To be "an impression-creating company"
When I assumed the position of President in July 2003, I set the mission of the company "to become an impression-creating company which widely transmits the appeal of Japan, both at home and abroad."   More than 800 events are held annually in our main halls alone, and people from various genres are using them.  Each event is invaluable to our customers.  How we can make such events fully impressive all depends on the staff in the field.
It is important to quickly respond to the field environment which varies from hour to hour.  Therefore, we are sticking to a concrete "field doctrine" - any ideas in the field can be immediately realized as I will take the final responsibility as the top - by creating a code of conduct for employees and promoting their consciousness.  I think this forms the base of building up an "impression-creating company" by ourselves and is the element of our successful management.

Success of “A Day of Enthusiasm” Music Festival
Secondly, I thought up a project which all employees could run together and with all efforts being made toward the objective.  I brought “A Day of Enthusiasm” Music Festival from France and decided to manage it by ourselves.  I felt it was important to experience, by ourselves, what a risk is.
We could never have managed this big a project with only our employees.  There are about 800 staff members from cooperative companies which support our company, such as stores, security and cleaning.  We asked these people to share our company philosophy and we made a united effort to work for “A Day of Enthusiasm” Music Festival.  Since we are a business organization, we have to create tangible and intangible profits.  It is important that all involved parties should compete and improve the quality of service, and yet cooperate with each other. 
Human wisdom is being tested as to how we can control various issues of economy, society and the nature in a fine balance and how we can create a wonderful harmony in the 21st century where diversity, complexity and multi-dimensionality are advancing.

Turn the gathering into joy with soft power
People from all over the world gather in the areas of Otemachi, Marunouchi and Yurakucho.  We are aiming to cultivate a graceful town culture, suitable to metropolitan Tokyo in the areas in front of the Imperial Palace, by competing with each other within these areas and by cooperating with each other.  The Tokyo International Forum will return our value-added fruits in various forms to the areas.  I think a soft power creates harmony.  “A Day of Enthusiasm” is one part of it, and we have to create a place where all the world can hold hands by understanding cultures, arts and traditions. 
We have many ideas, but when I start to think of what we can do from this place, as Marunouchi is the center of Japan, we can suitably illuminate the total town elegantly.  Tokyo Millenario had been held until last year and it was crowded with many people.  This year, a new illumination event will be held with cooperation in the area.
The Tokyo International Forum will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its opening in January next year.  By making it the first step for the coming 10 years, we would like to contribute to our region by planning impressive events where young and old can joyfully get together.

Front page and P.2-P.3 Photo: Hitoshi Iwakiri