Social Contribution Activities

There is a lack of sufficient ophthalmic care in Asian countries, especially those in the Indochina Peninsula like Vietnam. As there are many people suffering from poverty and blindness in these areas, the association was established to prevent those individuals from losing their light. Since FY2015, we have continued to support the activities of Dr. Tadashi Hattori, the ophthalmologist at the center of these medical activities, who offers his services free of charge.

Vietnam suffers from shortage of vaccines for the novel coronavirus, and so the Vietnamese government established a fund to be used for the importing and purchasing coronavirus vaccines, as well as for research and development and infection control. Donations are made to the fund as a local contribution in Vietnam where SUNSCO, our subsidiary, is located.

The Shosoin Exhibition is an annual event showcasing treasures selected from a repository of the most beloved possessions of Emperor Shomu. We have continued to help sponsor the Shosoin Exhibition since FY2012 with the aim of supporting cultural projects Japan should take pride in.

Founded in 1947 by Takashi Asahina under the name Kansai Symphony Orchestra, the Osaka Philharmonic currently performs at the Festival Hall (Nakanoshima, Osaka) and other venues throughout Japan. We have been a sponsor since FY2015 with the aim of supporting artistic activities.

The Osaka Josei Bungei Kyokai sponsors the Osaka Women’s Literary Award, a novel literary award for women nationwide that is open to the public. We have been a sponsor since FY2014 with the aim of supporting cultural projects.

Aiming to make Osaka an international and cultural world city, the Kansai/Osaka 21st Century Association conducts public interest projects targeting the entire Kansai region and supports a wide range of activities in the arts, culture, education, and more, both inside and outside Japan, in addition to the Kansai and Osaka areas. We help sponsor the association with the aim of supporting cultural and artistic activities.
As part of these efforts, with the aim of supporting cultural and artistic activities, in FY2014 we began to also help sponsor Arts Support Kansai, which works to support and foster art and culture in the Kansai region through the efforts of citizens.

The Stories of Pictures Told by Companies in Osaka exhibition is held with the aim of making works of art owned by companies in Osaka and Kansai widely available to the general public, especially for the purpose of educating the next generation to appreciate them. We have helped sponsor the exhibition since their first event (October 4 to 18, 2018) by displaying some of our own paintings, etc., with the aim of supporting the arts.

“We want children to pick up a variety of books and develop an infinite well of creativity and curiosity. We wish for them to voluntarily come into contact with the words, feelings, and ideas in books, understanding that there are people and lifestyles in the world that are different from their own.” This is what inspired the Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest, a cultural facility we have helped sponsor since FY2018.

KUMA, a subsidiary of ours in India, provides educational support to selected students of high schools in Rajasthan by providing them with scholarships equivalent to their annual tuition.

Organized by the Shiki Theatre Company, Theater of the Heart aims to talk to children about the most important things in their lives, such as “the importance of life,” “the spirit of caring for others,” and “the joy of believing in each other,” through the stage. Elementary students from all throughout Japan are invited to watch free of charge, and we have been sponsoring the Theater of the Heart and the excitement of the theater that it brings since FY2015.

In recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has been increasingly positioned in international politics and the global economy. The Asia Pacific Institute of Research (APIR) was established under these circumstances in December 2011, with a focus on the sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region and Japan/Kansai region. We have been helping support their efforts since FY2016 for the purpose of supporting education and research.

“Akkeshiso (glasswort),” which grows wild on the grounds of the Takuma Plant (Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture), is a salt plant that grows on mudflats and salt pans and is also called ”sangoso (meaning ‘coral glass’)” and “yachisango (meaning ‘coral in the marsh’)” since it has dark green stems and branches that turn reddish purple in autumn. It is listed as Threatened II—Vulnerable in the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List, and so we are working to protect it.

As part of our contributions to local communities, we made a donation to Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, toward the Hozan Lake Ball Park Dream Project, which aims to renovate the existing Hozan Lake Park Ground soccer fields to promote the health of citizens and establish the area as a practice base for professional soccer clubs.

Sports Commission Kansai aims to contribute to the revitalization of local industries and the creation of new businesses centered around sports by serving as a catalyst and multiplier for promoting cooperation and collaboration regarding the rich sports industry assets in the Kansai region, the accumulation of adjacent lifestyle-related industries, and promising young talent. We have been a sponsor since FY2018 for the purpose of supporting sports.

Launched in 2011, the Osaka Marathon is an urban citizen’s marathon with more than 35,000 runners participating. For the 10th race it was merged with the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, which features some of the world’s top runners. We have been a sponsor since the 9th race (December 1, 2019), and sponsor Osaka’s major sporting events for the purpose of promoting sports.

In order to contribute to raising employees’ environmental awareness and beautifying the areas around our facilities, we regularly hold clean-up activities.

The Festival of the Lights in Osaka brings out the fantastical beauty of Osaka through various events held throughout the city, with the “Midosuji Illumination,” held on Osaka’s symbolic street of the same name, and “Osaka Hikari no Renaissance,” light art in Nakanoshima, forming the core of its festivities. We help sponsor the event, and together with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, and the business community, we are working to make Osaka the “capital of water and light.”

MAiZM was established to support the development of local human resources and the creation of businesses that can utilize AI and deep learning technology, and to contribute to the revitalization of local communities and society by promoting problem-solving using AI and deep learning technology for issues faced by local communities and businesses. We help sponsor them for the purpose of contributing to the local community.