CEO MESSAGE

"In recent years, amidst rapid globalisation of the economy, Japanese companies have seized the opportunity to expand overseas. However, within Japan, there remain pressing issues such as a 'human resource shortage' stemming from factors such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, a decrease in the working-age population, population decline in regional cities, and regional disparities between urban and rural areas.

The Japanese government is actively addressing these challenges by enhancing employment support for foreign students and by welcoming highly-skilled foreign talent. As of Ocober 2022, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record high of 3,075,213 (an 11.4% increase from the previous year), surpassing 3 million for the first time. This indicates that the momentum of 'globalization in Japan' will continue to accelerate in the future.

Against the backdrop of these major trends—human resource shortages and Japan's globalization—the demand for IT solutions, overseas human resources, and language education is set to grow.

Established in 1975, Zenken initially focused on language education. With the advent of the internet era, we were among the pioneers entering the IT industry, providing integrated services encompassing production, design, programming, and marketing. By amalgamating IT solutions with all businesses within the Zenken Group, we deliver high-quality, precision services.

In 2018, leveraging our expertise in Japanese language education, Zenken entered into the overseas human resources business. We established a local subsidiary in Bengaluru, India, a major IT hub, and launched an overseas IT personnel recruitment business, targeting the predicted shortage in Japan of approximately 790,000 IT professionals by 2030. In 2022, recognizing the expected shortage of 690,000 personnel in the nursing care sector by 2040, we further expanded our overseas recruitment efforts to include nursing care personnel, in countries such as Indonesia.

We believe that the demand for our expertise in 'IT solutions' and 'language education,' cultivated over many years, and our recent experience in the field of 'overseas human resources', has never been greater. Utilizing this knowledge, we aim to expand into various industries facing human resource shortages. Through web marketing, we seek to attract customers, facilitate job placement and employment support, and aid in the retention of hired personnel. Our goal is to contribute to addressing Japan's major social challenges, such as the declining working-age population, while fostering regional development and invigorating the national economy and society.

As we strive to realize a society where everyone can believe in the future and live a fulfilling life, we are committed to embodying our purpose of ""creating a future that doesn't exist."" We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to your continued support in the future."