A year-end gathering of the Sunco-kai, hosted by Sunco Industries Co., Ltd., was held on November 21 last year at Hotel Nikko Osaka. The Sunco-kai is an association made up of manufacturers that supply products to Sunco Industries, with the aim of exchanging information and fostering mutual growth. This year’s year-end gathering was held on a grand scale, welcoming 171 member companies and a total of 244 participants. The event opened in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Opening Address (Mr Yasuhiro Nishi, President of Nishi Seiko Co., Ltd.)
At the outset, an opening address was delivered by Mr. Nishi, President of Nishi Seiko Co., Ltd. and Chairman of the Sunco-kai. He touched on social topics that became prominent in Japan in 2025, including the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai*, as well as the achievements of Japanese athletes active on the domestic and international sports scenes. He then expressed his view that fasteners are also an industry Japan can be proud of. In closing, he stated, “Even as the yen is expected to continue weakening, we will remain steadily committed to manufacturing, and I hope Sunco Industries will continue to expand its exports,” concluding his remarks with words of expectation for the future of the fastener industry.
Speech by Mr. Yoshihide Okuyama, President of Sunco Industries Co., Ltd.
Next, President Mr. Okuyama took the stage and delivered a speech on the company’s performance in 2025 and its policies for the coming fiscal year. From March to October, the company’s sales increased by 101.6% compared to the same period last year, while the volume of products sold slightly declined to 98.3%. President Mr. Okuyama analysed this by noting, “Even though the sales amount is growing, the decrease in units sold suggests that the real economy lacks strength”, presenting a measured assessment of the current situation.
As the main theme of his speech, President Mr. Okuyama emphasised strengthening information sharing with Sunco-kai member companies and announced that, starting in early December 2025, the company will distribute the “SUNCO Trend Report”, which summarises inventory circulation, quantities, and shipment volumes at Sunco Industries. Unlike reports organised by individual products, this report provides an overview of supply and demand across the entire company and is scheduled to be distributed regularly at the beginning of each month. The report will be shared with all Sunco-kai members, and President Mr. Okuyama stated, “We hope that by providing an overview of the company as a whole, it will help you better understand the current situation.”
In addition, he announced plans to make available to members the company’s internal demand forecast data, which has long been used within Sunco Industries and summarises daily shipment volumes. President Mr. Okuyama explained, “By sharing the same indicators, we can discuss issues from a common perspective and make our work proceed more smoothly,” encouraging members to make use of the data.
Guest Address (Mr Yoshikazu Noda, Mayor of Higashiosaka City)
As a guest, Mayor Noda took the stage and spoke about the international recognition of Japan’s fastener industry. He mentioned the 3rd Japan International Art Festival, highlighting the diorama of the Grand Roof Ring made entirely of fasteners, which attracted attention at the festival. He noted that the exhibit demonstrated the high level of technology and quality of Japanese fasteners. Finally, he expressed that Higashiosaka City will continue to support the development of local industries, concluding his address.
This year’s Sunco-kai Year-End Gathering provided a valuable opportunity to share the current state of the industry and key policies for the coming fiscal year. In particular, President Mr. Okuyama’s speech, which emphasised creating a common language for business through data sharing to facilitate smoother operations, drew great interest from the participants. The Sunco-kai will continue its activities aimed at promoting mutual development among member companies and contributing to the growth of the industry.
* Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan was an international exposition held for 184 days from April 13 to October 13, 2025, on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka, Japan. It was the first World Expo in Osaka in 55 years and the first large-scale Expo in Japan since the 2005 Aichi World Expo. People and exhibits from around the world gathered in large numbers, and more than 160 countries and regions introduced their latest technologies and unique cultures through national pavilions.
Source: Sunco Industries Co., Ltd.
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