Contributing to Society

The Kobe Steel Group works hand in hand with society through community activities

 

To fulfill the Kobe Steel Group's responsibilities as a good corporate citizen, we continually engage in activities such as interacting with local people, contributing to the local community and protecting the local environment. We carry out activities such as these at all of our premises the world over, not just in Japan. We are committed to building stronger relationships between the Kobe Steel Group and local communities and working in partnership with the international community.

Kobe Steel

Kakogawa Works

Pumping up local events through the Kurogane Wadaiko Team

Based at the Kakogawa Works, the Kurogane Wadaiko (drumming) Team was created after the works' Assistant Managers' Association put on a wadaiko performance at the Kakogawa Festival. The team takes parts in events and festivals in and around Kakogawa and puts on a wide range of performances. A prime example is the Kakogawa Two-Day March, a walking event organized by Kakogawa City. Having first performed at the event in 1990, the team marked its 20th appearance in 2009.

The Kurogane Wadaiko Team putting on a performance

Kobe Works

Giving Christmas presents to care homes and other facilities

At the Kobe Works, we have been giving Christmas presents to care homes and other facilities for 32 years, ever since 1977. As part of a scheme spearheaded by the Foremen's Association, we give equipment such as electric appliances and wheelchairs, as well as sweets, to care homes and other facilities in Kobe's Nada and Higashinada wards. As a sign of appreciation for our activities, we have received the Hanadokei Award, which is presented by the Mayor of Kobe in recognition of everyday acts of goodwill towards members of the community, from the City of Kobe for 11 years in a row.

Giving Christmas presents

Nadahama Science Square

Organizing environmental classes for third grade students from Nagisa Elementary School in Kobe

At Nadahama Science Square, a community exchange facility operated by Kobe Steel, we organized environmental classes for third grade students from the nearby Nagisa Elementary School, including natural craft classes using nuts, twigs and other natural materials and readings of the picture book "Donguri Kaigi," which explains the forest ecosystem in simple terms. Environmental classes organized at the school's request during fiscal 2009 went down so well that we plan to continue with such activities in fiscal 2010.

A nature craft class using materials such as acorns and twigs (hall at Nadahama Science Square)

Fujisawa Industrial Operations

Opening up our grounds for an annual Summer Festival

We organize a Summer Festival at Fujisawa Industrial Operations in partnership with local residents' associations every year. We open up our grounds to the public and organize stalls, prize draws, song performances and other activities in an effort to promote interaction with local people and enable employees and their families to get to know each other a little better. Approximately 1,800 people took part in 2009. Having taken place every year since 1989, the Summer Festival has become an established annual event over the last 20 years and something that both local people and our employees look forward to.

Around 1,800 people enjoying the Summer Festival

Moka Plant

Cleanup activities at Kinugawa River

At the Moka Plant, we have been organizing cleanup activities along the local Kinugawa River twice a year, in spring and summer, since 2001. Young employees and employees' families voluntarily take part in such activities, which are spearheaded by the Foremen's Association with the aim of keeping Kinugawa River clean for future generations. Around 50 people took part in cleanup activities in October 2009, spending roughly two hours picking up litter from the river bed and the areas around sluices and drains and engaging in activities such as cleaning the inside of drainage channels. Such activities have been highly praised by the local government, residents and the media and were presented with a River Cherish Award in 2002.

A group photo after cleaning the river

Group Companies

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

Bringing together engineers of the future for the Junior High School Rescue Robot Contest

We organized the Junior High School Rescue Robot Contest in January 2010 based on the theme of lifesaving in disaster areas. A joint event organized by Kobelco Construction Machinery and Hiroshima University, the contest attracted a total of 80 participants, divided into 22 teams from 11 junior high schools around Hiroshima Prefecture. The aim of the contest, which took place for the sixth time this year, is for junior high school students to rescue dummies surrounded by obstacles using robots that they have made themselves to see who has developed the best lifesaving technology. Kobelco Construction Machinery came on board as the event's sponsor two years ago in an effort to foster children's interest in science. This year's contest also featured an exhibition match between a team of Hiroshima University students and a Kobelco team, which proved to be a real highlight for the junior high school students taking part.

Engineers of the future showcase their impressive knowledge and skills

Shinko Special Tube Co., Ltd.

Organizing cleanup activities amongst cherry trees and waterways alongside National Highway 2

For around 20 minutes from 8:00 a.m. on the first Friday of every month, Kobe Special Tube organizes activities such as picking up litter and weeding (depending on the season) around cherry trees and along waterways alongside National Highway 2 in front of the main gate. Part of the company's efforts to make the local area more beautiful, such activities have been carried out voluntarily by groups of roughly 30 directors and employees ever since 2003. As many people commute to work or school along the cherry tree lined highway, such activities have delighted local residents.

Picking up every last piece of litter underneath cherry trees

Hatano Plant, Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube, Ltd.

Sports tournaments for people with disabilities

Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube invites members of the Hadano City's Joining Hands Association (Te wo Tsunagu Ikusei-kai) to its Hatano Plant and organizes sports tournaments. Although this scheme was first organized by the labor union in 1989, the company also started to provide assistance, turning it into the joint labor-management initiative that it is today. Including family members, around 100 people take part in the tournament every year, competing in events such as ground golf and ring-toss and exchanging presents. As they don't often have such opportunities, members of the association really look forward to the event.

Participants enjoying a game of ground golf

Activities at Shinko Hospital

Shinko-Kai Association

Developing a trusted hospital that contributes to community healthcare

The Shinko-Kai Association (Shinko Hospital) started life as a clinic at Kobe Steel before breaking away and establishing itself as an independent community-based medical institution in 1998. Based on the hospital's vision to "develop our hospital to contribute to community healthcare and to be trusted by everyone," it continues to contribute to the development of a healthy local community through its medical activities. Key initiatives have included the establishment of a regional medical liaison office in April 2001 and an Emergency Center in September 2007. Having hosted a total of 51 concerts to date, including piano recitals and choir performances, the hospital makes every effort to promote interaction with local people and to earn their trust.

One of the hospital's regular concerts

Environmental preservation initiatives on Mount Rokko

Kobelco Systems Corporation

Organizing planting events to return Mountain Hydrangea grown by employees back nature

To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Kobelco Systems planted trees at the Healing Forest of Arima in 2007. Since then, it has organized planting events in the same spot every year. With backing from related organizations, events revolve around volunteer activities whereby Mountain Hydrangea, which employees have grown at home or in other locations from cuttings taken from Mount Rokko during late June, are replanted at the foot of Mount Rokko. 20 people took part in the third such event in November 2009 and successfully replanted Mountain Hydrangea grown by employees.

The third planting event, in 2009

Clean Hiking and Forest Caretaker activities on Mount Rokko

The Rokko Clean Hiking scheme combines explanations of plants and animals courtesy of the NPO Rokko Nature Learning with cleanup activities such as picking up litter. We have organized such activities twice a year since 2006 in an effort to encourage people to take better care of nature whilst also helping to protect the natural surroundings of Mount Rokko. Since 2009, we have also been involved in the Forest Caretaker scheme, organized by the Rokko Sabo Office, Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as part of which employees voluntarily engage in forest improvement activities on the south-facing slopes of Mount Kincho. We intend to keep on organizing activities as part of both schemes three to four times a year in the future.

Getting close to plants and animals and protecting natural surroundings during a Clean Hike Employees voluntarily taking part in Forest Caretaker activities

Nadahama Science Square

Organizing Nature Classroom activities themed around Mount Rokko

At Nadahama Science Square, we organize seminars on subjects such as plants on Mount Rokko and the natural environment in Kobe as an adult version of our Nature Classroom scheme. We have been running activities such as these ever since Nadahama Science Square opened in the hope of getting participants better acquainted with everything that the natural surroundings of Mount Rokko have to offer and encouraging them to think more about nature during the course of their everyday lives, raising levels of environmental awareness. During fiscal 2009, approximately 650 people took part in a total of seven seminars. The events proved popular with participants, who left comments such as "I understand flowers a lot better now"and "I learned a great deal." We also received numerous suggestions regarding possibilities for the future, such as "I enjoyed the seminar on wild birds and would love to see seminars on insects and animals in the future."

A seminar for people to learn about plants on Mount Rokko

Global Social Contribution Activities

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
Hangzhou Kobelco Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.

Donating uniforms, electronic pianos and other supplies to a nearby elementary school

The Kobelco Construction Machinery Group actively promotes social contribution activities in China as it continues to expand its operations. After discovering that the nearby Changshan County Xinchangxiang Duiwu Elementary School was struggling to provide an adequate learning environment, Hangzhou Kobelco Construction Machinery, one of the Group's members, voluntarily sent employees out to visit the school. In an effort to teach as many children as possible in order to support future generations, the company has also donated uniforms, electronic pianos and other school supplies, as well as establishing a new library and stocking it with a wide range of books. A ceremony was held at the school on June 8, 2009 to coincide with the date on which the supplies were donated. The children looked delighted to be wearing their brand-new uniforms.

Some of the many books donated to the newly established library The donation ceremony at Duiwu Elementary School

Iron & Steel Sector
Kobe CH Wire (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Employee volunteer activities providing basic education support in Thailand

Kobe CH Wire (Thailand), one of our Thai subsidiaries, has collected money, clothing, educational supplies and other items, from sources both inside and outside the company, and donated it to Ban Nong Kham School in Nakhon Nayok province. The company's employees carried out all activities voluntarily, based on the Welfare Committee's desire to provide resources that will be of use to students in order to improve basic education in Thailand. Ten of the company's employees took part in a donation ceremony at Ban Nong Kham School in January 2010.

Handing over donated items to the children

Aluminum and Copper Company
Kobe Precision Technology Sdn. Bhd.

Visiting welfare facilities and making donations

Employees at Kobe Precision Technology, one of our Malaysian subsidiaries, continue to mark special days such as Chinese New Year and Malaysian New Year by visiting nursing homes, facilities for disabled people and other such welfare facilities and giving donations in the form of food or money. During fiscal 2009, employees visited a nursing home on Chinese New Year and gave residents assorted confectionery and oranges, as is customary in China, and a donation of 3,000 Malaysian ringgits. Such activities always attract a great deal of attention and are covered by local newspapers every time.

Smiles all round after receiving so many presents

Kobelco Community Contribution Fund
Providing Support to Nine Cities and One Town under the Theme, "Children of the Future"

The Kobelco Community Contribution Fund was established in June 2006. Continuing work in fiscal 2009, the fund continues to provide support for children, in nine cities and one town where the Kobe Steel Group has operating facilities and laboratories: Kobe, Kakogawa, Takasago, Harima, Ibaraki, Fujisawa, Higashihiroshima, Moka, Inabe, and Shimonoseki.

Projects Supported by the Kobelco Community Contribution Fund in Fiscal2009

Region Recipient Type of Support Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture Children's home (1) Funding for the purchase of floor mats for aikido classes Children's associations (2) Funding for the purchase of frame tents to set up stalls for summer festivals Funding for the purchase of integrated DVD projectors and screens Youth development council (1) Funding for youth festivals Town development council (1) Funding for memorial events for the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Women's association (1) Funding for children's social events Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture Childcare support circles (5) Funding for the purchase of activity materials Volunteer group that enables children themselves to contribute to their local communities (1) Funding for the purchase of activity materials Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture Childcare support organization (NPO) (1) Funding for the purchase of teaching materials, play equipment, fixtures and fittings for after-school daycare facilities Harima, Hyogo Prefecture NPO that fosters youth development through the arts, culture and sports (1) Funding for the purchase of materials, equipment and other supplies for practical experience classes Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture Children's homes (2) Funding for the purchase of digital cameras and video recorders Funding for the purchase of athletic mats and drawing boards Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture Youth counselors association (1) Funding for the purchase of frame tents for events Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture Daycare centers (5) Funding for the purchase of digital height meters and infant height meters Moka, Tochigi Prefecture Elementary schools (18) Funding for the purchase of English teaching materials Inabe, Mie Prefecture Childcare support centers (6) Funding for the purchase of portable play equipment, tents and other items Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture Kindergartens (1) and daycare centers (4) Funding for the purchase of large strollers, large play equipment, picture books and other equipment and supplies

Examples of funding via the Kobelco Community Contribution Fund

Daian Plant (Inabe, Mie Prefecture)

Funding for the purchase of play equipment and tents for childcare support centers

At the Daian Plant, we continue to provide funding for the childcare support centers operated by Inabe City via the Kobelco Community Contribution Fund. During fiscal 2009, we provided funding for the purchase of portable play equipment, tents and other items for use at on-site centers set up by the childcare support centers in locations such as local parks and public halls.

An on-site center set up in a park

Takasago Works (Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture)

Funding activities in support of Takasago Kids Space

The NPO Takasago Kids Space engages in a wide range of activities aimed at helping to raise healthy children, including operating 12 after-school daycare facilities and providing funding for 31 childcare support groups in and around the city, organizing a range of events for children, and offering advice and support services for parents and guardians. At the Takasago Works, we provide Takasago Kids Space with funding for items such as desks, chairs, straw mats, picture books and stationery.

Children having fun at Takasago Kids Space

Moka Plant (Moka, Tochigi Prefecture)

Helping to improve access to English teaching materials for elementary schools

Moka City organizes English education at elementary schools as part of its efforts to nurture and educate a generation of international citizens. At the Moka Plant, we have been providing funding in order to improve access to English teaching materials (picture cards, books, CDs, etc.) for elementary schools in and around the city via the Kobelco Community Contribution Fund since fiscal 2007.

A class using easy-to-understand English teaching materials

Social Contributions through Rugby

Special Support for National High School Rugby Tournament

The 89th National High School Rugby Tournament, an event that has become something of a tradition over the New Year period, took place from December 27, 2009 to January 7, 2010. Fifty-one high school teams from around the country came to the Hanazono Rugby Ground, Japan's rugby Mecca, to do battle for the title of champion, to the delight of sports fans throughout the country. The Kobe Steel Group has continued to sponsor the event for five years, alongside the Kobelco Cup National High School Combined Team Rugby Tournament each summer, based on our desire to promote rugby as a sport and improve standards amongst high school players. On January 7, 2010, just before the final, the 2nd Under-18 Combined Team East-West Match also took place. Players on both sides were chosen from teams that participated in the Kobelco Cup 2009 5th National High School Combined Team Rugby Tournament during the summer of 2009. For many of the players, the chance to play at the hallowed Hanazono Rugby Ground was a dream come true and a genuinely inspirational experience. This year, we also organized a Girls' Rugby Sevens East-West Match on the opening day of the tournament as an exhibition match aimed at promoting women's rugby, improving standards and nurturing female players. In addition to showcasing the excitement of rugby sevens, which is to be included as an official event from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro onwards, the match also enabled female players to take part in the National High School Rugby Tournament for the first time.

The 89th National High School Rugby Tournament

Providing support for SCIX through rugby

SCIX (Sports Community & Intelligence Complex) was established as an NPO in 2000 with the aim of contributing to local communities through sport, based on the principle of providing the necessary environment and opportunities for everyone to enjoy sports. (The President of SCIX is Seiji Hirao.) Making the most of the rugby-related human resources at our disposal and facilities such as Nadahama Rugby Ground, we continue to provide support for SCIX' activities at Kobe Steel, including training via the SCIX Rugby Club, which was set up for people interested in playing rugby but lacking access to the necessary environment, and efforts to promote "space ball"devised by SCIX at elementary schools in and around Kobe.

Teaching children how to play "space ball"

Activities of Kobe Steel's Rugby Team

Top players take part in "Dreams and Instruction"scheme

Organized by the City of Osaka Recreation and Tourism Bureau, the "Dreams and Instruction"scheme (yume jugyo) involves top players visiting schools in and around Osaka during the summer holidays in an effort to encourage young people to stay healthy through sports. For the first session as part of the scheme, four Kobelco Steelers players ? Daisuke Ohata, Yukio Motoki, Yoshitaka Hayashi and Hiroshi Yamashita ? visited Osaka Municipal Miyakojima Technical High School on July 22, 2009. The Dreams and Instruction session began with the players giving a talk, revolving around Hiroshi Yamashita as one of the school's former students, and about the importance of having dreams, based on their own personal experiences. They then went out to the rugby ground for some on-the-field training with members of the school's rugby team. The team's three female managers were singled out for their outstanding contribution, having run around tirelessly in support of the players, and presented with T-shirts. The session may have been relatively short but it provided an opportunity for meaningful exchange and inspired all those budding athletes taking part.

A commemorative photo after training

Kobelco Rugby Festival 2009

We organized Kobelco Rugby Festival 2009 in July 2009 as an opportunity for players and fans to meet one another. Featuring a range of fun events for players and fans alike, including the annual touch-football game between league champion team and a team made up of Kobelco Steelers players and the chance to get to know players in person via the Kobelco Steelers Talk Show, the day served as an ideal "thank you"to all of the fans.

The Kobelco Steelers Talk Show

Donation to the Japan Spinal Cord Foundation

From their first season match in September 2008 until their final match in February 2009, the Kobelco Steelers collected donations for the Japan Spinal Cord Foundation at all of their games. To these they added part of the receipts from Kobelco Rugby Festival 2009 for a total of \384,497, which was donated to the Japan Spinal Cord Foundation on August 24, 2009 during a presentation ceremony at the Tokyo Welfare Center for the Disabled (Tokyo Shogaisha Fukushi Kaikan). Kobelco Steelers meanwhile have continued to make donations to the foundation for the last eight years.

The presentation ceremony