70th Anniversary, KIMOTO Manufacturing: Creating Excitement, Recognized as a 'Nadeshiko Brand' Featured Company by METI

KIMOTO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Inabe City, Mie Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Shoichi Kobayashi) has been recognized as a 'Nadeshiko Brand' featured company for FY2025 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in recognition of its efforts to promote the active participation of diverse human resources through work style reform and the utilization of digital technology.

■ About 'Nadeshiko Brand' Featured Companies

The 'Nadeshiko Brand' is a program jointly implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to select listed companies that excel in promoting women's empowerment. Among these, companies implementing distinctive initiatives are introduced as 'Featured Companies' based on the results of the voluntary questionnaire section of the survey.

This time, our company has been recognized for its unique initiatives combining work style reform and the utilization of digital technology, and has been listed as a 'Nadeshiko Brand' featured company in the report published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

▶Related Link

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - FY2025 'Nadeshiko Brand' Featured Company Report

https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/economy/jinzai/diversity/r7chumokukigyou.jp/policy/economy/jinzai/diversity/r7chumokukigyou.pdf

■ Background of Evaluation: Promoting Talent Engagement through Work Style Reform × DX

Our company embarked on work style reform in 2009, promoting an environment where each employee can work autonomously under the principle of 'zero-based reform.'

In recent years, we have been promoting the following initiatives:

・Operational efficiency improvement based on AI utilization by all employees

・Implementation of global executive training programs where diverse talents learn together

・Enhancement of communication through cross-organizational DX promotion

Through these initiatives, we are fostering an environment where diverse talents can demonstrate their abilities, regardless of gender, nationality, or age.

■ KIMOTO's 'People-Centered Reform' Philosophy

We believe that 'people' are the driving force behind corporate growth.

Therefore, beyond merely establishing systems and mechanisms, we emphasize cultivating a culture where employees think and act on their own initiative.

We will continue 'people-centered reforms' to realize an environment where all employees can thrive, transcending boundaries of race, nationality, gender, educational background, and age.

■ Future Development

Leveraging our accumulated knowledge in work style reform and DX promotion, we will widely disseminate our initiatives to society as a new work style model in the manufacturing industry.

Furthermore, for companies facing similar challenges, we will contribute to promoting work style reform and manufacturing DX through our consulting services.

■ About KIMOTO Co., Ltd.

Established in 1952 as a map reproduction business, and in 1955, taking its first step as a manufacturer by developing and selling map paper resistant to expansion and deterioration, certified as a designated material both domestically and internationally. Subsequently, with the transition from paper to polyester film, the company accumulated film processing technology over many years. The core of this is our head office factory in Mie Prefecture, which delivers products worldwide. KIMOTO's technology is found in various aspects of daily life, such as camera components for vehicles and smartphones.