CEO Message
Message
Profile
Our Vision and Mission
Our Determination
Towards a prosperous society vibrant with life
We are convinced that a future in which myriads of living beings coexist on this Earth while all people enjoy a prosperous life is created through the choices we make today.
We are determined to lead the way in building a bridge to this future society brimming with hope and opportunity.
We are determined to lead the way in building a bridge to this future society brimming with hope and opportunity.
Our Promise as a Bridge Builder
We will, through our business and in collaboration with a variety of partners, contribute to the creation of a prosperous society vibrant with life. In order to fulfill this promise, we will continue to convey messages, make proposals, and implement the actions required.
- Conveying Messages
With insight, we will point to the crucial issues of our time, conveying messages that foster hope and help people see and think in a new light. - Making Proposals
With foresight, we will help set the right direction for the future, proposing specific solutions and actions to our clients and partners. - Implementing
With commitment, we will act on our own and in collaboration with our stakeholders to achieve the greatest possible ripple effect.
Three Values and Three Returns
Our measure of success is not merely "financial value." At the same time, we aim to raise our ability to inspire real change - "transformation value" - and to expand the network with which we collaborate - "engagement value." Through the tireless pursuit of these three values, we hope to realize three forms of return from our business: "stakeholder return", "social return", and "future return."
The Five Golden Rules -Our spirit and values-
Our Guiding Principles
RULE1
Stay Positive
Be a constructive optimist - find an opportunity in every challenge.
RULE2
Action Breeds Results
Act proactively and honestly - the only way to expand influence.
RULE3
Pursue Breakthrough
Never be satisfied with the mediocre - quest always for the better.
RULE4
Exceed Expectations
Continue self-renewal and improvement - deliver results above the expected.
RULE5
Make a Difference
Do what is right and keep doing it - one day the world will move.
History
2000
Company founded by Takashi Kiuchi (former Chairman of Mitsubishi Electric America) and Peter D. Pedersen
Appointed Mitsu Kimata (former Deputy Ambassador at the United Nations) and Masami Atarashi (former President of Johnson & Johnson Japan) as outside directors
2001
Launched Ecocity21.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to ecological living
Initiated the ECOmmerce Ecomas Scenario Project, a cross-industry program designed to help organizations strengthen their capacity to respond to structural change through scenario planning, and to apply these insights to their vision and management strategies
Began the consulting business
2002
Invited U.S. sociologist Paul H. Ray to Japan and introduced the concept of LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), linking consumer well-being with sustainability
Developed and marketed environmental e-learning programs in partnership with Fujitsu Learning Media
2003
Launched the ECOmmerce Frontier Group (now known as The Frontier Network – TFN), a cross-industry network dedicated to exploring the frontiers of sustainability
Published the monthly magazine “The Bridge,” featuring contributions from leading authorities in the field of sustainability
Hosted the international symposium “Frontiers of Sustainability 2003,” introducing the UK’s SIGMA Project to Japan for the first time and inviting SAM, the evaluation agency of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)
Developed and launched the Sustainability Strategy Assessment Tool
2004
Launched the Japan SIS Project (SIS = Sustainable Information Society), a public–private joint initiative with ten leading ICT companies and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), aimed at promoting socially, environmentally, and economically balanced development
2005
Formed a partnership with the U.S.-based Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) to conduct Japan’s first bilateral LOHAS Consumer Study
Contributed to the founding of the SEMSaT Program (Advanced Environmental Policy and Technology Management) at Tohoku University Graduate School of Environmental Studies
2006
Introduced a telework system, enabling flexible and sustainable work practices
Launched the LOHAS Marketing Initiative (LMI), an initiative to integrate LOHAS values into corporate branding, communication, marketing, and product and service development
Co-authored and published the Report on the Scientific Basis of Sustainability (RSBS) in collaboration with Professor Ryoichi Yamamoto of the University of Tokyo
2007
Launched CSR Compass (now known as Compass for Sustainability), a membership-based one-stop service providing comprehensive CSR information
Became the first in Japan to launch a carbon offset business
Published the report “The Path to Authentic Agriculture,” offering recommendations for achieving sustainable agricultural practices
Developed and introduced the LOHAS Brand Assessment Tool
Implemented a company-wide flexible working system
2008
Hosted a dialogue session between HRH The Prince of Wales (then Prince Charles) and member companies of TFN (The Frontier Network)
A male employee took childcare leave for one year—the first such case in the company
2009
Established KanSeiKei (a coined term that combines the ideas of environment, growth, and economy), a network of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) committed to promoting economic growth through environmental business
Launched the “Intensive Seminar on CSR Management”
Co-founded the Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP), later transferring the secretariat to IGES (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies) in 2012
Introduced a long holiday system, allowing employees to take up to 10 consecutive days of leave to promote work–life balance
2011
Signed the United Nations Global Compact
Employees voluntarily participated in disaster relief activities in Yamada Town to support recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake
Launched a BOP (Base of the Pyramid) business support initiative utilizing JICA’s Preparatory Survey for BOP Business Collaboration, promoting inclusive business development in emerging and developing countries
Hiro Motoki appointed as President & Representative Director, and Ken Oikawa appointed as CEO & Representative Director
2012
Partnered with Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) to advance sustainable rural development in India
2013
Joined the Shared Value Initiative, organized by FSG, a nonprofit organization
2014
Launched the ESG Ratings Support Service, assisting companies in responding to and improving performance under leading ESG evaluation frameworks
Appointed Masaru Arai, then Chairman of the Japan Sustainable Investment Forum, as Special Advisor to E-Square
Joined the Japan Sustainable Investment Forum (JSIF) as a corporate member
2015
Joined the Natural Capital Coalition (now the Capitals Coalition), an international organization promoting the integration of natural capital into corporate and societal decision-making
Kenichi Tamura appointed as Member of the Board of Directors
2016
Signed the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
2017
Produced the Japanese edition of the “UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework Implementation Guidance”, the first comprehensive guidance to help companies report on human rights issues in line with their responsibility to respect human rights
2018
Contributed to the establishment of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) and joined as a participating member to promote climate action and the transition to a decarbonized society
2019
Expressed support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), endorsing its framework for climate-related information disclosure
Established a joint venture with Mt. Stonegate Green Asset Management, a Taiwan-based sustainability consulting firm, to provide Japanese companies with International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC)—a globally recognized renewable electricity certification scheme
Fully implemented Microsoft 365 across the organization
Launched the “Intensive Seminar on CSR Management – ESG Edition”
2020
Joined the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), a global initiative launched in New York by the United Nations Foundation and other organizations to support and assess corporate contributions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Expanded the telework system to promote flexible and sustainable work styles
Launched the online version of the “Intensive Seminar on CSR Management”, enabling broader corporate participation and learning
2023
Introduced a seven-hour workday system to promote employee well-being, productivity, and work–life balance
2024
Launched the “Intensive Seminar on CSR Management – Human Rights Edition”
2025
Rebranded the membership-based CSR information service “CSR Compass” as “Compass for Sustainability (CfS)”
Completed a comprehensive renewal of the corporate website
Social and Environmental Contribution
Global Compact
E-Square signed on to the United Nations Global Compact in November 2011. As a signatory, we support the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labor, Environment, and Anti-Corruption.
Carbon Offset
Since 2003, E-Square has undertaken carbon offsetting for major CO₂ emissions from its business operations, including office electricity use and employee air travel.
※Because the office building collectively purchases electricity and the company cannot independently select a renewable energy plan, E-Square offsets the resulting CO₂ emissions through certified offset programs.
※ Carbon offsetting means compensating for unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions—after implementing energy-saving measures—by using emission credits generated by verified emission reduction projects conducted by others.
Performance
For the one-year period from July 2023 to June 2024, E-Square offset a total of 85 tons of CO₂ emissions generated from its business activities through the use of forest-related carbon credits.
Approximately 90% of total CO₂ emissions during this period resulted from business travel by air and other transportation.
For the one-year period from July 2023 to June 2024, E-Square offset a total of 85 tons of CO₂ emissions generated from its business activities through the use of forest-related carbon credits.
Approximately 90% of total CO₂ emissions during this period resulted from business travel by air and other transportation.
