A full-service provider of housing solutions

 In April 2011, five operating companies under the JS Group merged to launch LIXIL Corporation. With the integration of the well-established networks of the five former companies, the new corporation is able to supply a full range of building materials and housing equipment while offering an extensive line-up of its own products.
 Japan's current housing stock consists of approximately 57 million units. Statistically, this means that for every Japanese household there is an average of 1.15 houses available, giving Japan one of the highest housing rates among the developed nations and signaling low potential for growth in the demand for new houses. As new housing starts decline, however, the home renovation market is expected to grow in line with the trend for houses to be lived in for longer. To respond to this change in the market, LIXIL must reinvent its supply chain to reflect a shift away from its traditional model of simply building new homes to a new model that also envisages future renovation.
 Another challenge for LIXIL is to expand its business in overseas growth markets. In the housing sector, the Chinese and other emerging markets are not yet developed enough to be dominated by one or more leading manufacturers. Their level of industrial sophistication, mainly with respect to product quality and cost efficiency, still leaves much to be desired. Viewing this situation as a huge opportunity, we will focus on developing products to meet specific cultural and climactic needs in these emerging markets and delivering both quality and cost benefits.
 Meanwhile, environmental conservation has become a global issue. LIXIL will work towards achieving a recycling-based society by strengthening its line-up of energy-saving and water-saving products, promoting resource recycling and further expanding its clean-energy-related business.
 Through this merger, we are bringing together companies with various backgrounds to form a single, unified corporation. The synergy sparked by this integration will facilitate the development of new products and services that no other company will be able to match. Based on our firm commitment to provide unique solutions, LIXIL will strive to develop a reputation as a company that helps make a truly happy home.

Starting a new challenge in a new field

 I am both thrilled and honored to assume the presidency of LIXIL Corporation, a company that, based on the strength of its five core businesses, including an international business unit, has tremendous potential to become a world leader.
 I believe the expertise and global experience I have acquired over many years with General Electric, a truly global company, puts me in a good position to lead this challenge. To achieve our goal, we will acquire a larger share of the Japanese home renovation market while also growing our overseas business, focusing on Asia, where housing markets are already huge and growing fast. Our own growth will be supported by the enhanced operational efficiency achieved through the integration that gave birth to LIXIL.
 Becoming a leading global company is an important goal for LIXIL but it should also be the ultimate goal of many Japanese companies. Our country needs leaders who are not satisfied with the status quo but rather strive for a better future. We need leaders who persist in initiating change for a better way of doing business and a better future. True leaders have big dreams and take the actions needed to realize those dreams. In this spirit, LIXIL aims to be a company where all employees are constantly challenging themselves to do better and become better leaders. This, we believe, is how we will achieve sustainable global growth.
 In Japan, the energy situation has changed dramatically with the Great East Japan Earthquake. Energy consumers, both individuals and corporations, have become much more involved in efforts to save energy on the demand side, while on the supply side long-relied-upon sources continue to be problematic. With our comprehensive housing expertise, LIXIL is uniquely positioned to deliver more energy efficient buildings as well as offer alternative energy supplies.
 We are committed to becoming a truly global company with products and services that contribute to the improvement of the environment and living standards on a global scale.