HOME > About JS GROUP > Message from Top Executives
I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the many victims of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.
JS Group Corporation and its group companies are ready to support efforts across the country to address the significant challenges that have emerged in the wake of the disaster.
As a comprehensive housing solutions provider, we will focus on two areas associated with housing and lifestyle.
Firstly, we will support the efforts of people seeking to rebuild or repair their homes after the Earthquake. In the months since the disaster, shortfalls first in building materials and now in labor have created difficulties for many housing projects.
The building materials and housing equipment shortages were attributable to supply chain constraints as manufacturers restored damaged facilities or, anticipating power shortages, relocated to other areas.
Since the recovery of the supply chain, a surge in the number of disaster restoration works has resulted in a lack of skilled construction engineers.
To remedy this current adverse situation and prevent future supply chain problems, the Group is drawing upon its key strength―control of the housing industry's largest network of procurement, sales and logistics operations―to secure a stable flow of materials and manpower.
The other focus of our support is related to the need to secure sufficient power to maintain normal living standards. Amid looming concerns over a likely electricity shortage and price hike to match, there is a growing need for homes that consume considerably less power. We will therefore channel our resources to build greener houses, concentrating on high-performance insulation, home power generation systems (mostly solar), high energy-saving materials and equipment, and more.
In April 2011, five operating companies under the Group merged to launch LIXIL Corporation, creating a new, broader entity that can offer more comprehensive consumer-oriented proposals.
The move was timed to respond to the growing but relatively underdeveloped home renovation market, which is lacking in sufficiently transparent standard models for managing processes like construction planning and execution, price setting, and quality assurance.
Focusing on these issues, we will work to develop a solid business and reputation for reliability while expanding the distribution and operation of Ken Depot, a full-range hardware store chain, in order to undertake more home renovation projects and boosting sales of related insurance products.
In addition, the Group will partner with Secom Co., Ltd., a leading and highly reputed Japanese security company, to enhance our services related to housing and living environments, starting in fall 2011.
Through these efforts and more, the Group seeks to establish itself as a highly responsive and comprehensive solutions provider, offering a full range of affordably priced housing-related products and services.
Yoichiro Ushioda
Chairman
I am thrilled and honored to assume the presidency of JS Group Corporation.
The building materials and housing equipment industry has huge potential to achieve further growth by developing new business models focused on the global market and environmental issues.
At this critical juncture, JS Group and its group companies, although continuing to maintain a major focus on the domestic market, enjoy an enviable position as the world's largest housing conglomerate.
The challenge now lies in transforming the Group into a truly global enterprise.
I believe the knowledge and experience I have acquired over many years with General Electric will help me succeed in this.
To achieve our goal, we will acquire a larger share of the Japanese home renovation market while also growing our overseas business with a focus on Asia, where housing markets are already huge and growing fast.
Becoming a leading global company is an important goal for the Group 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, all Group employees constantly challenge themselves to do better and become better leaders. This, I believe, is how we will achieve sustainable global growth.
In Japan, we are taking initiatives on a number of issues, including post-disaster reconstruction, shifting our focus from new home building to home renovation, and reforming our business structure.
On the overseas front, we will identify or create opportunities to expand our business in emerging growth markets.
But whether in Japan or overseas, the key to our success is our ability to provide appropriate solutions to energy and environmental issues.
With these matters in mind, I will begin my task of helping to realize the goals of the Group by taking the first steps toward achieving the targets set in the medium-term management vision.
Yoshiaki Fujimori
President and CEO
