The ITOCHU Group's Mission
The ITOCHU group declares the spirit of “Sampo-yoshi” as our new corporate mission, which spirit originates from the message of our founder Chubei Itoh I (the merchant based in the former Ohmi Province of Japan (present-day Shiga Prefecture)).
This original business spirit has been passed down through the years from ITOCHU’s establishment in 1858 to the present day, and it will continue to be passed down to many future generations to come.
＊In Japanese, “yoshi” means “good”, and “sampo” means three sides, and these three sides consist of
(1) the seller (“urite”), (2) the buyer (“kaite”) and (3) society (“seken”). “Sampo-yoshi” is therefore:
“urite-yoshi” (meaning “good for the seller”)
“kaite-yoshi” (meaning “good for the buyer”)
“seken-yoshi” (meaning “good for society”)
We sincerely wish to contribute to solving social issues by not purely seeking to maximize our profits but also considering and responding to the expectations and trust of all of our surrounding stakeholders, including our customers, our shareholders and our employees. “Sampo-yoshi” is the business spirit by which ITOCHU aims to bring a positive effect into the world and to contribute to sustainable society for all.
(Note) The origin of “Sampo-yoshi” is that the merchants of Ohmi were permitted to promote business activities in the regions they visited due to their contribution to the economy of these regions with the spirit of “seken-yoshi” (meaning “good for society”) in addition to “urite-yoshi” (meaning “good for the seller”) and “kaite-yoshi” (meaning “good for the buyer”). Therefore, “Sampo-yoshi” can be said to be the roots of today’s idea of sustainability. This spirit is evident in the personal motto of Chubei Itoh I, “Trade is a compassionate business. It is noble when it accords with the spirit of Buddha by profiting those who sell and those who buy and supplying the needs of the society.”
The ITOCHU Group's Guideline of Conduct
The ITOCHU Group declares “I am One with Infinite Missions” as our new Guideline of Conduct.
These are words that realize our thoughts behind “Sampo-yoshi” and provide direction for ITOCHU Group employees in performing ideal business operations.
Each individual employee should consider his or her business conduct on his or her own initiative in order to deliver “what is required to the right person and in the right manner” and thus we will be able to fulfil our individual capabilities, a strength of ITOCHU. “I am One with Infinite Missions” is the words that represent such ITOCHU’s feature.
“I am One with Infinite Missions” is precisely the business philosophy of our founder, Chubei Itoh I, and the path to the materialization of ITOCHU Mission “Sampo-yoshi” (“Good for the seller, Good for the buyer, and Good for society”). As one of the representative trading houses in Japan, we will remain grounded in our merchant spirit, and complete our infinite missions aim for better business operations that are good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society as well as for a better future.