Since its founding, Mizuno has fostered a culture that values people, rooted in its philosophy of contributing to society through the advancement of sporting goods and the promotion of sports. I believe this culture is the greatest strength behind Mizuno's value creation.
In recent years, the idea of “human capital management” has gained widespread currency. However, the idea of valuing people is nothing new to us. What matters is not viewing people simply as capital, but empowering each individual to reach their full potential and channeling that potential into organizational strength and, in turn, value creation. Human capital management at Mizuno means creating an environment where people and the organization can continue to grow together as we pursue our Purpose, Vision, and Values (PVV).

Throughout my career, I have held a variety of roles, not only in human resources but also in sales, business operations, and corporate planning. Those experiences have shown me that every job in the company contributes to value creation. Customer-facing functions, such as sales and business operations, as well as corporate functions such as human resources, general affairs, and accounting, all play a vital role in supporting the business and ultimately delivering value to our customers. That is why I believe human resources must be more than a department that manages people. It must be a partner that supports the business by continually fostering the growth of both the organization and its people.

At the same time, the world around us is changing dramatically. The value of sports now extends beyond competition to health, lifestyle, and work, while our global business continues to expand. In today's rapidly changing world, we are increasingly encountering situations where past experience and knowledge alone are no longer enough.
In response, we have revised our human resources development policy. Our goal is to help people bring diverse perspectives, embrace change with a positive mindset, and create new value, rather than simply look for the right answer. While developing expertise is certainly important, it is not enough on its own. By taking on new challenges across departments and roles and gaining a wide range of experiences, people develop new perspectives and ideas. We are therefore expanding opportunities for employees to take on new challenges through cross-functional projects, internal side jobs, and our internal job posting system, which allows employees to apply for positions in departments of their choice.
As we expand our mid-career hiring, more colleagues with diverse experiences and perspectives are joining Mizuno. The perspectives and ideas our employees bring from outside the company are essential to Mizuno's future. At the same time, we will continue to share the values embodied in our Purpose, Vision, and Values (PVV) and our commitment to “A-mon” quality as an enduring foundation. When fresh perspectives come together with a culture built over more than 120 years, I believe Mizuno will be stronger for it.

A culture that values people will always be one of Mizuno's greatest strengths. We must preserve that culture while continuing to evolve with the times, creating an organization where every individual can be true to themselves, take on new challenges, and realize their full potential. This is what human capital management means at Mizuno, and it is the driving force that will enable us to continue delivering “A-mon” quality to the world.