Message from the Chairman

In 2017, the Yokohama Rubber Group celebrated its 100th anniversary, which marked an important milestone in our development. 2017 was also the final year of implementation of the Group’s Grand Design 100 (GD100) medium-term management plan, which was launched in fiscal 2006, and which has enabled us to achieve steady growth and to put ourselves firmly on the right track. Looking back over the implementation of GD100, what I am particularly struck by is how important it is to ensure that business operation provides all stakeholders with a sense of security. In addition to our high-quality manufacturing, the ESG (Environmental, Social and corporate Governance) measures that we implement in order to realize a fair, harmonious relationship with society and with the natural environment also constitute important foundations for the Yokohama Rubber Group, and it is vitally important that we continue to implement ESG measures in the future as an integral part of core business activities.
In light of the above, in 2017 we adopted “Caring for the Future” as our CSR slogan. This phrase embodies our commitment to aiming for harmonious coexistence and mutual prosperity with all of our stakeholders – including our customers, our suppliers, local communities, and the global environment – as we move forward into the future. It is very important that “Caring” be more than just a word, but rather something that is reflected in practical, meaningful action. Given that we will be continuing with the global expansion of our business operations, the stance that we adopt in relation to CSR will be the target of ever-more rigorous scrutiny in the future.
What is especially important is that all Yokohama Rubber Group employees should think of CSR as representing an extension of their day-to-day work activities. Today, the relationship between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – which are a major focus of attention for the international community – and employees’ activities is becoming steadily more important. We, all of us need to think about how we can contribute towards the realization of the SDGs through our work, and to recognize on a deeper level that this is something of direct personal relevance to each and every one of us. For example, there are steadily rising expectations regarding the need for environmentally-friendly manufacturing; we need to view this as more than just responding to customers’ needs, but rather as a sign of major changes to come, and we need to recognize the importance of getting serious about tackling the problems affecting the global environment.
By implementing the types of actions outlined above, we will be raising awareness throughout the Yokohama Rubber Group and making steady forward progress, so that the Group can continue to enjoy the trust of society as a whole and so that we can achieve a further 100 years of continued growth.

Tadanobu Nagumo
Chairman and Representative Member of the Board