For we men and women of NAKANO, to judge our actions and way of thinking, we possess a "compass" to ensure we are always pointed in the right direction. This is "The 10 Article Guide to Conduct". There is a phrase "the best is imperative". It means that, because doing what is right is what is natural to do, this is proof that it is the best. Although, paradoxically, we could say that it is difficult to "naturally" practice what is "right" to such an extent.
These 10 Articles which carry the guide to our conduct, also, are by no means difficult to practice and all are only natural. However, in actual fact, it is the way of people that they can not do this easily. So, in order that what is right becomes what is natural to do, "The 10 Article Guide to Conduct" has been set up as our compass. We may not be a big company, but we are aiming to be an excellent company.
The corporate mark creates the image of NAKANO.
The corporate mark of NAKANO, designed from the first kanji character of the corporate name, shows the sensitivity and flexibility of NAKANO, and the mind of the brand of NAKANO to lead the drastically changing market in the beauty industry.
The brand statement accompanying the mark is “BRAND-NEW CREATION”.
It expresses the belief of NAKANO to always pursue new creative value to make the customer satisfied beyond their expectations.
To treasure more the things that must not be changed, and to change the things to be changed more drastically: NAKANO will answer the needs of the customer with various proposals.
It combines graphically that the first kanji character of the corporate name, and the company name in alphabet. The graphic design invokes a limitlessly expanding space as the future image of developing NAKANO. The form also expresses “the antenna” to symbolize that NAKANO widely catches information from every direction, that is to say, catches the needs of the customers or the changing times, and at the same time sends out information widely.
The corporate color of NAKANO is blue, called "NAKANO blue". Blue color has a clean and intellectual image. The clean and refined image and the color that expresses the intellectual and pioneering position of the company are needed to show the company stance of NAKANO to contribute to society through the beauty industry. Hence, the blue color is selected as the corporate color.
"BRAND-NEW CREATION" "BRAND-NEW" means "completely new". This statement explains the corporate attitude to always create new things, new functions and new value. The brand statement and the corporate mark are basically used in a set, however, they should be properly revised in line with current times.
NAKANO's Environmental Conservation Efforts
The Head Office of NAKANO is located in Kyoto, but our factory is in the adjacent Shiga Prefecture. Shiga Prefecture is home to Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, which not only is the water jug supporting the lives of approximately fourteen million people in the Kinki Region, but also possesses a natural environment inhabited by a great diversity of plants and animals. Lake Biwa was certified as a registered wetland by the Ramsar Convention held in Kushiro, Hokkaido in 1993 (the 5th Congress of the Ramsar Convention).
So, with our factory located in Shiga Prefecture, an area blessed with an abundance of nature, our Company has been conducting a variety of environmental conservation efforts from very early on. Several of these are introduced below.
Into the future also, at Nakano, we want to actively develop these kind of efforts toward environmental conservation from a global perspective.
With health improvement as our objective, at our company we strive for all of our company employees to be non-smokers.
For this reason, all of our company premises are completely non-smoking environments and, as well as our own employees, we ask that all clients and visitors to the company also refrain from smoking.
Now, with the spread of non-smoking worldwide and the right to be free from other's smoke becoming socially recognized, there is no getting away from the fact that Japan is a backward country when it comes to non-smoking.
Also, Kyoto, where our company is situated, is one of the world's foremost sightseeing destinations and, while it attracts many tourists, including visitors from abroad, the present situation is that it is lagging considerably behind in its response to the non-smoking issue. In this “backward country” on non-smoking, we can at least tackle non-smoking within our Company and, if possible, it is our desire to extend a circle of non-smoking outwards from the company into the wider community. To this end, for a long time the Company has been working on our Non-Smoking Movement.
However, grappling with this issue has been by no means an easy task.
We present the history of our Non-Smoking Movement below, and hope that everyone is encouraged to join us in the struggle for non-smoking.
With reference to our `No Smoking Movement`, regarding which more information can be found on the main page of the Website, Our goal has been not just to encourage a `No Smoking` culture among our employees, but also, in 2007 we collected 10,000 signatures as part of our attempt to lobby Kyoto Prefecture Taxi Companies to initiate a `No Smoking` policy in its vehicles. (We would like to thank all those who contributed to the petition). The petition was presented both to Seven groups in the Business community and also to City Hall via members of the City Council. From there the petition was passed on to the National Assembly via assembly members.
Our efforts have borne fruit. Last year, Kyoto Prefecture Taxi Corporate body, which consists of 60 companies of the kyoto Automobile Association (Fushimi Ku) passed a motion at their Directors meeting enforcing a `No Smoking` policy in all of its associated 6,500 vehicles from March 1st 2009. In light of the Directors decision, a specialist committee has suggested that regarding the enforcement of the `No Smoking` rule from March, every effort should be made to request all such businesses to take part. In addition, the Association has decided to encourage both Companies not affiliated with the Association and Individually run Taxis to incorporate the Ban with the hope that a complete `No Smoking` policy in all Taxis in Kyoto Prefecture can be put in place.
We hope that the successful introduction of a `No Smoking` policy in Taxis will not be limited to Kyoto Prefecture but will spread throughout the country. We are currently engaged in collecting signatures for a petition to ban smoking in all Bars and Restaurants through-out the country. With the collection of signatures and the presentation of this petition we hope to make some solid progress in our ongoing attempt to grapple with this issue.
As was posted on the homepage on 30 January, `Kyoto Prefecture Award for Tackling Health Issues in the Workplace` award ceremony took place on 2 February (Thursday) at 1.30 p.m. at Kyoto Prefectural Reception Hall.
The main criteria of the `Kyoto Prefecture Award for Promotion of Health Issues in the Workplace` were as follows: Each company must have “Implemented positive measures for the promotion of health related initiatives in the workplace. The award is designed to reward the efforts of Companies within Kyoto Prefecture who have grappled with various Health issues and have succeeded in elevating the awareness of such issues among their employees”. As an award for the promotion of Health related issues in the workplace, it is the first of its kind in Japan to be granted at Prefectural level.
In total there were 10 companies awarded prizes. At the Awards ceremony, after the opening remarks, Prefectural Governor Mr. Yamada presented the prizes, followed by a speech by the Governor, directed at the award winners. This was followed by the congratulatory speech by the Chairman of Kyoto Prefectual Assembly and the introduction of esteemed guests. After the formal closing of the event, the participants gathered together for a photograph. The Awards ceremony was followed by a `Networking` session. The committee directed constructive criticism towards the participants, which was followed by a discussion among the participants themselves regarding the nature of the issues each company had faced. One employee from each company outlined details such as what kind of problems they had grappled with, and from this point forward what kind of progress they hoped to make. Among the businesses who participated, there were a number who had instigated policies regarding Non-Smoking, such as separate Smoking areas and No Smoking policies. However, Nakano Seiyaku was the only company which had reached the milestone of having all employees as Non-Smokers. Regarding this initiative a number of questions were put forward by our fellow recipients.
Nakano-Seiyaku were honored with this award for the following reasons, as outlined by the Awards committee: “For 15 years Nakano has grappled with the issue of attempting to create a `No Smoking` culture within the company. Since 2006 all employees have been officially Non-Smokers; this policy also extends to those who enter the grounds of the company on official business. In addition, the Company has been actively involved in petitions aimed at the implication of `No Smoking` policies in both Taxis in Kyoto Prefecture, and restaurants and bars around the country. We recognize the positive contribution the company continues to make in this area”. From this point forward, Nakano-Seiyaku, based on the world standard, will continue to work on the promotion of a `No Smoking` culture, as well as attempting to deal with other health issues such as obesity. We will continue to grapple with such issues in our attempt to further promote a `Health Culture` both within our company and the broader society.
(on the left) Kyoto Preectural Governor Mr. Kenji Yamada.
(on the right) Nakano-Seiyaku Principal Director Mr. Akio Horie.
Prefectural Governor Yamada with the assembled members of the ceremony.