- Management Philosophy
- Credit Saison’s History of Business Transformation and Value Creation
- Value Creation Process
- Six Types of Capital
- Message from the Chairman
- Message from the Executive President
- Message from the Executive Vice President
- Transforming the Business Portfolio
- Overview of the First Year of the Medium-term Management Plan
- Second Year of the Medium-term Management Plan: Implementing and Verifying Efforts Aimed at Sustainable Growth
- Human Resource Strategy: Interview with the Executive Officer in Charge
- CSDX Strategy: Interview with the Executive Officer in Charge
- Sustainability
Message from the Chairman
We are committed to
building social infrastructure
that enriches people’s lives
through innovation rooted in
customers’ needs
Representative, Chairman and CEO
Hiroshi Rinno
Harnessing innovation amid change
The world today is witnessing a host of disturbing trends, including the rise of single-party authoritarian regimes and countries that place their own interest above all others. This is in turn leading to unprecedented levels of division in geopolitics, both political and economic concerns as well as individual values. When considering Japan’s role amid this sea of change, I believe it is vital for the nation to leverage its unique history and culture to foster multilateral cooperation and assert its presence. Should the world fall increasingly into political dysfunction, I would hope that the corporate sector would employ its strengths to bridge divisions and help resolve social issues.
Turning to the domestic economy, Japan’s economic growth rate has hovered around 1% since 1997, consistently placing us last among developed countries in terms of growth potential. Against this backdrop, Japan’s aging society and declining population is often viewed in negative terms. To the contrary, I would proffer that this seemingly negative aging society holds the potential to generate uniquely Japanese ideas, including the design and provision of inclusive financial services that draw on this reality.
Harnessing innovation amid change
The world today is witnessing a host of disturbing trends, including the rise of single-party authoritarian regimes and countries that place their own interest above all others. This is in turn leading to unprecedented levels of division in geopolitics, both political and economic concerns as well as individual values. When considering Japan’s role amid this sea of change, I believe it is vital for the nation to leverage its unique history and culture to foster multilateral cooperation and assert its presence. Should the world fall increasingly into political dysfunction, I would hope that the corporate sector would employ its strengths to bridge divisions and help resolve social issues.
Turning to the domestic economy, Japan’s economic growth rate has hovered around 1% since 1997, consistently placing us last among developed countries in terms of growth potential. Against this backdrop, Japan’s aging society and declining population is often viewed in negative terms. To the contrary, I would proffer that this seemingly negative aging society holds the potential to generate uniquely Japanese ideas, including the design and provision of inclusive financial services that draw on this reality.
While competition is part and parcel of business, innovation is a powerful tool for securing an edge. Credit Saison’s growth is grounded in its track record of creative destruction and ability to provide innovative financial services. At the same time, we have contributed to economic growth by providing Japan’s unique value to the world through both financial infrastructure and prosperity. With this in mind, I believe that the Japanese economy can achieve a level of growth that differs from that of the past by embracing new values and perspectives and expanding personal consumption, which accounts for roughly 60% of domestic GDP. Recognizing that DX and AI are key, I am convinced that our role is extremely significant.
Targeting new economic zone growth based on shared values
Credit Saison’s focus is on B-to-B business. While Japan’s cashless payment ratio exceeded the government’s 40% target in FY2024, with credit cards accounting for 80%, the share of credit card payments between companies remains overwhelmingly low. Adopting a cup half full approach, this would indicate payments between companies offer considerable potential for growth. Leveraging the strength of the American Express brand, we will work diligently to realize this potential. In addition, we are engaged in the credit guarantee business through collaboration with Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., TOKYU LAND CORPORATION, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., and close to 400 financial institutions. Our capital and business alliance with Suruga Bank Ltd. was also a by-product of our activities in this arena. Driven by the need to address customers’ concerns, we will work to resolve issues in the finance sector and contribute to the development of a sustainable society by integrating both bank and non-bank expertise and creating new financial services.
Our Global Business has steadily expanded into the Asia market. Most notably, our wholly owned subsidiary, Kisetsu Saison Finance (India) Pvt. Ltd., established in 2018, continues to exhibit remarkable growth. Kisetsu Saison Finance (India) Pvt. Ltd. is active in retail operations as well as a raft of in-house activities, including credit screening, lending, and collection. Taking also into consideration our efforts to develop financing methods that help the underserved*, including partnership lending in collaboration with FinTech operators, I am convinced that our expansion endeavors carry considerable significance. Moreover, we are contributing to regional economic growth by supporting the development of SMEs. Building on the success of our business model in India, we will take similar steps in other countries, including Brazil and Mexico.
* People and businesses that lack access to adequate financial services
Unlocking the future through the “power to be absorbed” and the “potential of human resources”
Recognizing the critical need to promote innovation, I have placed considerable importance on fostering a corporate culture that embraces challenge without the fear of failure, and securing human resources who are prepared to take on risks. In contrast to the belief that someone else will take action and the importance of an inward-looking approach, Credit Saison provides countless opportunities for its employees to think freely and to act on their own initiative. Having entrusted the Company’s day-to-day management to Executive President Katsumi Mizuno, my role is to nurture people who have the ability to excel and to support their aspirations. Quite clearly, a diverse pool of human resources with a broad array of views can help accelerate the pace of innovation and corporate growth. Alternatively, people with a uniform background are unlikely to inspire free thinking or fresh viewpoints and perspectives. At the same time, for women to thrive, it is not simply a matter of increasing their representation. Women must be allowed to demonstrate their individual strengths for an organization to prosper. Reading the biographies of people who are recognized as “geniuses” worldwide, an enormous amount of hard work and effort is a common thread that sets them apart from the pack. In addition to this effort, I would offer that the “power to become absorbed” is another prerequisite for success. Based on this understanding, I strongly believe that actively promoting young employees who possess this “power to become absorbed” will bring fresh energy and dynamism to the organization. Placing confidence in and entrusting our young employees while promoting ongoing dialogue will help connect our organization that continues to generate innovation to the next generation.
Meanwhile, the next generation of human resources must pursue not only economic prosperity but also emotional well-being. Here, the “potential of human resources” is an increasingly important factor in today’s digital society. In addition to understanding diversity as a matter of course, an ethical compass grounded in a liberal arts education and insights into social issues are absolutely critical. Similarly, while “the ability to uncover the right answer” is important, “the ability to ask the right question” is becoming increasingly significant.
Toward new growth as the result of innovation
The terms “leading edge” in our management philosophy, “leading-edge service company,” and “NEO” in “GLOBAL NEO FINANCE COMPANY” embody our commitment to creating customer value through creative innovation. True to its management philosophy, Credit Saison has continued to promote innovation by identifying customers’ needs that emerge from the gaps found in society. Our capital and business alliance with Suruga Bank Ltd. is a prime example. Moving forward, we will expand the DNA that we inherited from the former Saison Group as the Credit Saison brand worldwide.
Enriching people’s lives and shaping finance as social infrastructure is the very essence of our significance to society. Traditionally defined as the creation of credit, we will work diligently to transform finance into a new form of social infrastructure through integration with data and services, thereby supporting people’s lives and prosperity.
