Social Contribution as a Company

Fundamental Approach

We value environmental aspects such as environmental consideration and social aspects such as building good relationships with our stakeholders in addition to the economic aspects of earning profits and growing as a company. To fulfill our social responsibilities, we work to resolve social challenges and make contribution to the sustainable development of society through communication with local community.

Policy for Social Contribution Activities

Basic Philosophy

Hulic actively and broadly engages in various social contribution activities including but not limited to our business fields as a good corporate citizen. Through these activities we wish to contribute to the sustainable development of the entire society.

Activity Guidelines

  • Actively engage in activities with particular emphasis on the three major fields of global environment protection, sharing value with local communities, and responses to social needs.
  • Strongly support social contribution activities of employees.
  • Place an emphasis on securing transparency in implementing activities and facilitate communications and cooperation with the society.

In line with this Basic Philosophy and Policy for Activities, we make social contributions that provide support in areas that are compatible with our businesses.

List of Major Social Contribution Activities

Global Environment Protection

Social Welfare

Support of Culture and the Arts

Health, Medicine and Sports

Connection with the Local Communities

Education and Social Education

Academic and Research Support

Others

Contributions and Community Investments in Registered NPOs

Hulic makes contributions to authorized NPOs. In FY2023, we made the following contributions.

Result of Social Donation Activities in FY2023

Organization name Amount (JPY)
Single Mothers Forum (SMF,NPO) 10,000,000
The Japanese Red Cross Society (a specified juridical person) 6,000,000
Japan Service Dog Association, a social welfare organization 3,000,000
Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (a public trust) 1,000,000
Japan Carers Federation, general Incorporated Association 2,000,000

Organized Wooden Architecture Symposium 2019

Hulic makes wooden constructions as a business. In addition, we held the Wooden Architecture Symposium 2019 with the aim of raising awareness on the possibilities of wooden buildings and helping to reduce CO2 emissions and protect forests as part of our social contribution activities.

Theme Future of cities made of wooden structures
Aiming to increase demands for timber in urban areas
Challenge of timber for medium- and high-rise buildings
Keynote speech Kengo Kuma (Architect・Professor at The University of Tokyo)
Panelists Kengo Kuma (Architect・Professor at The University of Tokyo)
Shuzo Sumi (Senior Executive Advisor, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.)
Tadao Kamei (President and CEO, Nikken Sekkei Ltd.)
Masahiro Miyashita (Chairman of the Board, Takenaka Corporation)
Coordinator Atsuko Fukushima (Journalist)
  • Note: Occupation, affiliation, title, etc., when symposium was held in 2019.

Afforestation Activities

Hulic outsources logging, planting, and weeding activities to forestry cooperatives in an effort to plant the same amount of trees as the standing trees used as building materials for construction. Approximately 310 m3 of lumber is used in the construction of a fireproof wooden construction (hybrid structure combining wooden and steel frame construction) commercial facility (HULIC &New GINZA 8) which completed in October 2021. In May 2021 approximately 12,000 cedar saplings were planted (new plantings) across an area of about 4.3 hectares. Over the next five years from 2021, we will continue cutting undergrowth so that the planted cedar saplings will grow healthy.

Cedar sapling newly planted and a mountain where they were planted (Fukushima Prefecture)

Donated to the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund

Hulic values activities that seek to conserve nature and biodiversity. We have been donating to the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund every year since 2012. The funds we donate are used for projects by private non-profit organizations, including some overseas. These projects work to conserve the natural environment in developing regions, mainly in the Asia-Pacific area, as well as preserving Japan’s natural environment and projects related to sustainability.

Managing Hulic Scholarship Program for Training of Welfare Caretakers

We established the Hulic Scholarship Program for Training of Welfare Caretakers in 2017 in order to support students aiming to be welfare caretakers, and develop human resources engaging in nursing care for the elderly and thus contributing to resolution of social issues related to the advancing aging society. This is a nonrepayable (free) scholarship that aims for an improvement of labor shortage in nursing care.

  • Practical training
  • Scholarship granting ceremony

Donation to the Tokyo branch of Japanese Red Cross Society

We make donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society, an organization that responds to disasters through a wide range of activities in Japan. In 2023, JPY6 million was donated. In addition to donations from the Company, those employees and executive officers electing to participate also donate a fixed amount every month.

Donation of Used Postal Stamps for Support Activities in Developing Countries

The Hulic Group generates a large number of used postage stamps and has set up stamp collection boxes at Group company locations. We donate these stamps every year. In April 2024, we donated approximately 1.7 kirograms of used stamps that we collected during the year to the Japan Committee, Vaccines for the World's Children (JCV), a certified NPO. Every year, we collect a large volume of used stamps, and we sort them with the cooperation of our sustainability supporters. The money exchanged from the stamps is used to support vaccines for children in supporting countries, mainly in Southeast Asia.

Support for Japan Service Dog Association

Since 2022, Hulic has been supporting a social welfare organization, the Japan Service Dog Association, to increase support for people with disabilities, one of the focuses of our social contribution activities. One aim of the Japan Service Dog Association is to help build a society that is kind and enjoyable for both people and animals. Based on this philosophy, the organization (1) raises top-quality service dogs; (2) develops trainers; (3) collaborates with local rehabilitation centers and organizations for disabled people, and provides consultations and information on using service dogs; and (4) raises awareness of service dogs to encourage independence and social participation of disabled people. A service dog is a type of assistance dog (specifically for the physically disabled) just like guide dogs and hearing dogs. A major issue, however, is that there are very few working service dogs in Japan, while awareness of their existence is extremely low, even among disabled people. Also, it is both expensive and time consuming to train a disabled people together with a service dog, which is why Hulic hopes to make a difference by our support.

Donation of Emergency Food Stockpiles

In the course of inspecting and replacing the emergency food stockpile at our headquarters building, we donated food approaching its expiration date, previously disposed of as waste, to Second Harvest Japan, an authorized nonprofit organization. We will continue to donate our emergency food stockpiles in the future.

Emergency food stockpile (partial) at Hulic headquarters building

Support for Orphans of Cancer and Childhood Cancer Patients and Their Families

Hulic Insurance Service is a member of the Aflac National Association of Agencies, which is a network of medical and life insurance agencies. We donate to the Aflac Scholarship Fund for Childhood Cancer Survivors and Children of Cancer Victims and Aflac Parents Houses initiatives promoted by the association. In addition, we have donated to the Gold Ribbon Network, an NPO that supports children with cancer.

Aflac Scholarship Fund for Childhood Cancer Survivors and Children of Cancer Victims

This scholarship program is for high school students whose opportunities for pursuing a higher education have narrowed due to losing their household’s main provider to cancer. Up to now, more than 3,400 students have received scholarships, and the total amount awarded exceeds JPY2.1 billion (as of June 30, 2023).

Aflac Parents Houses

These general support centers help reduce the economic and emotional burden of pediatric patients and their families as they take on childhood cancer and other serious diseases with long-term hospitalization or outpatient care at specialist hospitals in urban areas.

Gold Ribbon Network

Gold Ribbon Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to three key areas: supporting children with cancer to raise their quality of life; supporting research and development to increase the survival rate of children with cancer; and providing information and promoting understanding of childhood cancer.

Support for Single-parent Households

To support single-parent households, we have been making donations since 2020 to the Single Mothers Forum, a nonprofit organization. We donate JPY10 million yen per year for their food support activities.

Sponsorship of the Hulic Cup Hakurei Championships and Women's Rank-deciding Shogi Competition

In 2020, Hulic together with the Japan Shogi Association established a new rank-deciding Shogi competition for women, the Hulic Cup Hakurei Championships, with the aim of expanding opportunities for female professional Shogi players. Beyond supporting the arts and culture, we decided to support professional female Shogi players from the perspective of empowering women. The third round of the Hulic Cup Hakurei Cahmpionship was held from September to October in 2023 and Tomoka Nishiyama won the women's triple crown with 4 wins and 3 losses, acquired the title of "Hakurei". As a result, Tomoka Nishiyama's women's triple crown was reinstated to the title of "Hakurei" since the first season.

Inaugration celemony of the third Hulic Cup Hakurei Championships

Special Sponsorship of the Hulic Cup Kisei Championships

Since April 2018, Hulic has been a special sponsor of the Kisei Championships (organized by the Japan Shogi Association and Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd.) The Kisei Championship is an official championship with a history, established in 1962. Players compete for the title of “Kisei.”
In the 95th Hulic Cup Kisei Championship, Mr. Sota Fujii defended his title and won his fifth consecutive title.

Special Sponsorship of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Cup Elementary and Junior High School Shogi TeamCompetition

Since 2017, Hulic has been a special sponsor of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Cup Elementary and Junior High School Shogi Team Competition (organized by the Japan Shogi Association and Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd.). This competition is for teams of three students belonging to the same elementary or junior high school, and the trophy and letter of commendation presented to the winning team by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology give the competition significant prestige.

Support for Kishikai Shogi Festival (Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Support Event)

We sponsor the Kishikai Shogi Festival as part of our support for reconstruction efforts related to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Shogi culture.
In 2024, we sponsored the Kishikai Shogi Festival in Hachinohe.

Relocation of Tokyo Shogi Hall

In 2021, we concluded a basic agreement with the Japan Shogi Association to relocate the Tokyo Shogi Hall to the first floor of Hulic’s Sendagaya Center Building, as part of the reconstruction project. We are developing, aiming for completion in 2024, preparations for the 100th anniversary of the Japan Shogi Association. We will continue to collaborate closely with the Japan Shogi Association and Shibuya Ward to contribute to the urban development of Shibuya's Sendagaya district, known as Shogi Town.

Supported Naruto Sumo Stable

As part of our commitment to supporting sumo, Hulic sponsors the Naruto Stable Supporters’ Association. At the May 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament, we displayed a sponsorship banner for matches involving Oshoma, the first makuuchi-ranked wrestler from the Naruto Stable since its founding.

Support for Japan Para-Badminton Federation

We have concluded an Official Gold Partner Agreement with the Japan Para-Badminton Federation and have provided support for para-badminton since 2016. For the purpose of supporting the stable operations of the federation, since 2017, we have lent the gym of Nishi Kasai Center Building owned by Hulic (Hulic Nishikasai Gym) to the federation at no charge as a practice gym dedicated for players from the Japan Para-Badminton Federation. In November 2023, we supported as the special sponsors for the "Hulic Daihatsu Japan Para-Badminton International Tournament 2023" held at the First Gymnasium of Yoyogi National Stadium.

Established Collaborative Social Courses with the University of Tokyo

In April 2023, Hulic, together with the University of Tokyo, initiated a course for creating an inclusive nature experience learning system. By harnessing information and communication technologies, this course aims to enable children to experience and learn nature with a sense of independence, even remotely, regardless of their environmental or personal circumstances. In August 2023, a nature-based learning session “School for Everyone Learning from Nature” with participation of more than 100 elementary and junior high school students was held in Myoko Kogen, Niigata Prefecture. Online participants watched the activity in the Metaverse space and experienced the sensation of stone by using a body-sharing device.

  • A body-sharing device
  • Collecting insects

Holding the 11th Hulic Student Idea Competition on the Theme of Inviting architectures

We planned this competition as a real estate company with the aim of providing students with opportunities to propose urban development and construction ideas. We received 121 entries for the 11th Hulic Student Idea Competition in 2023. At the second public review, students enthusiastically presented their ideas, followed by a question and answer session with judges. After consultations among the judges, two winners of the grand prize, three winners of the excellence award, and five winners of the honorable mention award were selected.

Supporting Environmental Studies at Kyoto University

Hulic supports studies that have an environmental theme. Currently, we are supporting research at Kyoto University related to the use of wood in construction. This research is closely related to our efforts to build fireproof and other wooden structures.
Furthermore, we are promoting discussions on more ways to use wood through opinion exchanges between the laboratory and our department in charge of environmental technology.

Policy for the Community Activities

In addition to our own initiatives, we focus on the engagement with local communities in order to solve social issues in the area.
Specifically, we are working on the following initiatives.

Making the Company's Nursery Facilities Available to Local Community

Hulic has set up a daycare center inside the headquarter, making some space available to local children to help reduce the number of children waiting to get into daycare centers. For details, please see the following linked page.

Relevant page: Establishment of Hulic’s Onsite Childcare Nursery Facility

Hosting Summer Festivals and Donating of a Portable Shrine

In October 2012, the head office of Hulic was moved to Nihonbashi, Odenma-cho. As part of our efforts to introduce ourselves to the community, we held the Hulic Odenma Summer Festival at our head office building in July 2013. The event was very well-received, so we have continued to hold it every summer since then. The Odenma-cho Ninobu Neighborhood Association is cooperating with us on the day of the event, and many people come, from children living in the area to office workers from nearby buildings. We hope that activities such as this will lead to deeper bonds between local residents. Moreover, as part of our community contribution activities, we donated a portable shrine, etc. to the Odenma-cho Ninobu Neighborhood Association to which we belong in 2017. We hope that carrying this portable shrine at the festival will lead to further revitalization and prosperity in the area.

Donating Books to a Nearby Elementary School

We are active in contributing to the local community. While considering more ways to further deepen our connection with the local community, we learned that classroom libraries were worn out at Nihonbashi Elementary School, which is near our head office building, and in need of replacement. As such, we donated approximately 1,000 new books. We asked the school to choose books that include content related to SDGs and environmental issues to encourage children to give attention and thoughts to building a sustainable society.

Book donation ceremony
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