Greetings from the 2022 Regular General Meeting

We would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding of the activities of the Katsushika-ku Federation of Shopping Center Associations and the Katsushika-ku Federation of Shopping Center Promotion Associations.
At the 71st Regular General Meeting of the Katsushika-ku Federation of Shopping Center Associations and the 19th Regular General Meeting of the Katsushika-ku Federation of Shopping Center Promotion Associations, all the proposals were unanimously approved and resolved with the cooperation of our members. I am pleased to report that all the proposals were unanimously approved and resolved at the 71st General Meeting. I am pleased to report that all the proposals were unanimously approved and resolved at the 19th General Meeting.

Looking at the world today, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the resulting sharp rise in raw material prices and depreciation of the yen have cast a large shadow not only over the Japanese economy but also over the entire world. In addition, the future of the sixth wave of the new coronavirus is uncertain, and the future of the virus remains unpredictable.

On the other hand, I would like to mention some bright spots. First, the Katsushika City Council approved the budget for the new fiscal year for the eighth issuance of Katsushika Premium Gift Certificates as an expansion project of Katsushika City, continuing on from last year.
As in the previous year, 120,000 sets of paper gift certificates with Katsushika Premium and 20,000 sets of digital Katsushika Pay will be issued, both with a 20% premium.
In the Joto block, Katsushika's sales of premium coupons exceeded 99.5% of the total amount of coupons issued, and we also held three events, all of which were very successful and lively, surpassing the previous year's results, which are second to none of the other ward business associations.
This is due to the "Katsushika Premium Gift Certificate," which Katsushika Ward has issued for eight consecutive years. I would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Aoki and the Katsushika City Council for their courageous decision.
Thanks to your support, we have received many postcards from consumers, and we will hold the lottery again this year. We have received many requests to continue the lottery, and it is going very well. We are especially grateful for the support we have received from financial institutions, for which we are deeply grateful. We are steadily advancing preparations for the smooth implementation of the exchange sales starting July 1, after the open lottery.

Second is the events conducted by the Ward Chamber of Commerce. Recently, sales at the Katsushika Gourmet Championship Ja Pan Cup 2022 held in February this year tripled over the previous year. The participating bakeries are enthusiastic and working hard to produce new breads, and the ward residents are looking forward to visiting the participating stores, which is going in an increasingly positive direction.
In order to encourage more people to use the gift certificates with premiums, we, the shopping malls in Kameari, Kanamachi, Tateisi, Horikiri and Ohanajaya districts, including the Challenge Strategy Support Project of the Ward Chamber of Commerce and the Ward Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have devised various events aiming at synergy effects with the gift certificates with premiums, and this fiscal year, we will further This fiscal year, we will further brush up our events to surpass those of the previous year.

Third, not only Japan but the entire world is facing a major turning point. The aging of the population is accelerating, and we are facing a declining population. For this reason, the government must aim for a more efficient society, considering changes in work styles and new forms of growth.
Therefore, we must take on the challenges of DX (Digital Transformation = changing business, society, and lifestyles digitally) and the shift to a cashless society. Katsushika City has also adopted the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) established by the United Nations as a benchmark for its administration.

With the strong support of Katsushika Ward, we, too, will strive to be a "shopping district that lives in the community" and "a shopping district that supports the lives of ward residents" with job satisfaction and appropriate growth. Furthermore, we will cooperate and collaborate with the ward, various organizations, the police station, and the fire department to make it a safe and secure place for consumers.
We ask for the continued support and cooperation of Mayor Aoki and all of you.
In conclusion, I would like to conclude my address by wishing you all good health and prosperity, as well as the development of the Ward Chamber of Commerce and the Ward Craftsmen's Association.