It was resolved at the Board of Directors meeting held on January 19 that I will assume the position of President and Representative Director as of April 1.
I feel a profound sense of responsibility and am keenly aware of the heavy burden.

It has been 39 years since I became part of the KIMOTO family. Throughout this time, I am deeply grateful to Mr. Ujihito Kimoto, the founder, and Chairman Kimoto, his son, for educating me from the ground up in the earliest days of my career and adulthood. I am committed to repaying their kindness, no matter how modest, with earnest dedication in the years ahead.

Now, we have transitioned to a new structure where three people hold representative rights. In today's turbulent world, I believe that a sense of speed, that is, decisiveness, is crucial. Instead of pondering alone, we will start Group Management Ver.1.0, where three of us will consult and make decisions swiftly. We will work together towards the continuous operation of KIMOTO for 100 years, aiming to pass the baton to the next generation without fail. My role in this is to improve performance and formulate a stable profit plan. I will not forget to contribute to society, including our customers and business partners, and will push forward with determination.
Despite being in the early stages of my journey, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering guidance and encouragement.

I have recently assumed the position of Chairman of the Board. I am deeply grateful to all KIMOTO fans for your support over the past 15 years during my tenure as President and Representative Director. Starting in April, President Kobayashi, Executive Director Hikiba, and Executive Director Yamada will each hold representative authority and be involved in the management of the company. I sincerely ask for your continued generous support.

Within the company, these three have been named Rubicon’s for the past four years. Rubicon’s was part of the winning team in a 2013 presentation competition on the theme of "Tasks to be Executed for KIMOTO to Continue for 100 Years." Subsequently, they underwent a three-week global training tour. President Kobayashi is the key person who turned the digital twin business, expected to make a significant leap, profitable. Managing Director Yamada is a talented individual who realized the early holding of the shareholders' meeting in May through accelerated financial closing. Managing Director Hikiba, while coming from a sales background, is a valuable presence who has spent the most time with on-site engineers for the sake of customers, including factory visits.

Furthermore, the managers of the American, Swiss, and Chinese subsidiaries supporting Rubicon’s are all locals, with an average age of 50, marking a rejuvenation. The overseas subsidiaries are supported by executive officers from Japan, with an average age of 47.

KIMOTO, which started in Japan, is becoming a strong global organization, starting a management system that overcomes barriers of nationality, education, gender, and age. I am very much looking forward to KIMOTO's future, which has a lot of potential for growth, though there may be mistakes due to youth. I believe your warm support will be a great energy for the new members. I kindly ask for your continued support.