2012 is a year Canon embraces new challenges.

In 2011, we faced many ordeals, beginning with the Great East Japan Earthquake. But Canon has always viewed a challenging environment as an opportunity for great advances. Addressing the needs of the changing times flexibly and with inspired ideas, we aim to return to a path of growth.

And to promote further growth, we will steadily move forward with Phase IV of the Excellent Global Corporation Plan, the company's medium-to longterm management plan launched in 2011, in accordance with our corporate philosophy of kyosei.

We aim to achieve the overwhelming No. 1 position in the world in our current business domains by bringing to market attractive new products and services in a timely manner.

In our marketing activities, we will work to strengthen our solutions and services businesses while boosting sales in rapidly growing emerging markets. In research and development, the source of Canon's competitive strength, we are focused on creating innovation in the U.S. and Europe, further developing our next-generation medical business and cultivating new technologies in the field of industrial equipment.

We will also work to achieve globally optimized production, the total optimization of companywide operational processes through the full implementation of IT systems, and the acceleration of the commitment to “quality first.” At the same time, we will give thorough consideration to environmental and compliance issues and work to cultivate human resources capable of leading efforts to realize these transformations as part of our activities to fulfill our corporate social responsibilities.

Through these activities, Canon seeks to grow and prosper over the next 100, or even 200, years with the goal of becoming a truly excellent global company that is admired and respected the world over.

As we move forward, we look forward to your continued understanding and support.