New Commercial Featuring Ichiro: "Ichiro and SMBC Nikko Securities: 25 Years" Released

SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. (hereinafter "the Company") has released a new commercial, "Ichiro and SMBC Nikko Securities: 25 Years," featuring Ichiro, our brand partner. The Company has walked alongside Ichiro as a brand partner since 2001, when he embarked on his challenge in the United States. This partnership now celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over these 25 years, Ichiro and the Company have consistently supported each other, building an unwavering relationship of trust while taking on challenges in their respective fields. This relationship embodies our brand slogan, "Together, for tomorrow." In the main commercial, Ichiro and the Company's employees look back on the past 25 years, conveying the message, "Times change. That's why unchanging bonds have value. We want to build such bonds with all our customers." This expresses our desire to continue walking towards the future with each and every customer, just as Ichiro and the Company have built their relationship. The Company will continue to take on new challenges while staying close to our customers. "Ichiro and SMBC Nikko Securities: 25 Years" 60-second version: https://youtu.be/cTf9G-m5pAw "Ichiro and SMBC Nikko Securities: 25 Years" 30-second version: https://youtu.be/YdsrmI_Y3no Real Name: Ichiro Suzuki Born on October 22, 1973, in Aichi Prefecture. Joined Orix BlueWave (now Orix Buffaloes) in 1991. From his fourth year in 1994, he achieved brilliant results, including winning the Pacific League MVP for three consecutive years and the batting title for seven consecutive years. In 2001, he became the first Japanese position player to join Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Seattle Mariners. Since then, he has achieved numerous records, including setting the MLB single-season hit record of "262 hits." In March 2019, he announced his retirement from active play. He currently serves as Special Assistant to the Chairman and Instructor for the Seattle Mariners. In 2025, he will be the first Japanese player to be inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame. In the same year, he will also be inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, making him the first person in history to be simultaneously inducted into both the Japanese and American Baseball Halls of Fame. He has been a brand partner of SMBC Nikko Securities since 2001, when he challenged MLB, and continues to be so today.