SMFG has the following priorities in its SMFG has the following priorities in its 
corporate social responsibility program: corporate social responsibility program: 
Reconstruction after the earthquakeReconstruction after the earthquake 
and tsunami, environmental measures, and tsunami, environmental measures, 
addressing the shrinking and aging addressing the shr ink ing a nd ag ing 
population, and global challenges. —population, and global challenges. —
Kunibe : : Japan is facing a difficult period Japan is facing a difficult period 
with limited prospects for economic growth with limited prospects for economic growth 
due to a shrinking, aging population anddue to a shrinking, aging population and 
a mature economy. Against this backdrop,a mature economy. Against this backdrop, 
the country was hit by the unprecedented the country was hit by the unprecedented 
catastrophe of the Great East Japan cata strophe of the Great Ea st Japa n 
Earthquake. We must face up to the new Earthquake. We must face up to the new 
challenges arising from this disaster.challenges arising from this disaster.
I believe the time has come for us to I believe the time has come for us to 
reconsider what we can do in our capacityreconsider what we can do in our capacity 
as a financial institution to address a variety as a financial institution to address a variety 
of issues, including the four priorities.of issues, including the four priorities.
Today I hope we can discuss not only the road Today I hope we can discuss not only the road 
to reconstruction after the disaster, but also to reconstruction after the disaster, but also 
ways to uplift the nation’s spirits.ways to uplift the nation’s spirits.
Ando: Japan has achieved two miracles - the : Japan has achieved two miracles - the 
Meiji Restoration of 1868, and the economic Meiji Restoration of 1868, and the economic 
recovery following the end of World War II in recovery following the end of World War II in 
1945. Both events are also regarded globally 1945. Both events are also regarded globally 
as being miraculous.as being miraculous.
In 1945, foreign diplomats and businessmen In 1945, foreign diplomats and businessmen 
visiting Japan were fully confident that the visiting Japan were fully confident that the 
country would recover as they surveyed the country would recover as they surveyed the 
ruins and the scorched earth around them, ruins and the scorched earth around them, 
because, in the words of one of them, “People because, in the words of one of them, “People 
really work hard and help each other, and really work hard and help each other, and 
children take heed of what their parents say children take heed of what their parents say 
and study hard. And because there is a and study hard. And because there is a 
sparkle in their eyes.”sparkle in their eyes.”
Thereafter, the Japanese worked furiously Thereafter, the Japanese worked furiously 
until the country became an economic until the country became an economic 
juggernaut. However, in the early 1970s, juggernaut. However, in the early 1970s, 
people became complacent about their people became complacent about their 
affluence, and stopped working hard and affluence, and stopped working hard and 
making efforts. Children assumed that if they making efforts. Children assumed that if they 
went to a top-class university they would walk went to a top-class university they would walk 
into a top-class company and have nothing to into a top-class company and have nothing to 
worry about thereafter. So they started going worry about thereafter. So they started going 
to cram schools even before kindergarten.to cram schools even before kindergarten. 
I give lectures on the theme “students born in I give lectures on the theme “students born in 
and after 1980 are hopeless cases” (laughs). and after 1980 are hopeless cases” (laughs). 
That was because of the prevailing attitude at That was because of the prevailing attitude at