Greetings by President Keiichi Kobayashi at the FY2022 Entrance Ceremony
- Growing together and bringing Furukawa Electric Group to the next stage -
April 1, 2022
- While maintaining a humble demeanor and possessing a sense of gratitude, continue to grow with an open mind
- Even in the face of difficulty, remain filled with dreams and passion, and never give up
- Each of us will not fear failure and will increase what we “can” do to find the “will” to do what we want
Congratulations to you all on joining our company. I am Keiichi Kobayashi, President of Furukawa Electric.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to welcome this year’s new employees brimming with hope into Furukawa Electric Group. For the past two years, COVID-19 has prevented us from holding a large entrance ceremony, but today, 159 new colleagues have joined us here at the head office. I express to you my sincere congratulations and welcome you to the company.
As you know, the global COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the cultural and business practices. As represented by the introduction of remote work, the digitalization of society has accelerated, and interest in ESG management and SDGs has increased. Also, the global logistics disruptions have increased the need to revise the supply chains.
As the business environment continues to change faster than imagined, through efforts to provide unique value and change into a corporate group that actively seeks to transform itself, we are working to shift from a company kept alive by society into a company which is an essential part of society as a corporate group that resolves social issues.
Our Corporate Philosophy is “Drawing on more than a century of expertise in the development and fabrication of advanced materials, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through continuous technological innovation”, and our Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030 is “In order to build a sustainable world and make people’s life safe, peaceful and rewarding, Furukawa Electric Group will create solutions for the new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy and mobility”. Both of these are oriented toward achieving the SDGs, and they are key points of reference when determining the direction of the group within the changes occurring in the world today.
Directed at achieving the SDGs, global attention is being given to human rights issues and the response to climate change and carbon neutral. Neither of these issues are simple, but while growing as a corporate group that resolves social issues, let’s move forward together to bring Furukawa Electric Group to the next stage.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to welcome this year’s new employees brimming with hope into Furukawa Electric Group. For the past two years, COVID-19 has prevented us from holding a large entrance ceremony, but today, 159 new colleagues have joined us here at the head office. I express to you my sincere congratulations and welcome you to the company.
As you know, the global COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the cultural and business practices. As represented by the introduction of remote work, the digitalization of society has accelerated, and interest in ESG management and SDGs has increased. Also, the global logistics disruptions have increased the need to revise the supply chains.
As the business environment continues to change faster than imagined, through efforts to provide unique value and change into a corporate group that actively seeks to transform itself, we are working to shift from a company kept alive by society into a company which is an essential part of society as a corporate group that resolves social issues.
Our Corporate Philosophy is “Drawing on more than a century of expertise in the development and fabrication of advanced materials, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through continuous technological innovation”, and our Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030 is “In order to build a sustainable world and make people’s life safe, peaceful and rewarding, Furukawa Electric Group will create solutions for the new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy and mobility”. Both of these are oriented toward achieving the SDGs, and they are key points of reference when determining the direction of the group within the changes occurring in the world today.
Directed at achieving the SDGs, global attention is being given to human rights issues and the response to climate change and carbon neutral. Neither of these issues are simple, but while growing as a corporate group that resolves social issues, let’s move forward together to bring Furukawa Electric Group to the next stage.
Keiichi Kobayashi, President
Three requests for new employees
Before talking about my three requests to you, I would like to first convey the most important matter. That is “Give top priority to safety and health”. Safety is a prerequisite for maintaining business continuity. Securing safety and ensuring no employee is involved in an accident is one of the main requisites for the group to continue growing. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed awareness of the importance of “health”. Even if excellent capabilities exist, they cannot be fully utilized without good physical, mental and social conditions. The ability to work in a healthy state and with good energy will certainly lead to a fulfilling company life. “Safety” and “health” are always given the highest priority at Furukawa Electric Group. I ask you to maintain awareness of safety first, as well as and health first for improving personal wellbeing. At Furukawa Electric, we often use the greeting “Go-Anzen-Ni, Go-Kenko-Ni!” From today, you are now members of Furukawa Electric, so take the initiative and actively use the greeting “Go-Anzen-Ni, Go-Kenko-Ni!”
Keep an open mind
Within your work, there will likely be things you can figure out on your own and other things that you will realize after receiving advice from a superior or colleague. It is very important that you receive this advice with an open mind and work to achieve personal growth. Also, you should honestly admit when you do not understand something or you are experiencing difficulty. There is no need to feel ashamed. I believe maintaining a humble demeanor and keeping an open mind leads to faster learning and growth. Keeping an open mind will enable you to receive assistance from those around you, naturally resulting in the accumulation of information and knowledge. Always try to keep an open mind.
Be stubborn (possess a determination to never give up)
You will likely face adversity when taking on new challenges and moving forward in the perceived correct direction. Your dreams and passion may help you overcome this adversity at first, but after repeatedly facing adversity, people tend to take the easy way out. Even if you face adversity in your attempts to change the status quo and progress in the direction you perceive to be correct, maintain your dreams and passion to “create the future” and “change the status quo”, and never give up.
Maintain a sense of gratitude
You are here today through the support received from a wide range of people. Take this opportunity to appreciate your family, friends and the others who have supported you over the years. Once you begin your new career with the company, you will have the opportunity to meet a great number of people. Along with maintaining gratitude for customers and the others who provide assistance to you, if you are able to feel a sense of gratitude and think from the other person’s perspective when interacting with your superiors and colleagues, they will eventually become trustworthy partners and you will be able to mutually support each other. Always maintain a humble demeanor and a sense of gratitude.
As someone with many years of life experience, I would like to leave you with the following words. I want each of you to not fear failure and increase what you “can” do to find the “will” to do what you want.
I use “can” here in the sense of “what you can do,” and “will” in the sense of “the will to do what you want.” As you do your jobs, you will start to develop your own perception and opinions of things, and then you will have a chance to actually try out and apply your ideas. When that chance comes, you might stop yourself out of concern over what others might say or what problems you might cause if you fail. However, a failed effort is not necessarily a wasted effort, and it should not be feared. Think of failure as proof that you were brave enough to try something. It will connect to your next efforts as a source of growth. Please have curiosity and take on various challenges. No experience is a waste. If you have passion and approach things proactively, then you will master a lot of things you “can” do. These things you “can” do represent your professional growth. Corporate growth is the sum total of the growth of each individual employee. A company cannot grow if its employees do not grow. The things you “can” do all add up to things that Furukawa Electric “can” do. I want to ask all of you to increase what you “can” do as you work each day, and to increase your potential while widening your perspectives. I want you to grow so that you become truly needed by people and society. Once you get to that point, you should arrive at the “will” to do what you truly want to do. Something that you "can do" becomes what you "want to do" and what you want to do becomes useful for many people and society. I would definitely like you to experience this wonderful way of working.
I use “can” here in the sense of “what you can do,” and “will” in the sense of “the will to do what you want.” As you do your jobs, you will start to develop your own perception and opinions of things, and then you will have a chance to actually try out and apply your ideas. When that chance comes, you might stop yourself out of concern over what others might say or what problems you might cause if you fail. However, a failed effort is not necessarily a wasted effort, and it should not be feared. Think of failure as proof that you were brave enough to try something. It will connect to your next efforts as a source of growth. Please have curiosity and take on various challenges. No experience is a waste. If you have passion and approach things proactively, then you will master a lot of things you “can” do. These things you “can” do represent your professional growth. Corporate growth is the sum total of the growth of each individual employee. A company cannot grow if its employees do not grow. The things you “can” do all add up to things that Furukawa Electric “can” do. I want to ask all of you to increase what you “can” do as you work each day, and to increase your potential while widening your perspectives. I want you to grow so that you become truly needed by people and society. Once you get to that point, you should arrive at the “will” to do what you truly want to do. Something that you "can do" becomes what you "want to do" and what you want to do becomes useful for many people and society. I would definitely like you to experience this wonderful way of working.
“Three valuables” in the words of Furukawa Electric founder, Ichibei Furukawa
Ichibei Furukawa described three things to value, stating, “Value employees. Value customers. Value new technology. Then contribute to society.” I believe that Furukawa Electric has been able to grow over the 138 years since our founding in 1884 due to valuing his words as part of our corporate DNA. I would like all of you to keep these “three valuables” in mind as we work together to benefit society as participants building the coming world.
Welcome to Furukawa Electric Group. I have high expectations for your future.
Furukawa Electric Group’s efforts towards the SDGs
Based on the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” adopted by the United Nations, Furukawa Electric Group has formulated the “Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030” which sets the year 2030 as its target and is advancing efforts with the aim to “Build a sustainable world and make people’s life safe, peaceful and rewarding, Furukawa Electric Group will create solutions for the new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy and mobility.” Toward the achievement of our Vision 2030, we will take open, agile, and innovative approaches to promote ESG management that aims to increase corporate value over the medium to long term and will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
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