Policy and basic philosophy
Human Capital Development Policy
As a trading company that builds new businesses and promotes a sustainable society, Kanematsu will acquire, train, and develop its human resources, striving to quickly and flexibly identify and adapt to change in order to nurture a “Kanematsu Persons” who is loved and chosen by our many customers and business partners through their prompt perception and quick response to change.
Overview
To embody the above values, we believe that our people must demonstrate outstanding character, encompassing the ability to act under any conditions, the determination to responsibly carry tasks through to the end, and the ability to communicate appropriately with business partners and others within the Company.
Kanematsu’s human resources value a robust spirit of adventure that includes an enthusiasm for developing new businesses and taking on challenges, as well as the ability to think in innovative ways needed to build new business models and develop new ideas not bound by existing concepts. Kanematsu will develop its human resources in accordance with its human capital strategy, built on a foundation of outstanding personalities to ensure sustainable value creation.
The values we uphold at Kanematsu
- Sense of purpose and responsibility for solving issues faced by customers, business partners, and society
- Imagination, ingenuity, and ambition to sow new seeds
- Sincerity in valuing mutual prosperity with customers and business partners
- Enthusiasm for work and team spirit to work toward common goals
Visual representation of our human capital basic policy and course of growth

Training System
Kanematsu University
Kanematsu University, a reinforced, more systematic version of previous training systems, was launched in July 2019. The university curriculum comprises three categories: general education, interpersonal knowledge and skills, and professional knowledge and skills. It also offers a wide variety of courses that are divided into e-learning and group training programs according to content. The program is designed to provide participants with the fundamentals, such as business manners and foreign languages, as well as specialized knowledge and skills, such as business investment, legal matters, and anger manage- ment, and is designed to develop the next generation of management professionals.
Overall Approach to Human Resource Development
Graduate School Program Goal for Human Resources(Employees with 11 to 15 years of working experience or equivalent are enrolled)
Concept
Learn advanced management expertise
Goal
- Has specialized management knowledge
- Has progressed from theoretical understanding of management topractical ability
- Specific knowledge of management strategy and M&A in multiple businesses
- Knowledge of corporate governance and risk management
- Practical skills in setting goals, operational management, team building, andhuman resource development
- Practical skills in mission formulation, developing medium- and long-termdivision strategy, and organizational design
Main training program:【Executive Management Training】
Kanematsu created a new executive management training system in FY2018 to foster the skills to operate businesses and organizations from an executive management perspective. In the first year, we implemented this training for general manager-level employees and then from FY2020 onward primarily for those enrolled in the Graduate School. The program aims to help enrolled employees develop skills in strategy formulation and human resource management and acquire the basic knowledge required as management professionals. With this program, we develop human resources capable of leading organizations and operating businesses as we strive to “acquire and expand added value.”
[Program Outline]
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Strategy formulation
Finance (accounting, M&A), corporate philosophy, strategy
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Human resource management
Organizational management, goals, evaluation, communication, compliance as a manager or executive.
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Acquisition of basic management knowledge
Harassment, corporate law, governance, overseas subsidiary management, SDGs
Undergraduate School Program Goal for Human Resources
(Employees
with 1 to 10 years of working experience or equivalent are enrolled)
Concept
Gain comprehensive basic knowledge needed for management
Goal
- Has the discernment of a business creator and manager as a next-generation management professional (global leader); can be entrustedwith actual business management in a management role
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Knowledge
Overall management knowledge, including management strategy,finance, and accounting
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Experience
Experience in a project management office and in organizationalmanagement
Main training program:【Business plan training】
Kanematsu Group aims to improve corporate value by further developing areas of strength, making new
investments for business creation, and taking on other new challenges.
Since 2007, Kanematsu has been providing business plan formulation training designed to equip participants with the necessary skills necessary for business creation, including the ability to develop and implement new business ideas and concepts. This training comprises two parts: a pre-learning section and a learning application section (group work) to cultivate and enhance expertise and information for business creation, taking participants from “understanding” to “being able to utilize” what they have learned.
[Program Outline]
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Pre-learning section
Critical thinking, management strategy, business planning, accounting and finance.
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Learning application section
Real-life business issues are selected as themes, with each team developing a business plan over a period of about six months and a final Companywide presentation being held.
Programs for Managers (not covered by KGU)
Evaluator's Training for Managers
Adaptation by the organization's leaders to changing times has a significant impact on
everything, from strategy formulation and implementation to improving organizational engagement.
This six-month training course is designed to help leaders recognize their roles and acquire management
techniques for the "new normal" era, with consideration to the changing environment of the times.
[Program Outline]
Participants learn important elements of organizational management such as leadership, psychological safety, engagement, and goal setting.
Training for Newly Appointed Managers (Not covered by KGU)
Employees newly appointed to manager positions review the knowledge and skills necessary to
protect the organization, including topics such as insider trading, health management of subordinates, and
harassment.
With regard to harassment in particular, training is provided on the measures that managers should take
when harassment actually occurs or is reported.
[Program Outline]
Human resources and labor management (diversity, dispatch law, labor
management,
health management, etc.), compliance, insider trading, internal control, harassment, etc.
Please click here for data on the monetary and time investment in human resource development (Non-Consolidated)
Development of DX Human Resources
Kanematsu is promoting DX to work with our business partners and overcome challenges as we strive to shift to businesses that conform to next-generation standards by leveraging digital and automation technologies in our supply chain. We believe the DX human resources that we are looking for require not only digital knowledge but also business knowledge. As such, we not only provide training to enhance IT literacy but also opportunities to interact with employees of group companies that specialize in digital technologies. With this initiative, we aim to develop human resources who can promote DX in line with the digitalization progress of our business partners.