Stepping into New Challenges at Our 110th Anniversary — We Held the 2026 Kanesa Group New Year Kickoff Meeting!
2026.04.23
On April 5, 2026, the Kanesa Group held its New Year Kickoff Meeting at Sendai International Hotel.
The Kickoff Meeting is held every year and brings together all employees of the Kanesa Group. It consists of a “Ceremony” portion, where the year’s policies and slogan are announced, and a “Banquet” portion, where everyone deepens connections over food and various activities. With many manufacturers and partners joining us, this year’s meeting became an occasion for everyone to share, as one team, our resolve to take on challenges and grow toward the next era.
Below, we introduce some highlights from the meeting.
A Company’s Growth Is Proportional to the Sum of Its Employees’ Challenges
The Ceremony opened with an address from Kanesa Fujiwaraya President Masamune Sato.
[President Masamune Sato]
Despite the sluggish market across Tohoku, last fiscal year ended with truly excellent results. This is entirely thanks to everyone who has supported us, and I am sincerely grateful.
Centered on the Sales Department, the spirit of taking on challenges — the keyword of last year’s slogan — was visible everywhere. I felt this was a year in which new shoots of change took root within the Fujiwaraya Group.
Our slogan for fiscal year 2026 is “UPDATE — Hotter than anywhere, expanding the possibilities.” — that is what we have decided.
As last year, the focus on challenge stays the same. That is because a company’s growth is proportional to the sum of its employees’ challenges. And this year, the quality of those challenges matters even more. Rather than charging at things blindly, by thinking with your own head, acting, and reflecting on what you have felt, the path to your own happiness will gradually come into view.
That is why “UPDATE.” What we need is to renew, even a little, who we have been until now — to look at ourselves again.
I Want to Make Tohoku a More Attractive Place, Together with All of You
Looking honestly at yourself takes courage, because at times it means denying who you have been. That is exactly when we need our colleagues. Our customers, our manufacturers, and so many friends across the Kanesa Group are all here. More than anything, I want to make Tohoku into an attractive region together with everyone here today.
For that, the entire company needs to give off real heat. As our management philosophy says, in order to be useful to our customers, the Kanesa Group must become an organization that radiates warmth. Let us deepen the quality and quantity of our conversations even further. That is what will create new possibilities for the Kanesa Group going forward.
The Kanesa Group’s strength is human spirit, but being a little too good-natured can also mean holding back too much. This is not about being selfish — it is about communicating actively, with everyone aimed at the same goal. Casual chat is fine; whatever it takes. Just keep talking and crank up the heat of this organization until it gets uncomfortably warm. Let us make this a company where every one of us can feel, day in and day out, that our work is being of use to someone.
Good companies have good luck. Good momentum. Let us create that momentum ourselves.
And, believing in our limitless potential, let us keep evolving at top speed this year as well.
A New Step Forward, Together with the FY2026 Slogan
Next, Senior Managing Director Yukihiro Kariya of Kanesa Fujiwaraya announced the fiscal year 2026 policies and slogan, “UPDATE — Hotter than anywhere, expanding the possibilities.” was officially unveiled.
Then, awards were presented for long service and special achievement: 3 employees with 30 years of service, 11 with 20 years, and 1 with 10 years, along with 3 special-recognition awardees were called by name and presented with certificates by President Masamune Sato.
Finally, with everyone reciting the company affirmation together, the Ceremony portion came to a close.
Through the President’s address and the unveiling of the slogan, every employee was able to confirm the direction we are heading and to start the new fiscal year with renewed energy.
An Event-Packed, Lively Time Filled with Smiles
The “Banquet” portion that followed was full of highlights! In a warm atmosphere from start to finish, it became a deeply meaningful occasion that strengthened the unity of the Kanesa Group as a whole.
The Banquet started with a greeting from President Masamune Sato, followed by a toast from Gyohai Co., Ltd. President Shigeshige Sato. Glasses were raised all at once, and the room was instantly filled with a lively energy.
Throughout the venue you could see people striking up conversations with colleagues they don’t usually get to talk with, and enjoying a wide variety of food and sake.
Next, the newly established CPR Promotion Section (launched in March) gave a presentation.
It was a packed program: an introduction to the CPR Promotion Section, a look at the 110th anniversary commemorative Hi-Chew handed out to all participants, the unveiling of the official mascot character, and the announcement of the Kanesa Senryu Contest results.
The Hi-Chew was created as a keepsake to share inside and outside the company — designed with the playful wording “創業110チュウ年” (“110th ‘Chew’ Anniversary”) to lift the celebratory mood of our 110th year.
The unveiling of the official mascot drew great attention, and we will soon be inviting employees to suggest a nickname — looking forward to further developments to come.
Finally, the results of the Kanesa Senryu Contest were announced, as follows.
○ Grand Prize (selected by President Masamune Sato)
“Showing your face means it’s a drinking party, right? — wonders my wife.”
○ Special Prize (selected by Vice President Mariko Sato)
“Fujiwaraya — its smiles are the best in the world.”
○ Touched-the-Heart Prize (selected by President Shigeshige Sato)
“Is this one okay too? Not really — but I’d love to!”
The winners received their prize money on stage from the company’s leaders.
To everyone who took home an award — congratulations on these wonderfully Fujiwaraya-flavored senryu.
And to everyone who entered: despite this being our first attempt at the contest, we received many entries — thank you so much. The result was a great deal of excitement.
Next, our new hires and members who joined as mid-career hires last year introduced themselves. More than 40 people in total took the stage to introduce themselves, and the venue gave a warm round of applause to welcome them as the newest members of our team.
After that, the manufacturer-sponsored raffle began.
Our manufacturers had generously provided beer, whisky, champagne, and more, and cheers went up each time a winner was announced — the venue rose to a high pitch. As numbers were called, anticipation built, and it was a striking sight: the whole room felt like one audience enjoying the moment together.
The second round of the raffle featured many more prizes — gift certificates, earphones, gaming consoles, and more — keeping the venue lively from start to finish.
There were also song and dance performances from our employees, with plenty of laughs and applause along the way.
Finally, Vice President Mariko Sato gave the closing remarks.
“To everyone who has newly joined the Fujiwaraya family, congratulations and welcome. We hold dear what former-former President Shoji always cherished — ‘we want to deliver our products to our customers with a smile alongside.’ Having passed 110 years, let us continue building this new history together.” With those words, the Banquet portion came to a wonderful close.
Filled with smiles from beginning to end, this year’s meeting was a fitting and meaningful start to the new fiscal year.
Across both the Ceremony and the Banquet, we were able to share this year’s direction with every employee, while also deepening connections among colleagues — a truly wonderful time.
In this milestone year of our 110th anniversary, the Kanesa Group will continue to take on challenges, united as one team, with renewed determination.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support this year.
