As we welcome the year 2025, I would like to extend my best wishes to you all for a Happy New Year.
 First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of our member organizations and related parties for your continued support of and cooperation with our association.

 Looking back on last year, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck on New Year's Day, causing massive damage.
 Subsequently, in September, when restoration and rebuilding efforts after the earthquake had barely started, Noto Peninsula was again hit by a disaster, this time in the form of torrential rain caused by a low-pressure system and front.

 We would like to once again express our deepest sympathies to all those who have suffered as a result of frequent natural disasters that have occurred in various regions, and we sincerely pray for the earliest possible recovery of the affected areas.
 In response to these natural disasters, our association's member organizations are working closely with our members and users to quickly pay out funds, etc., to help those affected by the disaster rebuild their lives as quickly as possible.
 In the wake of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, approximately 170 billion yen in mutual aid had been paid out by our association's member organization as of the end of September last year, and it can be said that this aid is helping many victims rebuild their lives.

 The year 2025 will be the second "International Year of Cooperatives" established by the United Nations, following the first year, 2012.
 This is a call to take advantage of the opportunity to promote cooperatives, to raise awareness of cooperative practices toward the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and of cooperatives' contributions to social and economic development.
 I believe that this is a reappraisal of the role that cooperatives have historically played in social and economic fields around the world, as well as expectations of the organizational characteristics that cooperatives possess.
 As such, there has never been a time when the true value of cooperatives has been questioned more than now, and as a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the Kyosai businesses operated by cooperatives, we, in cooperation with our member organizations, hope to make this a year in which we will strive to enhance the significance of cooperatives and Kyosai business in society.

 The environment surrounding Kyosai business is undergoing drastic changes, including a declining population due to the falling birthrate and ageing population, ever more severe and frequent natural disasters, and advances in the use of generative AI and automated automobile driving technology.
 To continue to fulfill the great responsibilities of Kyosai business, each and every person involved in the business needs to respond flexibly to these changes in the business environment, and to reaffirm and embody the philosophy of Kyosai business based on the spirit of mutual support.

 With the support of our member organizations, we will continue to fulfill our mission of contributing to the stability and welfare of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, workers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and others in local communities by promoting the sound development of Kyosai business.

To keep pace with our member organizations and further strengthen cooperative Kyosai collaboration, we will continue to hold study groups and training sessions that meet the needs of our member organizations, and address policy issues such as cooperative-related legislation, do our best to respond to inquiries and complaints related to Kyosai projects, and act as a certification body for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
 We look forward to your continued understanding and support of our activities in the coming year.
 In conclusion, I sincerely hope that this year will be a bright, hopeful, and fruitful one for all of you.