Stakeholder Relations

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• Topics of discussion

  Approaches to Sustainability Disclosure for Sustainable Corporate Value Creation

  Outside experts

  • Hiroki Sanpei (Representative, Astonering Advisor LLC)
  • Aya Fujiki (ESG Stewardship Manager, Capital Group)

  Facilitator

  • Hidemi Tomita (Representative Director, Sustainability Management Institute)

  Attendees from Sojitz

  Directors

In this dialogue, discussions focused on how sustainability disclosure can go beyond mere regulatory compliance. Amid evolving expectations from a long-term investment perspective and changes in disclosure practices, participants explored how companies can leverage disclosure as a starting point to better understand their human resources, human capital, and business realities, and ultimately link these insights to enhanced corporate value.
The experts highlighted how investors actually utilize disclosed information, the respective roles of different disclosure channels, and the importance of presenting both mandatory and voluntary disclosures as a coherent and consistent narrative that clearly conveys corporate strategy and the value creation process.
Furthermore, with respect to human capital—recognized as a key source of corporate value—participants exchanged views on how companies can accumulate and effectively utilize the capabilities of their people and organizations as intangible assets, thereby strengthening sustainable competitiveness and driving long-term growth.

Going forward, the Company will continue to incorporate external perspectives into management through such dialogues, while advancing sustainability management in an integrated manner with its value creation initiatives, including those related to human capital.

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• Topics of discussion

  Decarbonization business opportunities in the field of sustainability management

  Outside experts

  • Hiroki Kudo (Researcher at The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan)
  • Yukari Takamura (Professor at The University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives)
  • Hiroki Sampei (Principal at Astonering Advisor LLC)

  Attendees from Sojitz

  Directors

The global environment continues to shift along with transforming trends in sustainability. Amidst these changes, Sojitz is steadily working towards realizing the Sojitz Growth Story. For this year’s stakeholder dialogue, Sojitz invited external experts in the energy field who possess a wealth of expertise in sustainability disclosure standards and current sustainability trends both in Japan and overseas, as well as insight into investors’ perspectives on related investments. A wide range of topics were covered during the dialogue, and participants shared their views on decarbonization initiatives and related business opportunities in light of external trends in sustainability. Going forward, Sojitz will continue to place value on holding dialogues with our stakeholders and utilize these opportunities to improve Sojitz’s corporate value.

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• Topics of discussion

  Human resource management practices for raising corporate value through integration of HR and management strategies

  Outside experts

  • Takashi Iwamoto (Project Professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University)
  • Hiroki Sampei (Principal at Astonering Advisor LLC)
  • Kumiko Shirai (Counselor at BIPROGY Inc.; Senior Corporate Officer, CISO, CPO at UNIADEX, Ltd.)

  Attendees from Sojitz

  Directors

In light of Sojitz’s aim of becoming a company that constantly cultivates creates new businesses and human capital, attendees discussed how Sojitz can achieve sustainable growth and new business creation through its human resource management practices, and how best to implement its HR strategies to achieve these aims.

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• Topics of discussion

  Decarbonization initiatives with consideration for supply chains, strategic disclosure

  Outside experts

  • Jun Arima (Project Professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy)
  • Mariko Kawaguchi (Project Professor at Rikkyo University, Director at WWF Japan, Executive Advisor to CEO at Fuji Oil Holdings Inc., and External Advisor of the Sustainable Advisory Board at Asset Management One Co., Ltd.）
  • Hiroki Sampei (Principal at Astonering Advisor LLC)

  Attendees from Sojitz

  Directors

For this year’s stakeholder dialogue, Sojitz invited a panel of outside experts who brought investor insights and offered diverse knowledge and views on decarbonization and other global sustainability-related trends. The experts shared opinions on the kinds of demands and expectations Sojitz currently faces as a general trading company amidst the constantly evolving business environment and provided advice for the company as it prepares for the next medium-term management plan. Moving forward, we will continue to leverage our knowledge bases and networks as we move with speed in order to build businesses with connected value chains through our unique position as a general trading company.

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• Topics of discussion

  Decarbonization measures in anticipation of 2030 and best disclosure practices for non-financial information in the future

  Outside experts

  • Hikaru Hiranuma (Senior Fellow at The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research; Member of the Sub-Committee on Energy Supply Issues, Science Council of Japan within the Cabinet Office, Committee on Supporting Reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake)
  • Tetsuo Kitagawa (Representative Director at ESG Disclosure Study Group, Emeritus Professor of Aoyama Gakuin University)
  • Hiroki Sampei (Principal at Astonering Advisor LLC)

  Attendees from Sojitz

  Directors

Outside experts were invited to share their in-depth knowledge of the trends in decarbonization and information disclosure through a discussion of the technological innovation and business opportunities related to decarbonization as well as the best practices for information disclosure based on the various standards announced in Japan and overseas.

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• Topics of discussion

  Looking Ahead to 2050: Trends in Decarbonization and Social Reforms Predicted for the Coming Decade

  Outside experts

  • Toshihiko Fujii (Visiting professor at Tama Graduate School of Business)
  • Masako Konishi (Deputy Director of Conservation, Climate and Energy at WWF Japan)
  • Hiroki Sampei (Head of Engagement at Fidelity International)

  Attendees from Sojitz

  Members of the Sustainability Committee (Committee Chair: CEO) and three outside directors.

We invited experts on environmental and international policies and standards and ESG investment trends to discuss the accelerating transition towards a decarbonized society. A wide range of topics were covered during the dialogue, including changes in stakeholders’ awareness, external trends such as governmental policies on energy and carbon, and the role and expectations of Sojitz as a general trading company amid constant social change.