Introduction

ITOCHU was founded in 1858 by Chubei Itoh I, a merchant involved in the linen trade. The base of Chubei Itoh I’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 I’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 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.”

Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture
Lake Biwa, as viewed from Ohmi Province
Chubei Itoh I may have looked upon this same scene on his way to and from Ohmi Province.