[Kimoto, a Manufacturing Company Creating Excitement for 70 Years] Featured as a "Nadeshiko Brand" Notable Company by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

- Promoting Diverse Talent Through Work-Style Reform and DX -

Kimoto Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Inabe City, Mie Prefecture; President: Shoichi Kobayashi) has been featured as a Fiscal Year 2025 "Nadeshiko Brand" Notable Company by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The company was recognized for its promotion of a diverse workforce through work-style reforms and the utilization of digital technology.

■ About "Nadeshiko Brand" Notable Companies

The "Nadeshiko Brand" is a joint initiative by METI and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to select listed companies that excel in promoting women's empowerment. Among them, companies undertaking unique and characteristic initiatives, based on responses to optional survey items, are introduced as "Notable Companies."

Our company was featured in a report published by METI as a "Nadeshiko Brand" Notable Company, with our unique initiatives combining work-style reform and the use of digital technology being highly evaluated.

▶ Related Link

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - FY2025 "Nadeshiko Brand" Notable Company Report

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

■ Background of the Recognition: Promoting Talent through Work-Style Reform × DX

Our company began work-style reforms in 2009. Under the banner of "zero-based reform," we have been fostering an environment where each employee can work autonomously.

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

・Business efficiency improvements based on the premise of AI utilization by all employees.

・Implementation of global executive training where diverse human resources learn together.

・Advancement of communication through cross-organizational DX promotion.

Through these efforts, we are developing an environment where diverse talent can demonstrate their abilities, regardless of gender, nationality, or age.

■ KIMOTO's Vision of "Human-Centered Reform"

We believe that "people" are the driving force of corporate growth.

Therefore, we emphasize fostering a culture where employees can think and act for themselves, going beyond simply establishing systems and structures.

We will continue to pursue "human-centered reform" to realize an environment where all employees can thrive, transcending boundaries of race, nationality, gender, educational background, and age.

■ Future Developments

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

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

■ About Kimoto Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1952 as a map reproduction business, we took our first step as a manufacturer in 1955 by developing and selling dimensionally stable map paper resistant to shrinkage and deterioration, which was certified for designated use both domestically and internationally. Subsequently, as the era shifted from paper to polyester film, we have accumulated film processing technology over many years. Our head office factory in Mie Prefecture is the center of this, sending products to the world. KIMOTO's technology is utilized in various aspects of your daily life, such as in components for automotive and smartphone cameras.

Aiming to be a "100-year sustainable company," we have been proactively engaged in workflow reform for over a decade, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. We have repeated failures and successes while promoting numerous improvements and reforms, including remote work, teleworking, free-seating/hot-desking, and paperless offices. Through this process, we have accumulated, shared, and utilized our experience in creating various systems and generating ideas as know-how. Currently, we leverage the experience and achievements of the workflow reforms undertaken at our main Mie factory to offer consulting services on work-style reform to other manufacturers facing similar challenges. KIMOTO will continue to contribute to everyone's DX promotion by maximizing the synergistic effects of work-style reform and manufacturing DX.

■ Company Profile

Company Name: Kimoto Co., Ltd.

Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market (Securities Code: 7908)

Location: 450 Kyogano-shinden, Hokusei-cho, Inabe-shi, Mie

Representative: Shoichi Kobayashi, President

Founded: April 11, 1949

Established: July 2, 1952

URL: https://www.kimoto.co.jp/

Business Activities: Development, production, and sales of high-functional material products utilizing various materials. Creation and sales of high-precision data related to digital twin construction, and consulting for work-style reform and manufacturing DX. Production and sales of agricultural products aimed at regenerating fallow land in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture.