In today's blog I will talk about our products that create Kando, how we are delivering Kando through anime, and creation being born through diversity.

■ Creation - Generating Kando
On February 16, I visited Sony City Minatomirai (SCMM) in Yokohama, to hear from the team there, including Kimio Maki, President of Sony Corporation (SEC), on their latest products and technologies.

The technology and services from SEC that support creation by creators are among Sony's key strengths. During my visit, I was updated on how we are engaging with creators through our products and services such as alpha^TM, Xperia^TM, mobile motion capture system "mocopi^TM," and the "Creators' Cloud" platform supporting creative work, as well as Virtual Production, which frees creators from the constraints of time and space. I was also able to exchange thoughts with the team. This was a valuable discussion through which I could sense how everyone at SEC is formulating business strategies while staying close to creators.

In the medical area, I received a demonstration of our newest spectral cell analyzer, and an overview of the latest developments resulting from collaboration between SEC, Olympus Corporation and Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc., our joint venture between these two companies. The new surgical endoscopy system, jointly developed by the three companies, brings together our respective know-how, including Sony's cutting-edge digital imaging and miniaturization technologies. I gained renewed sense of how significant a contribution we can also make in the medical and health field, through technologies we cultivated in creation.

Receiving explanation of the "1 Mount" strategy, to enable E-mount lenses to be compatible across an array of products, from professional-use cinema cameras to digital single-lens cameras, and from the front lines of professional imaging production to daily use.

A team member wearing "mocopi" to perform a real-time demonstration as a virtual YouTuber
Virtual Production demonstration using Crystal LED and VENICE digital cinema cameras for shooting and checking images	Observing the "VISERA ELITE III" surgical endoscopy system launched in September last year

■ Distribution - Delivering Kando
Next, as an example of our efforts to deliver Kando, I would like to touch on Crunchyroll. We welcomed Crunchyroll into the Sony Group in 2021, and it is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, a group company of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). Crunchyroll is engaged in the distribution of anime streaming and films, events, home entertainment and merchandise, and anime publication in more than 200 countries and regions, creating fan communities around the world.

The 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards ceremony was held in Tokyo on March 4. This marked their 7th year, and the first time the awards were held in Japan. Approximately 18 million anime fans worldwide voted on this year's nominees, with "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" being awarded "Anime of the Year."

The winner of Anime of the Year, "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," a spin-off series of a Polish video game, is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, produced by Japanese animation production company TRIGGER, and distributed by Netflix	Masahiko Otsuka, the CEO of TRIGGER

Together with Rahul Purini, CEO of Crunchyroll	Titles including "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc," "SPY x FAMILY," "Jujutsu Kaisen 0" and "Lycoris Recoil" also received awards	In my remarks I expressed my gratitude to creators

Anime has become a truly global form of entertainment culture. In my speech I stated, "Entertainment has the power to connect people, and we feel there is social significance in expanding Kando," and emphasized that, "This is not possible without the passionate people behind anime." Together with creators and our partners I look forward to continuing to deliver Kando to the world.

■ Diversity - Creation Born from Diversity
The Anime Awards was an event that also conveyed the power of creation, rich in diversity. Through this blog and on many other occasions, I have emphasized the importance of valuing the different opinions and perspectives of each individual throughout the company. This is because it is diversity that generates creation, spreading Kando around the world and leading to the sustainable growth of Sony.

On International Women's Day on March 8, I shared a message expressing my gratitude to all the women in the Sony Group for their contributions to our diverse business and new value creation. As I mentioned in my message, at Sony we aim to support creation through our diversity, and are engaged in programs such as "Girls Make Games" which offers opportunities for the next generation of creators and engineers, the "Diverse Directors Program" for providing access and exposure in the film and video industry, and "Alpha Female+" to support women photographers around the world.

Diversity is one of our Values, and it is also the key driver of new value creation. We will continue to support the creativity of our diverse workforce going forward.

■ Towards Sustainable Value Creation
Today, I talked about Sony businesses that create and deliver Kando, and the significance of diversity. For us to engage in these businesses, based on our Purpose, there are a number of management prerequisites. I think of these principles as the foundations of our company. One of the most important is our commitment to valuing and nurturing our employees. It is also essential that we uphold our ethics as a company.

On the 22nd of last month, we were able to hold a school satchel presentation ceremony for employees in Japan, in person, for the first time in four years, and I had the opportunity to meet many children who are our future. And yesterday, on March 14, we announced that Sony has been named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" for the fifth consecutive year by the US-based Ethisphere Institute. We will continue our efforts to create sustainable value while respecting the values of each and every one of you, and building on our ethical corporate culture.

The first photo shows Masaru Ibuka (left), one of Sony's founders, handing a school satchel to Akira Higuchi (who became a Director and Deputy President of Sony) at the first presentation ceremony in 1959. The ceremony began with Masaru Ibuka's feelings towards Sony employees and their families.

Representatives of 22 group companies including Kazushi Ambe, Senior Executive Vice President (pictured), presented children with a school satchel at Sony headquarters	The 65th ceremony was held at three locations: the 2nd floor Convention Hall of Sony headuarters (pictured), SCMM, and Atsugi Technology Center

As always, I look forward to receiving your feedback.