Happy New Year to all members of the Vuteq Group.

Happy New Year to all members of the Vuteq Group. I would like to extend my warmest wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year to all of you.   In recent years, economic conditions have remained volatile with an uncertain outlook. Meanwhile, the natural environment has gone through many changes, leading to unforeseeable situations and serious incidents. Last autumn, an incident occurred at one of our company offices in Japan involving a bear sighting. Fortunately, no significant harm was done, but it served as a stark reminder that danger can exist in familiar places. We are committed to providing full company support and ask that you maintain a constant state of preparedness for crisis management.

Last year marked our 60th anniversary. It was a year of significant change in the business environment, yet together we achieved our annual goals and made progress on many challenges. Furthermore, our 60th Anniversary Ceremony held at the end of August was a success, with many employees participating despite the intense heat.

Turning our attention to the Japanese economy, the U.S. tariff issue which has been a concern since the year before last, has finally been settled. Our company will strive for business prosperity under the terms approved by both nations. Global automobile production volumes are trending upward, and thankfully, our major customers are planning very robust production for the upcoming year as well. I intend to work diligently with all of you to ensure we can fully meet our customers’ demands.

Following a preparatory period since last September, this year marks the launch of our mid-to-long-term business plan, “VUTEQ VISION 2035”. We begin these activities while aiming to become an “Indispensable Company”. We will strive to achieve VUTEQ VISION 2035 by promoting sustainable management and improving the workplace environment, all while aiming to become an indispensable company for our customers, suppliers, employees and their families, and society at large.

We understand that the ongoing rise in prices (and the weak yen in Japan) continue to significantly impact everyone’s lives. As a group, we remain fully committed to tackling improvements in your working conditions. We intend to actively invest the results of improvement activities and profits gained through customer negotiations into people-development and sustaining your well-being (Human Capital Management). We ask for your continued active participation in improvement activities.

Continuing from last year, this year’s key safety initiatives policy remains “Fostering a culture of safety and disaster preparedness”. We aim to actively promote workplace safety activities through more vigorous exchanges of opinions with all employees, fostering a safety and disaster preparedness culture in the process. Maintaining a safe workplace environment is a crucial theme within human capital management. We ask for your continued dedication to disaster prevention activities, including 5S activities this year as well.

Regarding quality, activities aiming for even greater heights are essential to earn our customers’ trust. Focusing on this year’s quality initiatives policy, “People and A.I. collaborating to develop the management of quality for a sustainable future,” we will strive to improve quality while also considering the introduction of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and machine learning capabilities.

The Group Slogan for 2026 is: Taking on Challenges Together – Becoming an Indispensable Company – VISION 2035.

The Vuteq Group will continue advancing under our corporate philosophy: “Developing the Future with Passion and Sincerity.” Achieving VUTEQ VISION 2035 requires all Vuteq Group members working together. While the ultimate goal of VISION 2035 is realizing our ideal condition in ten years, each year’s progress is crucial. Let us move forward, starting with achieving the mid-term goals for the first phase: the three-year period beginning this year.

While many uncertainties exist, if we work together as peers and colleagues, we will undoubtedly achieve our goals. I hope to make 2026 a good year for all of us.

Finally, I sincerely wish that 2026 will be a happy year for all members of the Vuteq Group and their families.