To all of you who always support ISSJ,

 

Let us express the greetings of the new season.

2020 has begun. How did you spend the New Year?

It is expected that more people are going to visit Japan because of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo this year. There will be many encounters and full of discoveries which could be a great opportunity to bring a change into Japan.

 

Last year, ISSJ celebrated its 60^th anniversary since its recognition as a social welfare services. This is the 68^th year since its establishment in 1952. By the way do you know that Japan has more than 30,000 long-established companies with long histories for more than 100 years, and it is the biggest number in the world? Even more, there are seven companies that have been in business for more than 1,000 years. It can be said that a company can last so long because it’s been able to convey its tradition and ideas of its predecessors, but at the same time it has been always aware of its client’s needs as the times change.

 

Of course ISSJ’ main service is social work, so we do hope there are no social issues at all. The world where we don’t need to exist is the ideal. However we have to keep working as long as there are challenges in front of us. Rather than being based on social business or services, it is more important to explore how we can reach for those in needs. We will do our best to face “Clear and Present Issues” without being caught in the past.

 

2020 will be a year of change for ISSJ. We will keep trying to be more helpful to people.

We value the new viewpoints and ideas for solving problems while inheriting what we must protect. We would appreciate for your continuous support.

 

 

2020-01

International Social Service Japan

Satoshi Nagasaka