Yasushi Hatakeda

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. engages in the provision of financial services centered on banking. It operates through the following business segments: Wholesale, Retail, International, Market Sales, and Headquarters Management. The Wholesale segment covers business for customers of large and medium-sized companies in Japan. The Retail segment handles business for domestic individuals and SME customers. The International segment comprises of business for overseas Japanese and non-Japanese companies. The Market Sales segment corresponds to financial market business. The Headquarters Management segment includes all other businesses not covered by other segments. The company was founded in April 2001 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

The Japan Research Institute Ltd. is a 'knowledge engineering' company, a company that offers information services, through the coordinated application of its three functions, that is, information systems, consulting, and think-tank. As a systems integrator, the company offers services in information technology (IT) strategy planning, implementation and outsourcing for a broad range of industries and activities. The company is also active in research of both domestic and foreign economic issues and formation of policy recommendation, as well as consulting in fields, such as corporate strategies and public administrative reform. In addition, the firm provides analyses and surveys for incubation activities in the creation of new markets and industries. Through these operations The Japan Research Institute offers a vision to its customers towards changes in the economic and social environment as well as developments in the IT area.