Announcement of Kunataka Sunami, Former Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Official, Appointed as Advisor

Proud Partners Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Ryuji Suzuki), which develops services for the introduction and retention support of Specified Skilled Workers, is pleased to announce that Mr. Kunataka Sunami, who has served as Planning Officer (Chief) for the Construction Market Access Promotion Division, Construction Industry Division, Construction Economy Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and as Research Director (Chief Economist) at the Japan Economic Research Institute, among other positions, has been appointed as an advisor to our company, effective March 1, 2026.

1. Appointment as Advisor (Effective March 1, 2026)

Kunataka Sunami

2. Main Background and Objectives

・ Promotion of foreign employment in the construction, logistics, and shipbuilding/marine industries.

・ Strengthening of management systems for the next phase of corporate growth.

3. Career Highlights of Kunataka Sunami

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics, Department of Economics at the University of Tokyo, Mr. Sunami joined the former Ministry of Construction (now the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) in April 1985.

During his tenure at the ministry, he held key positions in the Construction Economy Bureau, Land and Construction Industry Bureau, National Land Policy Bureau, and Hokkaido Development Bureau. He also served as First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America, Research Director (Chief Economist) at the Japan Economic Research Institute, and Auditor at the National Research Institute for Building Science. He possesses extensive knowledge of the construction industry.

(Currently serves as Advisor to Tokyu Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Senior Managing Director of the Association for Environment and Urban Planning Support)

Mr. Kunataka Sunami, Advisor at Proud Partners Co., Ltd.

Kunataka Sunami's Aspirations on His Appointment as Advisor

"The labor shortage in the construction industry is structural, not temporary."

The construction industry has experienced labor shortages many times since the post-war period, but each time it has shifted to a labor surplus due to economic downturns. Particularly, the prolonged period of low demand after the collapse of the Heisei bubble meant that both the government and the industry were slow to take measures against the shortage of construction personnel.

The aging of the construction workforce is now severe, and analysis of changes by age group reveals that the labor shortage since 2012 is a structural problem, not a temporary one caused by disaster reconstruction work or economic fluctuations. In response, the government and the industry are making efforts to improve the treatment of construction workers and increase productivity, but the labor shortage is expected to continue. In this context, the importance of introducing foreign employment will likely continue to grow.

I have observed foreign employment on national direct construction project sites. There were young people working with the great ambition of studying not only technology but also construction management in order to start their own construction companies in their home countries.

I would be happy to contribute to the promotion of foreign employment, which benefits not only Japan as the host country but also the countries of origin. (End)

About Proud Partners Co., Ltd.

Proud Partners Co., Ltd. aims to create a system where foreign nationals can work fairly and borderlessly, contributing to Japanese society. The company focuses on the Specified Skills field, primarily in the construction and food service industries.