Kazuko Otsuki Messages

As a certified public accountant, I served at an auditing firm for approximately 20 years, during which time I was also part of the firm’s head division specializing in retail industry audits. I directly engaged with the management challenges faced by multi-store retail businesses. It was through this experience that I came to understand both the difficulty of coordinating between the head office and the front lines, and the importance of responding accurately to shifting consumer needs. Today, the retail industry is undergoing a major transformation, including diversifying lifestyles and rising e-commerce utilization. I believe that responding flexibly and swiftly to such external environmental changes will be key to achieving sustainable growth. As an outside director, I place importance on maintaining a constructive dialogue with the executive side of management, grounded in mutual trust while preserving an appropriate level of tension. I intend to draw on my expertise in financial accounting to contribute to the enhancement of corporate value. In particular, from a medium- to long-term perspective, I hope to fulfill my role as an Audit and Supervisory Committee member by promoting governance that emphasizes sustainability and remains unconstrained by conventional thinking within the Company.