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View Sumitomo Corporation's Sustainability : Social Contribution Activities
We, as a global organization, will work on social issues through our business activities and social contribution activities with the aim of building a sustainable society by implementing the Sumitomo Corporation Group's Management Principles and Activity Guidelines.
We will engage in social contribution activities aimed at developing the next generation of human resources who will drive the sustainable development of society, and contributing to local communities in areas we do business all over the world. We will also take part in various activities as a good corporate citizen.
We will perform and seek to continuously improve our activities with modesty and high aspirations and endeavor to maintain a high level of transparency while strengthening our relationships with all our stakeholders.
Under the 100SEED social contribution program, Sumitomo Corporation Group employees around the world hold discussions and conduct activities in consideration of the society 100 years from now.
Selecting “Quality Education” as the global theme, Sumitomo Corporation will make use of its human resources to implement this program on a medium- to long-term basis, thereby contributing to society and achieving sustainable growth together with it.
We have selected “Quality Education” as the grand theme of the 100SEED (SC Emergent Evolutional Deed) program upheld to mark the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s 100th anniversary. Under this theme, we are committed to develop and support a variety of social contribution activities on a global scale.
Recognizing that “Quality Education” is a vital part of the sustainable development of society, we will continue to inspire ideas for supporting quality education to produce the talent needed to solve the many social challenges facing the world.
By promoting 100SEED, we encourage our SC colleagues around the world to create opportunities and leverage our diverse capabilities and resources so we can engage in activities that will dynamically realize our goal of “Enriching lives and the world.”
100SEED provides us a valuable opportunity for personal growth by learning from others and pursuing individual ideas through collaboration. We will commit time and resources to social action that will benefit any of us seeking to better society through quality education.
We launched activities to address educational issues in each region from 2020. In FY2023, 68 projects were implemented in 24 countries. We have been exercising our ingenuity in each region to gradually expand the initiative.
| Item | Boundary | Unit | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of projects (Number of participating countries) |
Sumitomo Corporation and regional organizations | Projects (Countries) |
31 (14) |
44 (16) |
53 (19) |
68 (24) |
| Number of participating employees | Sumitomo Corporation and regional organizations | Employees | 696 | 765 | 1,506 | 1,331 |
In recognition of management involvement, activity targets, progress management and other KPIs, we won the special “Tanemaki (Seeding) Century Award” for 100SEED at the 19th Corporate Philanthropy Awards.
Refer to the following website for more information on this activity.
In 1996, as part of its 50th anniversary initiative, Sumitomo Corporation established the Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship. Since then, the scholarship has been given to outstanding university students in Asian countries, including Mongolia, Bangladesh and Pakistan, for the development of future leaders in those countries. The number of recipients of the scholarship has increased from an initial 263 students of 33 universities in 17 countries to about 1,000 students of 45 universities. In response to changes in the economic situation of each country, Sumitomo Corporation has been changing the support in cooperation with its local organizations located in the countries.
The total number of students who have benefited from the scholarship reached about 18,000 by the end of fiscal 2023.
Sumitomo Corporation is operating the scholarship program in cooperation with its subsidiaries and offices located in the targeted countries, and the program is indeed a unique initiative that would not be possible without our global network. We will continue the activity in consideration of the local needs of each country and region, while further advancing the program.
Sumitomo Corporation initiated the Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship in 1996 and has since been supporting Chinese students under this program. In light of China’s remarkable economic development over recent years, believing it important to strengthen the friendship and relationship between Japan and China in private sector, Sumitomo Corporation launched a scholarship program for Chinese students studying in Japan to foster the development of global leaders who would make it happen.
In addition to financial assistance to cover round-trip travel expenses and living costs in Japan, scholarship recipients enjoy opportunities for interaction with employees from Sumitomo Corporation China prior to leaving for Japan, and they are provided with advice regarding day-to-day life in Japan. These students are also invited to the Tokyo head office while in Japan to participate in training designed to enhance their understanding of business and culture in Japan. In addition, they pay a courtesy visit to the Chinese Embassy and attend an event to interact with participants of the University of Tokyo’s Global Leadership Program. The students are thus provided with a range of opportunities to broaden their views and gain tips to design their own futures. Students who participated in the scholarship program have made comments, such as, “I would like to make an effort to improve my ability so as to act as a bridge between China and Japan for a better bilateral relationship.”
Sumitomo Corporation participates in the TOMODACHI Initiative led by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S.-Japan Council and has been implementing the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program since 2014.
Under this program, Sumitomo Corporation gives financial support to cover the travel and living expenses of students who will participate in a year-long exchange scheme based on the mutual agreements made between Japanese and the US universities. In addition, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas provides the supported students with training to have experiences that would be unavailable on campus. Moreover in New York, the students visit Columbia Business School to exchange opinions with professors and students at the school. In Washington, they are also given opportunities to talk with the U.S.-Japan Council as well as officials of the Japanese and US governments, those related to the Congress and NGOs, and others. Through this program, Sumitomo Corporation will continue to contribute to the development of talents who can act as a bridge between Japan and the US and become leaders of next generation.
[TOMODACHI Initiative]
The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, with support from the Government of Japan. Born out of support for Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. The initiative seeks to foster a "TOMODACHI Generation" of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other's countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world.
In 2006, Sumitomo Corporation concluded a memorandum of understanding on joint research with Tsinghua University in Beijing, under which we invite Japan’s prominent top executives to the university twice a year to deliver a lecture for students shouldering the future of China. The lectures are on themes associated with leadership in the global society and corporate management. Each lecture attracts around 250 attendees including professors, government officials, and students from other nearby universities, as well as Tsinghua University students, and is always concluded with a heated Q&A session. The joint research program is highly regarded by Tsinghua University, and both the Company and the university have agreed to continue with this initiative into the future.
| Lecturer | Official Position (at that time) | Lecture Theme | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Motoyuki Oka | Chairman, Sumitomo Corporation | Leadership Demonstrated by Global Corporations | 11/6/2007 |
| Mr. Hirokazu Yoshikawa | Chairman, Dowa Holdings Co., Ltd. | Corporate Reform and Leadership | 4/26/2008 |
| Mr. Masahiro Sakane | Chairman, Komatsu Ltd. | Komatsu's Management Structure Reform | 11/10/2008 |
| Mr. Koichi Ikeda | Chairman, Asahi Breweries, Ltd. | Efforts to Enhance Corporate Value | 4/23/2009 |
| Mr. Tadaharu Ohashi | Chairman, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Technological Innovation as the Key to Survive in the New Era for Resources, Energy and the Environment | 11/5/2009 |
| Mr. Akio Mimura | Chairman, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION | Corporate Reform and its Cornerstone | 4/15/2010 |
| Mr. Shoichiro Suzuki | Chairman, OJI PAPER CO., LTD. | Reform at Oji Paper—Sustainable Development Achieved by a Long-established Corporation | 11/11/2010 |
| Mr. Susumu Kato | President, Sumitomo Corporation | Leadership for Managing an Integrated Trading Company in Drastic Global Economic Changes | 4/14/2011 |
| Mr. Masayuki Oku | Chairman, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Economic/Financial Environment | 11/22/2011 |
| Mr. Hiromichi Iwasa | Chairman, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. | Value Creation and Leadership: My Way of Managing a Corporation | 4/11/2012 |
| Mr. Motoyuki Oka | Senior Adviser, Sumitomo Corporation | What Constitutes a Good Organization | 4/8/2013 |
| Mr. Keiichi Okamoto | President, Nikken Sekkei Ltd. | As a World-leading Architectural Design Firm | 10/24/2013 |
| Mr. Atsutoshi Nishida | Chairman, Toshiba Corporation | Leadership and Human Resources Development in the Age of Globalization | 4/17/2014 |
| Mr. Fujio Cho | Honorary Chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation | Building a Strong Foundation Based on Collaborations among the Three Pillars of Management | 9/25/2014 |
| Mr. Yuji Ohashi | Corporate Counselor, ANA Holdings Inc. | Vision Upheld by Top Executive; Global Talent ANA Seeks for | 4/16/2015 |
| Mr. Yasuchika Hasegawa | Chairman, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. | Takeda Pharmaceutical's Globalization and Organizational Reform | 11/25/2015 |
| Mr. Noriyuki Inoue | Chairman, Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Essence of Daikin's Organizational Reform | 4/20/2016 |
| Mr. Shinzo Maeda | Senior Adviser, Shiseido Company | Shiseido's Mission and Organizational Measures for Embodying It | 10/17/2016 |
| Mr. Takeo Higuchi | Chairman, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. | Thinking Well Ahead for Preemptive Management: Learning from Nobuo Ishibashi, the Founder of Daiwa House Industry | 4/18/2017 |
| Mr. Nobuhiro Endo | Chairman, NEC Corporation | Corporate Values and Roles | 11/15/2017 |
| Mr. Kuniharu Nakamura | Chairman, Sumitomo Corporation | What is sustainable corporate management? | 9/20/2018 |
| Mr. Takahisa Takahara | President, Unicharm Corporation | Sustainable management envisioned by Unicharm Corporation | 4/25/2019 |
| Mr. Kenichiro Yamanishi | Executive Corporate Adviser, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Aiming for sustainable management; strengthening the adaptability | 11/7/2019 |
| Mr. Yasuyoshi Karasawa | Chairman, MS&AD Holdings | Sustainable Management of MS & AD Group - toward a group that supports a resilient and sustainable society | 4/14/2022 |
| Mr. Shinya Katanozaka | Chairman, ANA HOLDINGS INC. | ANA Group Sustainability Management | 3/9/2023 |
| Mr. Tetsuji Ohashi | Chairman, Komatsu Ltd. | Komatsu's Management and Business Strategies for Sustainable Growth | 4/6/2023 |
Sumitomo Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation Middle East FZE have launched, through the Sumitomo Corporation Muscat Liaison Office , the Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program in the Sultanate of Oman in 2019 and have since been supporting Omani students studying at graduate schools in Japan.
Under this Program, Sumitomo Corporation Middle East provides Omani students studying at Japanese graduate schools with tuition and living expenses for two years plus round-trip travel expenses. Additionally, Sumitomo Corporation supports students in selecting a graduate school in Japan, taking entrance examinations and completing admission procedures to give enthusiastic students the opportunity to study in Japan.
It is hoped that Omani students who will study in Japan for two years will come to understand Japan through their studies and interactions with the local community, will nurture personal friendships, and will become lifelong bridges of international friendship between the two countries. We support up to four students every year.
Sumitomo Corporation is in partnership with the University of Tokyo for its GLP-GEfIL (Global Leadership Program-Global Education for Innovation and Leadership), which aims to develop capable future leaders in the international community. We have been cooperating in this university-wide undergraduate program since its launch in 2013. In 2018, we became UTokyo GLP Leading Partner through finding common ground with the program's HR development vision, which focuses on the abilities to engage in transverse collaboration and to propose innovative solutions to global issues. This has allowed us to support and engage in the program in various manners.
All GLP-GEfIL classes are taught in English, and GLP-GEfIL students are required to participate in academic programs at prestigious universities abroad at least twice during the program period. Corporate endowment is used to offer grants to overseas program participants.
As the UTokyo GLP Leading Partner, Sumitomo Corporation makes available its corporate resources to enable GLP students to come into contact with the world of work and have rich learning experiences.
The Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB), a major research organization at Columbia Business School, was established in 1986 to promote good relations between Japan and the United States as well as business and economic development in the two countries, with Professor Hugh Patrick serving as its director. With a faculty consisting of leading experts in a variety of fields, CJEB has long been implementing survey and research programs to address rapidly changing global situations and offering policy recommendations when requested. In addition, CJEB proactively hosts conferences and lectures by inviting renowned speakers, and provides opportunities for joint research on global economy. The Center also annually holds a conference in Tokyo.
Since 1992, Sumitomo Corporation has been a major supporter of the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. This youth orchestra consists of approximately 60 young musicians between the ages of 10 and 22 years, founded in Tokyo in 1972 by the late composer Setsuo Tsukahara, who advocated his hope of contributing to the growth of the next generation through the orchestra. Known for his valuable efforts over many years to promote classical music, the late Naozumi Yamamoto conducted performances with the orchestra. It has performed in Japan and throughout the world, including America, Europe and China, and, over the years, has become a truly advanced group of musicians, receiving high critical acclaim. Many professional musicians serve as mentors for the orchestra in support of its activities.
As a means to support the JPO, Sumitomo Corporation also holds the Sumitomo Corporation Young Symphony Concert several times a year, thereby giving more performance opportunities to members of the orchestra. Performing with professional musicians on the same stage gives a precious opportunity for the members to show the results of their daily hard work.
China has seen remarkable economic growth in recent years, but even now there are young people compelled to give up school due to poverty.
The Chinese government has been assigning domestic relief efforts in impoverished areas to various ministries and agencies as national projects, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been engaged in such relief efforts in Yunnan Province's Jinping and Malipo counties since 1992. Both of these counties are 99% mountainous areas lagging behind in economic development.
Sumitomo Corporation has collaborated with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2008 to provide school assistance to high school students in these counties. Students from farming villages in mountainous regions must move away from home and into a dormitory to attend high school, meals and other cash expenses prove an obstacle to further education for children from impoverished households. To resolve this problem we provide financial assistance for dormitory meals and school supplies for economically disadvantaged students who have demonstrated a strong desire to learn. During the initial five years after the launch of the program, it helped a total of 1,800 students enroll in high schools, and 300 of them reportedly moved on to further education at colleges. The program has supported around 300 to 400 high school students per annual.
One high school student receiving aid noted: "I thought my mother's illness would make it impossible for me to continue in school, but I've been able to continue studying thanks to this assistance." With its efforts also being well-received by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sumitomo Corporation will cooperate in other future aid activities.
The SCSK Group upholds “Create Our Future of Dreams” as its corporate philosophy. In cooperation with a range of stakeholders, the Group has been conducting social contribution activities to solve social issues in order to help create a sustainable society.
The Group’s Children’s Art Museum & Park (CAMP) is an activity for children—the next generation of leaders. By engaging in creative, collaborative activities and presenting their work in the workshops, children find how to express themselves in their own way and expand their circle of communication.
By participating in the workshops as facilitators, Employees gain learning and fulfillment as well, which help them growth and increase their work motivation.
Since the activity’s launch in 2001, the SCSK Group has held a total of 1,442 workshops as of the end of FY2023, in which a total of 26,046 children participated.
In 1998, Sumitomo Corporation initiated a volunteer leave system to encourage its employees to participate in volunteer activities.
Under the system, each employee can take up to five days off per year, and by the end of fiscal 2023, a total of 207 employees had utilized the system to participate in volunteer activities, including those for natural environment conservation, local sports competitions, international exchange, and disaster relief activities.
In 2004, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) established the Sumitomo Corporation of Americas Foundation to more clearly define the social contribution activities it promotes as a member of local communities and provide more effective support for them. Because foundations are less likely to be affected by changes in economic conditions and business performance, we can continue to contribute about US$500,000 worth of funds each year to different projects in a variety of fields, including Japan-U.S. exchange, research and education, culture and art, and social welfare, as well as disaster relief.
In the field of disaster relief, we provide financial support to the American Red Cross Society, CDC, etc. We also match donations made by SCOA employees for the recovery of disaster-affected areas. In the area of Japan-U.S. exchange, we have been supporting the operation of “Japan Day” events since 2007. To support research and education, we make financial contributions to research programs, including studies run by the Center on Japanese Economy and Business at Columbia University. To support cultural and art activities and operations, we make donation to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the American Museum of Natural History.
We have developed three industrial parks in northern Vietnam: Thang Long Industrial Parks (TLIPs). More than 240 companies operate in total, which provide for approximately 90,000 direct employment. Sumitomo Corporation, in cooperation with the Vietnamese government, is operating the Parks to ensure stable supply of infrastructure and employment, including electricity and industrial water. The TLIPs also support tenant companies in its employee recruitment and labor affairs.
Furthermore, we are building a community and contributing to inclease tenant satisfaction through the annual soccer tournament and relay run race. Last year, we were able to hold our Japanese-style summer festivals again after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 Vietnamese people participated and it was a great success. In addition, in line with our vision to deeply root our developments within the local communities, we provide scholarships for nearby students, carry out traffic safety awareness-raising activities.
We plan to further expand the capacity of rooftop solar power generation using the roofs of tenant companies, which started in 2020 to contribute to Vietnam's carbon neutral goal in 2050. Together through our business and social activities, we will contribute to the prosperity of everyone related to the industrial parks as well as the sound development of local communities.
In the event of a large natural disaster, in cooperation with our offices located in the afflicted areas, Sumitomo Corporation Group promptly gathers information about the damage caused and support needed by the areas after the occurrence of the disaster. Based on the information thus collected, Group quickly determines the details of its support, including the monetary amounts and specific recipients, and provides the support to the victims.
Recent disaster donation toward relief efforts
| April 2024 Eastern Taiwan Earthquake | the amount of 10 million yen |
|---|---|
| January 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake | the amount of 10 million yen |
| September 2023 Flood Damage in Northeast Libya | the amount of 3 million yen |
| September 2023 Earthquake-Hit in Central Part of the Kingdom of Morocco | the amount of 5 million yen |
| February 2023 Earthquake-Hit in Southeast-Turkey | the amount of 12 million yen |
| July 2020 Torrential rain in Japan | the amount of 10 million yen |
| February 2020 Coronavirus infection in China | the amount of 10 million yen |
| January 2020 Bushfire-hit regions in Australia | the amount of 200,000 AUD |
| October 2019 Typhoon Hagibis | the amount of 10 million yen |
The 2011 earthquake and tsunami brought devastating damage to Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture and to its core industry, the fish processing industry. Sumitomo Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation Tohoku teamed up with Mitsui to support reconstruction of the industry in collaboration with Miyagi Prefecture, Kesennuma City, and the local chambers of commerce. This coalition is helping to develop a recovery business model by assisting the Kesennuma Shishiori Processing Cooperative Association, which was formed after the earthquake.
On May 27, 2015, a new office building for the cooperative association was completed. In the ceremony for the building's completion, Sumitomo Corporation's former President & CEO Kuniharu Nakamura and many representatives from related parties gathered together to celebrate the milestone. By supporting the activities of the Association with the slogan "Share the same vision toward reconstruction," we contribute to the reconstruction of the local fish processing industry and the sustainable development of the entire community.
Sumitomo Corporation implemented the Sumitomo Corporation Follow-up Program for the Revitalization of East Japan over the three years from fiscal 2017 to 2019, in the hope of reconstructing the area and helping disaster victims rebuild their lives.
When the Sumitomo Corporation Youth Challenge Program for the Revitalization of East Japan (YCP) which was the predecessor of this program completed in 2016, the reconstruction of the lives of the victims was still halfway through the recovery, and the remaining issues were becoming more complicated.
Therefore, in this program, we mainly targeted NPOs that have achieved certain results in regional revitalization of disaster-stricken areas and reconstruction of the lives of disaster victims through YCP, and supported their efforts to aim for solves specialized, latent, and individualized issues. In order to create a program that can be designed to closely meet local situations and needs, we implemented a planned (interactive) grant that emphasizes in-depth dialogue with the candidates rather than public offering.
Over the five years from fiscal 2012 to 2016, Sumitomo Corporation’s Sumitomo Corporation Youth Challenge Program for the Revitalization of East Japan supported young people involved in revitalizing eastern Japan in the hope of reconstructing the area and helping disaster victims rebuild their lives.
This program consists of two parts: the Activity and Research Subsidy and the Internship Encouragement Program. It is intended to help young participants expand both their knowledge and experience base and develop into future leaders who can play active roles in the further development of local communities and society at large.
As part of its actions to give humanitarian aid to the afflicted areas, nearly 160 employees had participated in the volunteer program for earthquake disaster reconstruction from early August to December, 2011. Sumitomo Corporation organized this program that supports employees who want to participate in disaster volunteer activities. It was developed after a series of consultations with local government officials and with the staff of a local social welfare council that manages a volunteer center for disaster reconstruction. Participants in the program have taken part in activities in Yamamoto Town located at the southern end of Miyagi Prefecture.
Employees were assigned at the local volunteer center in the town, carrying out support activities that included helping to accept volunteers, allocate work to those volunteers, and disseminate helpful information through a blog. They also helped to remove debris and mud from the houses of residents that had been damaged by the disaster and to plant seedlings and thin out leaves at strawberry farms, since strawberries are a local specialty. Employees who participated in the volunteer program made the following comments.
