Uncertain Japan economy, expectations for new employeesApril 4 4:16
At the beginning of the new fiscal year, entrance ceremonies were held at many companies. At each venue, which was held in person for the first time in a long time, many new employees were seen with hopes and anxieties.
The Japan economy is full of difficult problems for which answers cannot be easily found. Expectations for the younger generation are rising.
What are the thoughts of the new employees? What are the expectations of the accepting companies?
I saw various changes throughout the ceremony.
(Economic Affairs Reporters: Takeshi Imura, Tomokazu Koki, Chikara Yamane, Akira Tamama, Koki Nishizono)
In times of uncertainty, having a "transformation-minded" attitude (finance)
Let's start with the turbulent financial industry.
The recovery of economic activity from the corona disaster, the accompanying increase in global inflation and the continuation of monetary tightening, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The environment surrounding the banking industry is changing significantly, with the change of governor of Japan Bank for the first time in 10 years.
At SMBC's induction ceremony, the top management spoke of reform and challenges.
SMBC President Akira Fukudome: "In order for us to respond quickly to changes and achieve growth, we need to get out of our comfortable situation and continue to take on new challenges, in other words, we must always work on changes with an awareness of
"Get out of your comfort zone." The blame is not to fail, but to settle for the status quo. I want you not to take on challenges out of fear of failure, but to never stop trying even if you fail."
New Employee
: "I think that the financial industry continues to be unstable even when looking around the world, and I think that the ability to predict situations and respond flexibly to situations will be required as a bank as a whole and myself. I want to be a bunker that can handle that and I want to work hard."
Historic turning point, don't be afraid of failure (automobile)
The automotive industry is in the midst of a once-in-a-century transformation.
The key word at Nissan's entrance ceremony was "Don't be afraid of failure."
Nissan Motor Co.
, Ltd. President Makoto Uchida: "I would like to ask all of you who have become our new colleagues to take on challenges without fear of failure. Nissan is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and throughout its long history, our predecessors have created value unique to Nissan through repeated successes and failures with a spirit of challenge to "do what others cannot do," even in the face of various difficulties. Now is the time to make the most of that spirit to transform and grow the company. There is no need to be afraid of failure. For the next 10 years and beyond, let's create an exciting future together."
New employee
: "I feel that the strength of this company is that it is taking on more and more challenges, and I think that the automotive industry in the future will be an environment where we can announce our existence and technologies not only to Japan but also to the world. I would like to be involved in providing new value for cars from the standpoint of development."
Capture consumption in a new era (retail)
Record-high prices, a declining population, and the spread of online shopping.
The retail industry is also undergoing turbulent and changing times.
AEON, a major distribution group, cites the rising age of its customers as one of the challenges facing the company.
At the entrance ceremony, he expressed his expectations for the "sensibility" of new employees in order to cultivate a young customer base that will be indispensable for future growth.
AEON President Akio Yoshida
: "It is said that the millennial generation and Generation Z will drive consumption in the future. In order to achieve sustainable growth, it is necessary to keep an eye on changes in the world and lead the times with new proposals. It's also important to communicate what you feel without hesitation."
New employee
: "I feel a sense of responsibility to carry the signboard and the philosophy of putting the customer first, and I feel humbled. In the future, I want to be involved in town development, so I want to do my best on what is in front of me first."
Based on the criteria of "sampo yoshi" (trading company)
What kind of existence should a company be for society?
The person who asked myself this question again was ITOCHU Corporation, a major trading company.
The company has a corporate philosophy of "Sampo-yoshi," the concept of coexistence and co-prosperity in which sellers, buyers, and society (society) are satisfied together, and we appealed to the younger generation to make this philosophy the basis of our business.
Keita Ishii, President
of ITOCHU Corporation: "As the importance of the SDGs continues to increase, the phrase 'sampo yoshi' is often quoted. The basis of business is trust, and work without credit does not last long. If you think about your customers and suppliers instead of focusing on your own profits, and if you value whether your business contributes to society, you will surely gain the trust of those around you. I think there will be situations where you will have to make various judgments and decisions, but I think 'sampo yoshi' will be one of the criteria for judgment, so I want you to keep it in mind."
New employee
: "I applied because I wanted to do a job where the business and system I was involved in would benefit someone and support someone's smile. Above all, I want to do what I can for the world and work with a mission."
Decarbonized society is unprecedented (steel)
The realization of a decarbonized society is also a major concern for the younger generation.
The steel industry, which emits a large amount of carbon dioxide in the manufacturing process, is facing a major issue in responding to decarbonization.
At Japan Steel, the largest company in Japan, we encouraged new employees to find opportunities in difficult issues.
Eiji Hashimoto, President
of Japan Steel, said, "The development race has already begun, and in order for Japan Steel to continue to lead the world, we must be the first in the world to realize a production system for carbon-neutral steel (steel products with virtually zero greenhouse gases). It will be a challenge to achieve unprecedented ultra-innovative technology, but by winning this battle, our superiority will be absolute. We will positively view that an era of great opportunities for our company has arrived, and will actively work on it. As the president, I am determined to take the lead in overcoming it. I want you to believe in the management and the company and follow me. Let's come together and make a big leap forward in the world."
New employee
: "In today's talk by the president, strong and heavy words came out, and I got the impression that this is a company that is moving forward strongly with a sense of responsibility. I want to increase what I can do one by one."
Through interviews...
Of course, it is natural for the company to express its expectations for the younger generation at the entrance ceremony, but at this year's entrance ceremony, I felt the high level of awareness of the new employees and the high expectations of the company more strongly than usual.
Words such as lethargy and resignation for the future have often been used, but there was a positive enthusiasm to "enjoy" the opposite of the challenge and change.
On the other hand, there was a sense of crisis on the part of companies that they were trying to find a breakthrough in completely new values and methods that were not bound by precedent from the words of their management.
The entrance ceremony was not about the division or resignation between generations, but because expectations were high for the "change" in the consciousness of each person to pass on the generations.
Reporter
of the Ministry of Economic AffairsTakeshi
Imura1998Responsible for
the distribution industry
Economic Affairs Department Reporter Tomokazu
KokiJoined the Bureau
in 2007In charge of business circles and trading companies
Reporter
of the Ministry of Economic AffairsTsutomu
Yamane, who joined the bureau
in 2007 in charge of the automotive industry
Reporter
of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Akira
Akira 2013 in charge of
the steel and automobile industry
Economic Affairs Reporter
Nishizono Koki
Entered the 2014 Bureau
in charge of the financial industry