As expressed in my February 28 message to you all, I would like to again extend my deepest condolences to all of those who are suffering in Ukraine and the surrounding regions. It is truly heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of the ongoing military action. In terms of the Sony Group, we are of course doing all that we can to support our colleagues who have been affected, and we are also donating to organizations engaged in humanitarian aid to help the victims of this tragedy. I sincerely hope that the conflict will be resolved as soon as possible, and that peace will be restored in Ukraine and around the world.

■ Alliance with Honda in the Mobility Field

Today, I would like to provide an update on the progress of our mobility business. On March 4, Sony and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) held a joint press conference announcing an agreement to deepen discussion and exploration of forming a strategic alliance in the area of mobility.

The press conference was held at the 2F Conventional Hall at Sony headquarters in Shinagawa, Tokyo, while taking precautions to prevent the spread of infection.	With Honda president Toshihiro Mibe at the joint press conference.

At the press conference, I spoke openly that,"we are a company that has adapted to rather than led the business model megatrends of IT, communication technology, and services." However, as we engage this new megatrend of mobility, our mindset is to go beyond"adapting," and instead"contribute" to the evolution of mobility through our wealth of technology and experience. That is the approach we are taking to our mobility business. The process of continued learning we underwent during the development of VISION-S led us to realize that we can contribute in the three areas of"safety" to support a safe mobility experience,"entertainment" that makes the mobility space a space rich in emotion, and"adaptability" that supports further evolution.

Honda and Sony are companies that share many historical and cultural similarities, and our relationship goes back to our respective founders who are said to have been very close, and greatly inspired each other. We are excited to have found a partner in Honda, from which we can learn about mobility, and with whom we can take on challenges together. Through this new company, we intend to seek to lead the evolution of mobility by combining Sony's technology and experience, with Honda's extensive mobility development capabilities and vehicle body manufacturing technology accumulated over many years.

Honda founder Soichiro Honda (left) and Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka (right)
in a joint TV appearance in 1961

During the press conference, we explained that the new company's mobility service platform will be developed and provided by Sony. While the car manufacturer itself will be at the core of the service, we aim to provide the supporting services and platform to the new company and to a range of car manufacturers, including Honda, in order to further extend the scope of our contribution.

Going forward we will continue our efforts to contribute to the evolution of mobility based on our vision to"make the mobility space an emotional one."

■ LinkBuds

Similarly, from the perspective of enhancing and enriching the value of space in which people exist, I had been keenly anticipating the launch of our LinkBuds fully wireless headphones, which we have been introducing in various regions from the middle of February. I had always been very pleased with the listening experience delivered by my Xperia Ear Duo, but I immediately purchased LinkBuds, which are also created with an open-ear design, via the Sony Store, and I am delighted by the natural fit they provide.

LinkBuds offer a way to effectively enjoy sound-based Augmented Reality (AR) through their design structure that does not fully block the ear. LinkBuds can be used in conjunction with apps such as Sony's Locatone Sound AR application or the 3D audio map application Microsoft Soundscape, to experience a new sensation of virtual sound overlaying the real world.

The video below shows how LinkBuds and Microsoft Soundscape can work together to provide spatial information that assists accessibility. I feel that this combination of our technology alongside that of our partner, can support the movement of people, including those with visual impairments, while also enriching the time spent moving from place to place with new forms of entertainment.

Microsoft Soundscape & Sony's LinkBuds

At CES in January and at the Group Quarterly Meeting (GQM) in February, I spoke about our initiatives to enhance the value of space, as well as with the value of content. The mobility business and LinkBuds, which I looked at in this blog, are two examples of how we are enhancing the value of the space in which people exist, while also delivering new types of enjoyment and emotion. Let's continue to take on these new challenges together.

As always, I look forward to receiving your feedback.