Happy New Year!
I would like to thank you once again for your continued kindness and support during the past year amidst the great political and economic upheaval in the world. I am most grateful that we are able to start the new year together with all of you. I would also like to express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the Noto Peninsula earthquake in Japan that occurred on New Year’s Day and the plane crash at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on January 2, and my sympathies to all those who have suffered injury and damage.
As you are well aware, the natural disasters, conflicts, and wars in the past year have impacted people around the world tremendously, and made the international situation even more unstable and uncertain. Against this backdrop, we have launched a new business to further support the manufacturing industry, which is one of Japan’s strengths. Based on the trust we have earned from a number of our clients over the past 20 years as a service provider connecting diverse human resources, we have partnered with Nagasawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of mechanical locks, through an introduction by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), in this new initiative to introduce Japanese manufacturing products to North America.
Established in 1916, Nagasawa Manufacturing released Japan’s first mechanical button lock called the “Keyrex” in 1981, for which it holds patents in Japan as well as abroad. Digital locks can go down and even be hacked, but mechanical button locks are highly secure and more precisely made than locks found at chain hardware stores. These locks are used by schools and major Japanese companies such as East Japan Railway Company, and in the U.S., there has been a series of major investments related to cutting-edge industries such as semiconductor and electric vehicle (EV)-related industries, and as new facilities and factories are being built, we expect more companies to adopt Kelex, which can be used safely and securely.
This year, 2024, is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac calendar. The year of the dragon is said to be a year of new life, dynamic growth, and unexpected changes. 2024 is expected to see a slowdown in growth of the global economy as it deals with high uncertainty. In addition, with the presidential election coming up in November in the United States, a turbulent year is expected. It will be a year in which we will be like dragons flying through in the sky, but the Activ8 Group will not be distracted as we make solid progress toward our goals, and we will do what we think is right to survive together with our employees and customers. All of us at ACTIV8 would like to thank you for your continued support and patronage, and wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
Kengo Kaji
President and COO
Activ8 Recruitment & Solutions
