team where we can openly share our opinions, learn from each other, and grow together.

*Related site: Three Directions and Materiality Towards 2029
https://www.sumitomoriko.co.jp/english/sustainability/philosophy/materiality/

2026.04