President's Message at the Welcoming Ceremony of New Employees

Congratulations on joining the company. I would like to welcome you on behalf of the ITOCHU Techno-Solutions (CTC) Group as you become members of the company. Our lives are shaped by the ties that we form along the way. It gives me great pleasure to know that we will be forming new ties as we work together in the future.

Having reached 128 million in 2010, Japan's population fell to 127 million in 2014 and is expected to reach 97 million by the year 2050. That is a reduction of approximately 31 million people over a 40-year period, equivalent to the combined populations of Tokyo, Kanagawa and Osaka.

Fortunately however, you will all be working in IT, which offers the only definitive solution to such a large-scale reduction in the working population. I hope you appreciate the significance of being part of CTC at such a crucial time and enjoy working here. There are likely to be more and more areas in which you can make a real difference in the future. CTC continues to take on challenges in new fields and sectors on a daily basis, as we continue to push beyond our existing framework. We also need you to get actively involved in cutting-edge technology and challenge the potential of IT to change the future.

One other point I would like to mention is the attitude you should have towards your work.

Your assignments will be finalized by June. First and foremost, your aim should be to become a professional worthy of recognition by every member of the department to which you assigned. Some of you may not be assigned to your first-choice department. The most important thing however is to work hard and become a professional in your new department or field, recognized by anyone inside or outside the company. That invaluable experience will lay the foundations for the next stage of your adult working life.

When you run into obstacles, please talk to your senior colleagues and superiors. Working for a company is all about teamwork. If you are concerned about something as an individual, it is a concern for the organization as a whole. As well as senior colleagues in your department, there are around 8,000 CTC Group employees on hand to provide support. I hope to see all of you immersing yourself in your work, as you take on new challenges surrounded by new friends.