ITOCHU’s Spirit That Goes Beyond Generations

ITOCHU maintains its mercantile spirit and a “sampo yoshi” management philosophy that have led the Company to overcome adversity over numerous generations for 160 years. Seeing unprecedented structural changes as business opportunities, we are boldly undergoing a process of self-transformation.
Even so, we will remain true to the values that we have followed since our founding. We will continue to fulfill our “infinite missions” for all stakeholders as we carve out a new history for ourselves.

Origin: 1858

Sampo Yoshi

ITOCHU was founded in 1858 by Chubei Itoh, a merchant involved in the linen trade.

The base of Chubei Itoh’s business was the spirit of sampo yoshi (good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society), which was a management philosophy of merchants in Ohmi, the province where he was born. That spirit is evident in Chubei Itoh’s personal motto, “Trade is a compassionate business. It is noble when it accords with the spirit of Buddha by profiting those who sell and those who buy and supplying the needs of the society.” This spirit has been carried down through the Company’s DNA to this day as “ITOCHU-style” sustainability.

The new head office, built in 1915 (Osaka)
The building was unusual at the time, being a large-scale building fitted with elevators and other modern equipment.

Present

I am One with Infinite Missions

The Corporate Message—I am One with Infinite Missions—comes to mind when pondering the corporate philosophy of “Committed to the Global Good.”

The Corporate Message incorporates our promise to society, that we will continue to provide the abundance that results from business activities, and it also incorporates diverse aspects “typical to ITOCHU,” such as the rich personalities of our employees, our free-spirited corporate culture, and “individual capabilities.” In this way, the Corporate Message expresses the values that must be shared by all employees as we take on further challenges.

Keeping ITOCHU’s spirit in our hearts and minds, we will aim for business activities to benefit the seller, the buyer, and society. In this way, we will fulfill our responsibility to society—our “infinite missions.”

Passing on the Management Baton

Chubei Itoh I

Chubei Itoh I

Chubei Itoh II

Chubei Itoh II

Takenosuke Itoh

Takenosuke Itoh

Uichiro Kosuga

Uichiro Kosuga

1949–1960

Masakazu Echigo

Masakazu Echigo

1960–1974

Seiki Tozaki

Seiki Tozaki

1974–1983

Isao Yonekura

Isao Yonekura

1983–1990

Minoru Murofushi

Minoru Murofushi

1990–1998

Uichiro Niwa

Uichiro Niwa

1998–2004

Eizo Kobayashi

Eizo Kobayashi

2004–2010

Masahiro Okafuji

Masahiro Okafuji

2010–

President & COO 
Yoshihisa Suzuki

2018–

Period of appointment as CEO
(after the establishment of ITOCHU Corporation in 1949)