Chairman's Message

Hidetoshi Yajima,
Chairman of Shimadzu Corporation

Since the founding of our company in 1875, Shimadzu has been faced with numerous, often drastic, economic fluctuations which have tested our ability to adapt and overcome adverse conditions. Without fai( we have successfully met the challenge of change through our willingness to embrace new ideas and technologies.

The strength of Shimadzu has always been that the technologies we pursue are focused on the welfare of people, society and the environment. This underlying virtue is expressed in our corporate philosophy of "Contributing to Society through Science and Technology" and in our operating principle of "Realising Our Wish for the Wellbeing of Mankind and the Environment".

As we begin the new millennium, in a time of economic uncertainty and political and social unrest, Shimadzu is resolved to give full expression to this philosophy and to fulfill our rote of developing exceptional technology and products that satisfy the changing needs of our worldwide markets.

To ensure this, we have prepared a strategy that will determine the course of Shimadzu in the new century - the "Shimadzu Strategy for 2001" - and we are already taking the first steps to bring it into practice.

Our vision for the 21st century embraces the expansion of our business, together with a continuing commitment to the betterment of society through the fulfillment of our corporate philosophy.

The "Shimadzu Strategy for 2001" addresses three prime areas of development. Firstly, the reformation of our corporate culture to encourage even greater freedom of creative effort, the initiation of corporate business ventures and the fostering of young

The "Shimadzu Strategy for 2001" addresses three prime areas of development. Firstly, the reformation of our corporate culture to encourage even greater freedom of creative effort, the initiation of corporate business ventures and the fostering of young and talented people. Secondly, the reorganization of our company's activities into core business areas to facilitate the consolidation of new businesses in the fastest growing market segments. Thirdly, the development of creative products through creativity-oriented production systems.

In the new century, we will put greater focus on the development of new products in expanding market areas such as environmental protection, medical instruments, business systems, home security, virtual reality and global positioning systems. In achieving this, we wilt foster the internationalization of our company and accelerate overseas manufacture and procurement.

White addressing the challenge of new markets and promoting the continuing expansion of our business, our objective will remain the creation of outstanding products that meet the needs of our customers with the highest standards of quality, performance and reliability.

We thank you for your continuing support

Hidetoshi Yajima
Chairman