and making it work on behalf of the and mak ing it work on beha l f of the 
community? How do you harness that community? How do you harness that 
power? In that regard, I would like our power? In that regard, I would like our 
group to be one in which employees group to be one in which employees 
believe that they have their own distinct believe that they have their own distinct 
role in such endeavors and through that role in such endeavors and through that 
find their work rewarding.find their work rewarding.
Kunibe : I wish the same for SMBC. I want : I wish the same for SMBC. I want 
our bank to be a vibrant place where our bank to be a vibrant place where 
employees work with a light in their eyes. employees work with a light in their eyes. 
I would be grateful for any guidance in I would be grateful for any guidance in 
this respect from Mr. Ando and experts this respect from Mr. Ando and experts 
from other fields.from other fields.
Presiding over the discussion wasPresiding over the discussion was
Mr. Eiichiro Adachi, Research Chief,Mr. Eiichiro Adachi, Research Chief, 
The Japan Research Institute, LimitedThe Japan Research Institute, Limited
Financial services: 
A strong helping hand for 
environmental businesses 
leads to sustainable 
development based 
on Japanese technologies
In addition to the many ideas sent in under In addition to the many ideas sent in under 
the “SPN” campaign with regard to supportingthe “SPN” campaign with regard to supporting 
reconstruction in the disaster-hit areas, some reconstruction in the disaster-hit areas, some 
employees said they wanted to go to the employees said they wanted to go to the 
Tohoku region to work as volunteers. ToTohoku region to work as volunteers. To 
support those wishing to do “what can be support those wishing to do “what can be 
done now” as a first step, SMBC set up a done now” as a first step, SMBC set up a 
framework to enable employees to takeframework to enable employees to take 
special leave for volunteer activities in the special leave for volunteer activities in the 
earthquake and tsunami area. This system earthquake and tsunami area. This system 
became operational in May 2011.became operational in May 2011.
To date, volunteers have been recruited not To date, volunteers have been recruited not 
only from the bank but also from other SMFG only from the bank but also from other SMFG 
Group companies. Based on needs identified Group companies. Based on needs identified 
by local government and volunteer centersby local government and volunteer centers 
in the areas concerned, SMFG staff have in the areas concerned, SMFG staff have 
been involved in voluntary activities such been involved in voluntary activities such 
as clearing mud from residential areas and as clearing mud from residential areas and 
concrete water runoff troughs alongside concrete water runoff troughs alongside 
roads, clearing up debris, and cleaning and roads, clearing up debris, and cleaning and 
restoring photographs and other personal restoring photographs and other personal 
items with memorabilia value.items with memorabilia value.
In July 2011, over 400 employees of SMBC In July 2011, over 400 employees of SMBC 
Nikko Securities — mainly 350 new hires — Nikko Securities —  mainly 350 new hires —  
were divided into three teams, each of which were divided into three teams, each of which 
spent one to three weeks on volunteer spent one to three weeks on volunteer 
activities in the disaster zone.activities in the disaster zone.
Many respondents in the “SPN” campaign Many respondents in the “SPN” campaign 
suggested that there should be more opporsuggested that there should be more oppor-
tunities to make donations directly andtunities to make donations directly and 
continuously to the affected areas. Just after continuously to the affected areas. Just after 
the earthquake, many employees at all grades the earthquake, many employees at all grades