Shiseido declared its intention to redouble its transformation into a global company in a new three-year plan beginning in 2008. In order to realize our ideals imbued in our corporate message "This moment. This life. Beautifully." Shiseido is continuously working to actively develop various CSR initiatives based on core activities, including "leveraging our distinctive cosmetics business," "addressing environmental issues," which are a major global issue, "activities to support women," who comprise 90% of our customers and 70% of our employees, and initiatives to secure "safety and peace of mind," which is the basis of the relationship of trust that we share with our customers.

In fiscal 2009, we will undertake greater efforts through expanding areas of respective activities to gain greater trust and become a company loved by customers worldwide.

In response to social activities through cosmetics, we will help improve quality of life (QOL) through developing accumulated research results in both products and services ("hardware" and "software") for individuals with serious skin concerns such as birthmarks or scarring that are difficult to address solely by medical technology. Additionally, as a means of further expanding its activities in Japan as well as overseas, Shiseido established the new SHISEIDO LIFE QUALITY BEAUTY PROGRAM in response to these issues and opened dedicated facilities in China and Taiwan in April 2009.

Furthermore, beauty seminars, which Shiseido has been conducting for many years in such places as welfare facilities for the elderly and persons with disabilities are currently implemented in respective countries in the world including Italy, Germany and Singapore. Many executives of Shiseido Company, Limited, including myself, are participating in these seminars and are often moved by the scenes in which participants become cheerful by wearing makeup, in turn instilling a feeling of joy and confidence in them. From this year, we will facilitate a system to enable all employees to participate in this activity to offer such experiences to a wide range of people.

Shiseido has already announced its commitment to take part in the United Nations Global Compact in 2004. At the same time, in November 2008 the Company further agreed to participate in the Caring for Climate initiative proposed by the UN and subsequently participated in the signing of "CEO Declaration to Respect and Support Human Rights in Corporate Activities" on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2008.

Furthermore, in March 2009 Shiseido became the first company in the cosmetics industry to be certified under the Japanese Ministry of the Environment's "Eco-First Company" program. As a means of carrying out activities that are uniqe to Shiseido, including initiaves that "propose new lifestyles in which eco responsibility and beauty can coexist," we have made a commitment to pursue preservation of the global environment with the aim of realizing the coexistence of corporate activities and nature by undertaking initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions, realize a recycling-oriented society and a society characterized by the beautiful coexistence of humankind and the planet Earth. In this respect, we will promote Shiseido's original environmental activities while taking on challenges directed toward developing new values, including those that will make both people and the world more beautiful through the use of cosmetics.

With regard to activities to support women, we are conducting the Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant program in order to contribute to fostering talented female researchers, in which grants are provided to support those who tend to be affected by life-stage responsibilities, including childbirth and childcare, and enable them to continue their research activities. At the same time, with regard to employees, who are major stakeholders, we have set up greater opportunities for female employees to fully exert their capabilities. Efforts are underway to build a system in which all employees who are motivated and talented are able to sufficiently demonstrate their potential capabilities.

The world is currently faced with severe economic conditions said to occur only once in a century. Additionally, many issues such as global warming and poverty are a growing reality and remain unresolved. Nonetheless, because of these circumstances, we are required to always keep in mind a sense of gratitude and commitment to do everything we can to help each and every customer achieve the ultimate in beauty and emotional fulfillment, together with ensuring that humankind's one and only Earth remains beautiful forever. This is Shiseido's unwavering promise to customers worldwide.

June, 2009
Shinzo Maeda
President & CEO
Shiseido Company, Limited