First of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences and sympathy to those affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck Japan on January 1st. Sony Group companies have sales offices, manufacturing facilities and other operations in the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions, that have been most affected. Thankfully we have been able to confirm the safety of all our employees. To everyone based in this region, I ask that you continue to prioritize your safety and that of your families.

Last week, we announced that Sony will donate a total of 40 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society and Save the Children to support relief efforts for the communities affected. We also plan to collect donations across various Sony Group companies. Thank you for your support as always.

■ Embarking on the year 2024

For me, the new year began once again in Las Vegas, Nevada, with CES. Then, before returning to Japan, I visited Wonderverse, which just opened near Chicago, Illinois. In today's blog I will look back on my trip, as well as some of my year-end events from 2023.

On stage at the CES 2024 Sony press conference we held on January 8, the day before the exhibition's public opening (top left) and taking in the Sony booth

At the Sony Honda Mobility booth	Together with Toshihiro Mibe, President, CEO and Representative Director of Honda Motor Co. at the Honda booth

Corporation and Group CEO (second from left), and Masahiro Shinada, President and CEO of Panasonic Corporation (right) to our booth. Sony (SEC) President and CEO Maki-san is providing guidance (second from right)

CES2024 Related Information

• Sony Square | Homepage (sony.com)
• Sony Group Portal | Sony Corporate Blog

■ Visit to Wonderverse

As we stated at last year's Corporate Strategy Meeting, our entertainment businesses are collaborating across the Sony Group to strengthen our efforts in location-based entertainment (LBE). Following on from attractions such as Columbia Pictures Aquaverse in Thailand and "THE TOKYO MATRIX" in Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku, our latest destination Wonderverse officially opened on January 10 in the Chicago area.

Wonderverse is a new facility operated by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), that brings to life the Sony Group's IP including Uncharted, Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, Zombieland and more. This visit reaffirmed my desire to continue strengthening our initiatives to leverage the array of IP we have within our entertainment businesses, and maximize its value across the Group.

Wonderverse, which has opened inside the Oakbrook Center shopping mall near Chicago		At the opening event with Jeffrey Godsick, Head of LBE at Sony Pictures Entertainment (left) and Mckenna Grace who stars in our upcoming release, "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire"

Guests enjoying the various attractions Left: Zombieland Bumper Cars 　Right: Ghostbusters Virtual Reality Academy
Experiencing the Ghostbusters Virtual Reality Academy	At Ghostbusters-themed bar The Ghost Trap

■ Japan CEO Off-Site Meeting

I would also like to take the opportunity to mention some events from last December that I was not able to cover in my previous blog. December is always a month filled with important meetings, such as the mid-range plan workshop with our Board of Directors. Another such meeting is our Japan CEO Off-Site Meeting, which took place on December 14 at the Sony Financial Group Inc. (SFGI) offices in Otemachi.

At this meeting, we explored collaboration between Financial Services and each of our Sony Group businesses, with the CEOs of each business putting forward their own specific proposals. This meeting brought home to me again the significance of operating our diverse businesses together under the shared Sony brand. It also underlined the fact that it is our products and services that have created and continue to nurture our brand. I look forward to pursuing further value creation through Group collaboration, and connecting this to the future growth of the Financial Services business.

At the SFGI offices in Otemachi

■ Visit to Panasonic Kusatsu Facility

On 18 December, I visited Panasonic Corporation's plant in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. In April 2022, this site became the world's first to make full-scale use of hydrogen fuel cells towards becoming a 100% renewable energy manufacturing site. The plant is currently operating a demonstration facility, named H2 KIBOU FIELD, equipped with a power generation system that combines hydrogen fuel cell generators and photovoltaic generators with the aim of supplying 100% of the electricity needed to power the fuel cell factory at the Kusatsu site. (Peak power consumption at the fuel cell plant is approximately 680 kW, with annual power consumption approximately 2.7 GWh.)

In my previous blog, I mentioned that the Sony Group's sustainability team plays a vital role in how Sony engages with society. During this visit, I sensed how Panasonic is also interacting with society as a company devoted to contributing to the environment. I also gained new insight into the ways they are pursuing sustainability by expanding the available range of energy options. It served to remind me again that diversification and diversity leads to resilience. At the Sony Group, let's also continue to do all the things we can and must do to contribute to a better future.

Panasonic executives and management (right) speaking with our Sony team that included representatives from Sustainability, External Relations and General Affairs (left)	Receiving an explanation of the fuel cell plant
The Sony delegation with the team from Panasonic	With Masahiro Shinada, of Panasonic, with the large hydrogen tank in the background

As always, I look forward to receiving your thoughts and feedback.