Canon 2004 Annual Report Download - page 18

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Canon’s Approach to CSR
Canon formally introduced its corporate
philosophy of kyosei—“living and working
together for the common good”—in 1988.
The concept, partially embodied in the
beliefs of Canon’s founders, is that the
Company should thrive in conjunction
with the many communities where it
operates and through contributions to
society at large. Kyosei is the concept of
working for the common good together
with all races, religions, and cultures with
an eye toward harmonious living both
now and into the future. In other words,
the overriding objective of kyosei is to
create a sustainable society.
In 1996, Canon embarked on its
“Excellent Global Corporation Plan,”
based on the philosophy of kyosei. The
aim of this plan is not simply to increase
sales and expand business operations, but
to improve corporate value to the level
necessary to ensure sustainable growth.
The foundation for our sustainable
growth consisted of maintaining excellent
relations with stakeholders, such as
shareholders and investors, customers,
employees, suppliers worldwide, and the
The various activities that constitute the exercise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) are
exactly what we at Canon mean by kyosei. By conducting activities based on the philosophy
of kyosei, Canon is actively fulfilling its social responsibilities. Fujio Mitarai
employees. All are encouraged to realize
their ambitions, and Canon fairly com-
pensates personnel who have striven to
improve their skills and achieve their goals.
Building an excellent company requires
providing the opportunities for each
employee to make the most of his or her
true capabilities. Amid an environment
where a just and fair evaluation of each
employee's work is guaranteed, Canon
makes available a vast array of training
programs to support the development of
employees with special skills. Also, at Canon
Inc. training programs are provided for
managerial personnel to help them improve
their personnel development skills.
Canon and all of its managers and
employees recognize the importance
of abiding by the law and adhering to
corporate ethical principles. Canon fosters
a corporate culture that takes the law
and corporate ethics fully into account
in all of its activities and focuses on
enhancing visibility and soundness in all
of its endeavors.
Canon places importance on enhancing
the role of women in the workplace and
fostering the career goals of its female
employees. For example, Canon Inc. has
local communities where we operate.
At the same time, we are committed to
fulfilling our social responsibility and fully
understand the importance of improving
the transparency of management and
strengthening our systems for legal
compliance. Continuing efforts in the area
of governance help to ensure that Canon
achieves its management goals.
Corporate enterprises, particularly
manufacturers such as Canon, play a
vital role in furnishing the products and
services that enrich lives, promote happi-
ness, and enhance convenience for
consumers worldwide. At the same time,
Canon is firmly committed to building a
sustainable world that alleviates the
burden on the global environment, and to
balancing economic and environmental
needs in the manufacturing and market-
ing of its products.
Encouraging Employee Initiatives
To realize its aim of becoming a truly
excellent global corporation, Canon
requires each and every employee to be a
truly excellent person. At the same time,
in its role as an employer, Canon is in full
compliance with local laws,
cultural norms, and standards
for the workplace environment.
The Canon of today grew
out of broad-minded and
expansive thinking, and an
enterprising temperament.
To keep this corporate climate
fully alive and well, the
Company is careful to respect
the individuality and foster
the capabilities of all its
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