— For the nation to recover its spirits —  For the nation to recover its spirits 
it must think and act in terms of global it must think and act in terms of global 
relationships, and those with Asia in relationships, and those with Asia in 
particular.particular. — —
Ando : In the 1950s and 1960s, Japanese : In the 1950s and 1960s, Japanese 
society allowed a degree of leeway to society allowed a degree of leeway to 
those who wanted to realize their t ho s e w ho w a n t e d t o r e a l i z e t he i r 
potential [without good academic p o t e nt i a l [w it hou t go o d a c a d e m ic 
qualifications]. I did not go to university, qualifications]. I did not go to university, 
nor receive any professional training. nor receive any professional training. 
Nonetheless, I wanted to become an Nonetheless, I wa nted to become an 
architect and set up shop in Osaka. I architect and set up shop in Osaka. I 
found an entrepreneur willing to take a found an entrepreneur willing to take a 
chance on someone like me, and here I chance on someone like me, and here I 
am today. But this leeway has now grown am today. But this leeway has now grown 
much narrower. I think we must review much narrower. I think we must review 
where we stand now. I think we must view where we stand now. I think we must view 
Japan and Asia as forming a single Japa n a nd A sia a s for m i ng a si ng le 
economic bloc in the world.economic bloc in the world.
Kunibe : For SMBC to continue growing: For SMBC to continue growing 
in the longer term, I think we do indeed in the longer term, I think we do indeed 
have to focus on the global market,have to focus on the g loba l ma rket, 
in particular the Asian market. i n  p a r t i c u l a r  t h e  A s i a n  m a r k e t .  
Geographically and culturally, Asia is Geographically and culturally, Asia is 
close. Our expansion of commercial close. Our expansion of commercial 
banking operations to date is part ofbank ing operations to date is part of 
a growth strategy that also covers Asia. a growth strategy that also covers Asia. 
We think of Japan and Asia as being one We think of Japan and Asia as being one 
strategic region.strategic region.
SMBC intends to actively broaden its SMBC intends to actively broaden its 
scope of operations in Asia, Europe and scope of operations in Asia, Europe and 
the Americas. In that regard, we need to the Americas. In that regard, we need to 
consider our global communication consider our g loba l communication 
capabilities. That is to say, mastering capabilities. That is to say, mastering 
languages such as English and Chinese, languages such as English and Chinese, 
and acquiring an international perspective,and acquiring an international perspective, 
so we can express and advocate our so we can express and advocate our 
opinions more clearly. I think these opinions more clearly. I think these 
things will be important. I do not think things will be important. I do not think 
we will be able to achieve our vision of we will be able to achieve our vision of 
becoming a global corporation unless we becoming a global corporation unless we 
can work effectively in foreign languages can work effectively in foreign languages 
as we expand operations. For this reason, as we expand operations. For this reason, 
we are strengthening our foreign languagewe are strengthening our foreign language 
programs and increasing the number of programs and increasing the number of 
employees capable of working around the employees capable of working around the 
world, as a matter of urgency.world, as a matter of urgency.
Miyata : In Asia today, there are a variety : In Asia today, there are a variety 
of infrastructure projects. Of course, of infrastructure projects. Of course, 
supporting such projects is SMFGsuppor t i ng such project s is SM FG’s s 
fundamental business, but we also hope to fundamental business, but we also hope to