New Year's Message from the Chairperson for 2026

As the year 2026 unfolds, I would like to express my heartfelt greetings for the season.

Last year marked a major turning point for Japan, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Showa era, a milestone year for the country. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, held from April to October, concluded successfully with over 25 million visitors. We also witnessed significant national milestones, including the inauguration of the nation’s first female Prime Minister, the formation of a new framework of political administration, and the Nikkei Stock Average soaring to a record high exceeding ¥50,000. Simultaneously, challenges posed by the declining birthrate and aging population, symbolized by the so-called “2025 problem,” are becoming increasingly serious each year, and we are seeing natural disasters, including earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rains one after another. We sincerely hope for a prompt recovery so that all those impacted by these disasters can soon live in safety and peace. As the life insurance industry, we will continue to contribute through the provision of security and remain committed to offering meticulous and considerate support to everyone in need.

In a national pivotal moment, it is indeed the time for the life insurance industry, which has long provided a strong preparation and security for the future, to fulfill its mission. As such, we will further contribute to the improvement of people’s lives through honest and dependable business operations. With this determination in mind, we will continue to actively promote initiatives this year, focusing on the following three core points which I shared upon becoming chairperson in July last year.

1.Promotion of Customer-Oriented Business Operation

“Customer-oriented business operation” which pursue the best interests of the customers must be continuously acknowledged and prioritized as the basis of business operation. This year, we will continue to advance these efforts and further enhance their sophistication.

With regard to the “Viewpoints for Further Enhancement of Compliance Risk Management Structure Related to Direct Salesperson Channel,” a follow-up questionnaire survey was conducted in October last year to confirm the status of initiatives and measures for advanced enhancement at member companies. Based on the survey results, meetings for exchanging opinions among executives and representatives of member companies will be held to ensure a shared understanding across the industry that continuous efforts are essential to strengthen the compliance risk management structure.

With regard to insurance sales by independent agents, we implemented various initiatives including the establishment and revision of our guidelines, based on Amendments to Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision for Insurance Companies, to promote the establishment of relevant systems at member companies and the building of appropriate relationships with intermediary agencies. This year, “the amendments of the Insurance Business Act,” which was enacted in May last year, will be implemented. In preparation for its steady implementation, we will support member companies and commissioned agencies in establishing relevant systems, and work on pursuing the best interests of the customers as an industry as a whole, including independent agencies.

2.A Sustainable Society and Contribution to a Better Future

For the life insurance industry to further contribute to the improvement of people’s lives, we believe it is substantial to promote initiatives that create a “sustainable society” along with a goal to create a better co-existing future. We will carry out various related initiatives again this year.

In May, we are scheduled to hold a symposium to discuss “well-being,” which is recently discussed as a global index to represent the affluence of a nation, and to present information on the contributions of our industry.

In addition, we will compile the results of a survey conducted among member companies in September last year on efforts to eliminate unconscious bias and release as a report in February. Furthermore, we will compile and publish a report on efforts of the industry to address the issue of caregivers forced to quit their job. In March, we will hold a lecture and networking event for female leadership candidates of our member companies.

Through these initiatives, we will continue to make efforts this year with the aim of realizing an environment where everyone can enjoy an overall sense of well-being, including promoting further participation of women in the life insurance industry.

3.Dissemination of Information for a Sound Development of the Life Insurance Industry

For the life insurance industry to continue to hold a robust business and provide security to customers, it is important to earn customers’ wide understanding of our various activities. Therefore, we will make various efforts on dissemination of information again this year.

With the aim of promoting customers’ acquaintance with the various tasks and purposes of the insurance sales workforce and consequently supporting and encouraging sales representatives to achieve further success, we invited the public to come up with a more affable way to represent them in September last year. The winner of the grand prize will be announced in February, and your attention to this initiative would be greatly appreciated.

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Showa era, we have released a material titled “Life Insurance Business in the Showa Era” today. This material traces the industry's history in parallel with major social events and organizes how life insurance companies have responded to the challenges of each era from a view of products they offer. Standing at this centennial milestone, the life insurance industry will, while inheriting its historical mission, continue to work toward the realization of a society where everyone can live in good health and with peace of mind.

On top of the above-mentioned three core points, we will continue to maintain our fundamental structure, so that the life insurance industry will be able to keep the customers’ trust, and to have a sound development. The life insurance industry will continue to request the expansion of the life insurance premium tax deduction system to support and advance the various preparation needed for our people’s life security as well as to express our various activities both domestically and internationally.

This year’s zodiac sign is the Horse (午-Uma). The Horse is regarded as a symbol of “progress” and “leaping forward,” and has long been considered an auspicious animal as a sacred mount. With the hope that this year will be a positive and favorable one, as represented by the zodiac, this year as well, as Chairperson of the LIAJ, I am determined to move forward with strength, aiming to contribute to a better co-existing future by earning trust and reputation for reliability from society.

I would like to conclude my New Year message by wishing everyone a peaceful 2026.