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A Safe Plant Open to the CommunityThe Daikin Group does all it can to make its plants safe so that nearby residents can live in peace of mind. When there is noise or vibration from operations of a plant, we set up a number that residents can call so that we can quickly deal with any complaints. In particular, we make safety a top priority at the Yodogawa Plant, a chemical production facility located in a residential area. Through efforts such as risk assessment and near-miss training, we strive to eliminate the potential causes of disasters and accidents. We hold disaster prevention drills three times a year in cooperation with local authorities, and we have protocols for informing the authorities of any emergencies. At the Sakai Plant, in addition to talks with the local community association once a year, we are in close contact with the municipal government, police, fire fighting bureau, and labor standards office to maintain interactions with the local community and establish the Sakai Plant as a safe factory. At the Kashima Plant, which is located within an industrial complex, we engage in emergency drills and disaster prevention workshops together with other companies within the industrial complex. At the Soka Station, Daikin works towards safety and peace of mind for residents through activities with the local traffic safety association and crime prevention association. The Shiga Plant conducts regular emergency drills within the plant and also participates in the regional Fire-fighting Games and Comprehensive Disaster Management Training Corporate Games.
Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Prevention DrillsThe Daikin Group has measures in place should there ever be a natural disaster. Besides providing its factories as evacuation shelters in the event of a disaster, Daikin companies have supplies of food, water, and emergency equipment. Also, Daikin factory employees participate in joint emergency training activities with local fire departments, police, and industry groups. At the Sakai Plant, which is located by the sea, we have established codes of practice in case of tidal waves and tsunami. Furthermore, the plant has conducted nighttime drills in emergency contact, early response, and evacuation for night-shift work stations. The Shiga Plant has entered an agreement with the local government to provide aid such as participating in fire-fighting operations should a disaster occur. In the event of a disaster, the plant will dispatch its industrial medics and its fire brigade and will open its factory grounds as evacuation sites. At the Yodogawa Plant, we reinforced buildings to withstand a magnitude 6 earthquake and secured factory shelving and other furnishings to prevent overturning, thereby protecting employees and minimizing the impact damaged facilities would have on surrounding residents. We also have safety confirmation systems that can confirm the whereabouts and safety of all employees on-site within 20 minutes. At the Kashima Plant, a typhoon measures conference meets when storms are approaching to come up with ways to ensure safe plant operation and temporary shut-down. The Soka Station, Soka City, and five neighboring communities signed an agreement to cooperate in preparing for natural disasters, in which all parties come up with measures to implement immediately following a major earthquake. An expert panel of the Central Disaster Management Council of the Japanese government's Cabinet Office recognized the Soka Station as an outstanding example of a corporation acting as a bridge between local citizens and local government in supporting disaster relief. The Soka Station was also cited as an outstanding example at a United Nations conference on international disaster strategy in fiscal 2008. Participation in Volunteer Fire Fighting and Organizing a Regional Emergency Response Fire Brigade to Respond to Disasters by (Yodogawa Plant)
Thirteen employees at the Yodogawa Plant are taking part in fire-fighting activities as volunteer fire fighters for Settsu City, comprising a "special firefighting team". Unlike full-time firefighters who are on call all day, every day in case of fires, members of the Settsu City volunteer fire unit are locals who have other jobs. This means these people cannot always get away from their day jobs to fight fires. In response, Settsu City introduced fire departments with separate functions so that more personnel would be available on weekdays. Daikin and two other companies in Settsu with fire engines are taking part. As of January 2010, in the event of a major fire outbreak within the Setsu region, Daikin fire fighters drive fire engines to the scene and provide support under the direction of the Settsu City Fire Department. This is the first time in Japan that a corporate fire fighting unit is using its fire engines to help fight fires nearby, and it is drawing the attention of other local governments around the country. Also, Daikin has organized a regional emergency response fire brigade to be ready to respond in the event of a disaster. There are 140 local employees enrolled in this volunteer fire brigade, and in the event of an emergency, those who are at their residences or at work or otherwise available can form a response team as occasion demands.  Interactions with Local Communities (Japan)Deepening Interactions with Local Communities
Daikin realizes the importance of interacting with local residents as a member of the community. In 1973, Daikin became one of the first companies to create a Local Community Section within its organization, through which it has been deepening interactions with local communities. The Local Community Section has now been constructively dissolved, and instead, each company plant makes efforts to interact directly with local communities. Daikin's goal is to be a good corporate citizen that creates closeness among all people and works with communities in order to enrich lives and lifestyles. We will continue to value our relationship with nearby citizens and strive to be a company known and loved for its contributions to society. Also as part of efforts to be a trusted and valuable member of society, we hold factory tours, summer festivals, and other events to promote communication and understanding between Daikin and communities. Deepening Community Relations at the Summer Bon Dance Festival
The Daikin-sponsored traditional Bon dance festival is a major event attracting large crowds of locals every summer. Employees make the most of this chance to bring joy to citizens in this corporate-sponsored traditional Japanese event. It has become such a successful example of corporate citizenship that it has been reported in news around the world. The Bon dance festival began in 1971 as a social gathering for young employees of our Yodogawa Plant, and later expanded into a program open to the community and eventually grew to encompass the entire area. Today, the event attracts 25,000 participants and has evolved into one of Japan's largest corporate-sponsored Bon dance events. It is now established as a much-anticipated major summer event in the region. The 39th Yodogawa Plant Bon dance festival in fiscal 2010 was an enjoyable event for employees and local community members, with such highlights as an eco-candle display created by neighborhood children's groups, and hip-hop dance routines performed by neighborhood children. Special Guests, Setsu City Mayor Kazumasa Moriyama and Osaka City Mayor Kunio Hiramatsu, applauded the festival as an event that links community and industry. Bon dance community festivals are held at all Daikin bases in Japan. At the event at the Sakai Plant, local citizens' groups have stalls selling food and other goods. Locals take center stage as performances by high school brass bands and elementary school traditional dance troupes liven the proceedings. At the Shiga Plant, 7,800 local residents and industry associates participated in the festival. At the Kashima Plant, local taiko (Japanese drum) groups perform to help keep this traditional art alive. At the Soka Station, approximately 4,000 residents participate in the festival every year. Employees within the Tokyo Branch area apply to work at the Bon dance festival and gain valuable experience in dealing with the public. The Bon dance has also spread to Daikin's overseas bases: employees at our bases in the United States (Daikin America), China (Daikin Shanghai), and Belgium (Daikin Europe) organize Bon dance events for locals. At Daikin Europe, local members of the taiko (Japanese drum) team delighted about 2,000 locals with a spirited performance of this traditional art. The Decatur Plant of Daikin America in Alabama holds a festival intended to introduce more people to Japanese culture. For this event, the plant distributes specially designed traditional Japanese happi coats (anglicized as "happy coats"). Participants also enjoy the food stalls selling delicacies such as yakisoba and takoyaki. Now a major event attracting 10,000 visitors, the festival gains in popularity every year thanks to its friendly, welcoming atmosphere. By introducing people to Bon dance and other interesting and fun aspects of Japanese culture, such events help residents near Daikin bases understand our corporate culture and philosophy. Support for Rugby School
"All for one, and one for all." This indomitable spirit, typical of rugby players, carries lessons that Daikin seeks to impart to children. With this in mind, Daikin, the City of Sakai, the Sakai Higashi Police Department, Seikeikai Hospital, and Nippon Steel collaborated in 1987 to launch Sakai Rugby School. Daikin supports the rugby school's activities through provision of a playing field and other means. At the three monthly practices at the Kanaoka playing field, the children's cheering reflects discipline combined with fun. The Sakai Rugby School is among the toughest competitors in its games against other schools.
Kendo Training Hall for ChildrenThe Kendo Training Hall for Children opened in 1975 for elementary school children living near the Yodogawa Plant. The goal of the school is to promote health through the martial art of kendo. Daikin employees who hold kendo rankings (dan) provide the instruction. When the school opened, expectations were exceeded when 108 children applied. Clearly, the school has been well received by local residents. In 1983, a new school —more than double the size of the original— was completed. Named "Yushinkan" by then-president Minoru Yamada, the school has since helped many young local kendo enthusiasts gain skills in this outstanding sport. Excited young voices can often be heard within its walls. Conducting Neighborhood Cleanup and Tree-planting Activities
Employees at the Daikin plants in Yodogawa, Shiga, Sakai, and Kashima regularly pick up litter and pull up weeds in the surrounding areas. The Yodogawa Plant has a monthly litter pickup involving approximately 100 employees, and approximately 30 employees takes part in a yearly cleanup of local ditches in efforts to beautify the area around the plant. At the Shiga Plant, employees join in local neighborhood cleanups four times a year, and in fiscal 2010, employees planted 40 cherry trees within the factory grounds. The plant also donated six mature cherry trees to Kusatsu City. Through these activities, the plant is helping to create a greener environment. At Daikin Industries (Thailand) Ltd., 42 employees participated in a beach cleanup activity in December 2010. Conducting Factory toursWe open our plants to the community by conducting tours for the local community association and elementary school children. In fiscal 2010, Sakai Plant conducted factory tours for 364 students of three elementary schools. The Yodogawa Plant conducted factory tours for 148 students of two elementary schools, which were extolled by the teachers, who remarked that the children were delighted to see a model car running on fuel-cell batteries and an experiment in which a liquid substance transform into a white powder. The Shiga Plant also conducted tours for 156 students of one elementary school in Kusatsu city, for which the students sent letters of appreciation. We will continue to conduct such tours at each of our factories. Interactions with Local Communities (Overseas)Aiming to Take Root in ChinaOn the occasion of the Daikin Group's 10th anniversary of business in China in 2005, full-fledged social contribution activities were begun in earnest with the aim of making Daikin a locally rooted company. Daikin aims to contribute in the three areas of social welfare, education, and environment. Examples of Contributions
Other Regional Independent Activities
Charitable ActivitiesDonating to a Range of Causes: Art, Culture, Sport, Education, Etc.The Daikin Group donates money to numerous arts, culture, sports, and educational programs as part of its social contribution efforts. Besides donating on a regular basis for the promotion of culture and sports in Okinawa and the Daikin Industries Foundation to Promote Modern Art, we have in recent years been giving more to international exchange and cooperation causes as we strive to contribute to societies around the world. Daikin Aids Victims of Natural DisasterDaikin Group gives donations to help victims and contribute to restoration following earthquakes and other natural disasters. Aid for Victims of Natural Disasters in FY2010 Quinhai Earthquake in China
Thailand Northeast and Central Floods New Zealand Christchurch Earthquake Great East Japan Earthquake Helping the NeedyMcQuay International (U.S.) has a charity program in which employees and their families make donations to the needy in their communities.
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Philosophy
