Translated from 日本語 • View original Happy New Year. This is ISAO Nakamura.
Thank you for your continued support this year!
2019 Review
2019 was **a year of great change for ISAO. **
On October 1, 2019, on the occasion of our 20th anniversary, we became independent from Toyota Tsusho Corporation, which had been a 100% shareholder since 2010, and started anew with a new capital structure.
In 2010, when ISAO joined the Toyota Tsusho Group, it was in the **midst of a current account deficit for 62 consecutive months. **
It took us more than two years to become profitable, but they did not abandon us and continued to support us.
And last year, I was encouraged by ISAO to take a new step, and **all ISAO employees are full of gratitude. **
What will happen to Japan and the world in 2020?
Now, for Japan, 2020 is the "Olympic year".
I myself was before the last Tokyo Olympics were held, so I am very much looking forward to spending that period in Tokyo, where the world's attention is attracting.
When I asked a Brazilian from Rio at ISAO, he said that at the last Olympics, transportation was completely unavailable, and he worked remotely for one monthIt seems that he was doing it.
You have to think about how ISAO and other companies in Tokyo will work during that period.
By the way, he said, "One month was too long and I didn't like it." Laughter
What about financially?
The Japanese stock market suddenly started with a sudden decline of 336 yen on January 6 (the first day).
Last year, it was the highest increase after the bubble burst, so it can be said that it is the beginning of a turbulent event.
Looking at the world as a whole, the US-China confrontation is becoming more and more serious, and the United States is trying to make a deal with Iran.
Compared to about 20% in Western countries, Japan currently has a dependence rate of about 87% on crude oil in the Middle East, so if a war starts, there is a high possibility that it will be greatly negatively affected.
Amid rising global political tensions, economic indicators have gradually deteriorated since last year.
A long-awaited economic recession may begin in the not-too-distant future.
I believe that whether we can overcome this will be a challenge for survival for both Japan as a whole and for each company.
Focus on (1) Build Strong Fundamental
In 2020, ISAO will focus on two things.
The first is "Build Strong Fundamental".
In the future, with the above-mentioned economy expected, it means creating the foundation of a company that can survive for the next 10 or 20 years.
As is often said, I would like to be more conscious than ever of creating a stock (stacked) business rather than a flow (one-off).
Focus on (2) Go Global!
And the second is **"Go Global!"**is.
ISAO's vision is to be a visionary company that makes the world's workforce enjoyable, so it is natural to say that it is natural.
Also, from the perspective of growth, taking the option of surviving only in the Japanese market, which is only 5% of the world's economy, means a shrinking equilibrium, so it is inevitable that business will go global.
By approaching a market that is "20 times larger" than in Japan, we can aim for explosive growth in the medium to long term. That's what I think.
In addition, there are 70 times more opportunities for recruitment in the world than hiring only in Japan.
A global team to achieve a global vision.
We want to take 2020 as the first step towards that.
Go Global - Milestones
In 2019, ISAO had **a non-Japanese ratio of about 10% as a team. 99% of the business is in the Japanese market. **
It is still a Japanese company centered on Japanese people.
**The goal is five more years. **
Our goal is to become a global company over five years.
[Complete Englishization of internal documents]
End of 2020
[Fully Englishized meetings with non-Japanese people]
End of 2021
[Ratio of non-Japanese people in the team]
25% at the end of 2022
50% by the end of 2025
[Overseas business ratio]
FY2022 15%
FY2025 30%
2020 doesn't necessarily seem to be an easy year, but ISAO will do its best this year as well, so thank you all for your support!