I am always thankful for your support.
I am Shima, vice-president of Shima Company Ltd.

Our company starts New Year with the presentation of new management plan. We pick the date for it by consulting with the Shinto priest looking over 6 business periods. Like this way, we put so much focus on it. On top of it, I, the vice-president of Shima Company, is unusual, so my employees have to have a very long day from Shinto prayer, Safety Rally, New Year's Meeting to Presentation of New Management Plan.

On that day, I could see everyone's faces. And then, I could talk with them about how they spent New Year holidays. I asked them to give me high-five, so I could let them feel "my best wishes" through it. And high-five spontaneously makes us smile each other.

 I've heard a story about an elementary school that their students stopped bullying after practicing high-five everyday. I do not mean that we have bullying in our company though. I found some of my employees bewildered with me getting little hyper (giggle) even on the very first day of the year.

We began the Shinto Prayer at 8:08. This was my mother's teaching, who retired before, and I still keep it. Eight has a meaning of getting more and more prosperous in Japanese. So, starting the prayer from 8:08 is extremely prosperous (smile). I was told to be clear about what we need to change and what we do not change. I won't be changing this unless if there is an extreme need for change.

Presentation of new management plan clarifies our president's and vice-president's policy, strategy, and object pointing out how to struggle through 2012. By using the book of management plan as a tool, we are supposed to have the same values. Also, it reinforces our corporate culture and our strength as a company, at the same time, it tells us what to do and what not to do as an employee of Shima Company Ltd. This is the important opportunity for us to show our valuable guests our attitude and my employees themselves so that they can examine our company reliability.

Next day, at the morning meeting, one of the new employees, who is working from this January, made some comments on the presentation, "that reminded me of my days of the Self-Defense Forces" (laughter). So to speak, it is the biggest moment of the year for us. We emphasize being well-disciplined.

We keep moving forward this year, too, like new office for Truck Center in Miyagi, new yard for Hokkaido branch, full-scale start-up for Chiba branch and so on. I need your support like you have. Thank you very much.