In Japan, with the increase in dual-income households and the rising female employment rate, childcare needs are expected to remain at a high level. In addition, due to challenges such as latent waitlisted children and the "first-grade wall" when children transition from nursery school to elementary school, there is a social demand to secure places where children can be safely entrusted and to further improve the quality of childcare.

Through our Child-Rearing Support Service Business, the Group has developed childcare capacity from all angles, including the operation of licensed nurseries, after-school clubs, and children's centers, as well as outsourced in-house childcare facilities for hospitals and companies. Going forward, in addition to the continuous opening and operation of facilities, we will provide high-quality childcare services and environments where children can be safely entrusted through the recruitment and development of excellent childcare staff, operational improvements, and the provision of value-added services.

In Japan, a declining working population due to the declining birthrate has become a major social issue.

Since the launch of our Comprehensive Human Resources Service Business in 1998, the Group has provided necessary education and training to each job seeker, regardless of their experience, age, or educational background. Our unique strength, unmatched by other companies, lies in our dedication to supporting their first steps into society, helping them find their dreams through "working," and backing the realization of those dreams.

Today, we are further expanding our business domains to broadly provide the knowledge and know-how needed to thrive on the front lines, regardless of generation, nationality, or background. We will continue to contribute to an increase in the working population through the creation of new employment opportunities.

In Japan, the demand for nursing care is increasing as the elderly population grows. There is also an increase in the number of working-generation individuals taking on caregiving roles, making the resulting "need for workers to leave their jobs due to elderly care" and "the elderly caring for the elderly" significant social issues.

Through our Nursing Care-Related Service Business, the Group operates fee-based nursing homes primarily in Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Saitama prefectures, which have large populations of people aged 65 and older. With our strength in medical coordination, many of our facilities have nurses stationed 24 hours a day and can provide end-of-life care, allowing even those requiring a high level of care or those who find home care difficult to move in with peace of mind.

Going forward, we will continue to open facilities to meet the growing demand for nursing care and contribute to resolving the issues of workers leaving their jobs due to elderly care and the elderly caring for the elderly.

The Child-Rearing Support Service Business, Comprehensive Human Resources Service Business, and Nursing Care-Related Service Business operated by the Group are labor-intensive businesses built on the value of human intervention. We believe that "people" are of utmost importance in sustainable management. Our employees are an irreplaceable asset to the Group, and it is essential to build an environment where each employee can thrive over the long term across various life stages.

Specifically, we will optimize working hours, encourage the use of paid leave and childcare leave, and create an environment that ensures a healthy work-life balance. Through these initiatives, we will strive to improve the quality of life and maximize productivity simultaneously, while also securing diverse and excellent talent regardless of gender or nationality.

Furthermore, comprehensive talent development is vital for diverse individuals to maximize their abilities. We will establish training systems that support skill acquisition and career development tailored to the characteristics of each business, linking individual growth to the development of the entire Group.

The Child-Rearing Support Service Business, Comprehensive Human Resources Service Business, and Nursing Care-Related Service Business operated by the Group form part of the social infrastructure and entail a high level of public interest and social responsibility. To stably sustain and grow these businesses into the future, a management foundation built on "trust" is essential. Amid rapid social structural changes such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, and labor shortages, we believe that practicing honest and highly transparent management for all stakeholders—including shareholders/investors, users, local governments, job seekers, business partners, and employees—is the core of sustainable business operations. Therefore, we recognize "strengthening a trusted management foundation" as one of our key issues.

Specifically, we will strive to enhance corporate value over the medium to long term by maintaining and strengthening our governance framework to ensure management transparency and fairness, and by thoroughly enforcing compliance. Furthermore, regarding personal information held through our business activities and confidential information of our business partners, we will strengthen technical measures and ensure thorough education for all employees, establishing a robust information security framework.

Through business operations centered on these three pillars—governance, compliance, and information security—we will strive to contribute to a sustainable society and further enhance our corporate value.

The Group develops its businesses centered on "people," and we believe that the foundation for people to live healthily is built upon a rich global environment. To pass on a prosperous future to the next generation through our business activities, contributing to the preservation of a sustainable global environment is a crucial responsibility of the Group.

In recent years, climate change caused by global warming has become a serious issue that threatens society and our living infrastructure. The Group views this as one of its critical management issues and will promote initiatives such as reducing CO₂ emissions and utilizing renewable energy to help realize a decarbonized society and conserve biodiversity.

In addition, we will promote environmental education through our businesses for a wide range of generations, from children to the elderly, contributing to nurturing the talent who will support a sustainable society.