CEO Message

I am Kazuya Oyama , and I am honored to have assumed the position of President & CEO of the Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc.

Since its establishment in 1924, our Group has remained firmly committed to the unwavering philosophy of “contributing to the national economy by resolving social issues.”

In every era, we have boldly taken on new businesses in response to the needs of the times and have continued to contribute to the development of our nation. Our history is, in essence, a history of continuous challenge and pioneering spirit.

I strongly believe that my mission is to carry forward this history and spirit without compromise and to “Pioneer the future for the next 100 years.”

For many years, Japan has faced a structural financial issue: the substantial amount of excess funds have remained idle in cash and deposits, rather than circulating sufficiently into consumption and investment.

For Japan, which is facing a declining birthrate, an aging population, and limited natural resources, the vast funds dormant within our country are a source of genuine hope for pioneering the future, I believe.

With the expansion of the NISA scheme, progress in corporate governance reform, improving market conditions, and the government’s clear stance on realizing a strong economy driven by growth investments, the shift from “Savings to Investment” has begun to accelerate as a national agenda in Japan.

However, even in the midst of this momentum, merely being carried by the flow will not create the future. We ourselves must take the initiative and act as a leading force in investment—creating a virtuous circulation in which “investment generates further investment,” and driving a major movement in which “the power of investment activates capital.” This is the challenge we intend to take on.

Achieving this requires not only revitalizing the investment chain, but also squarely confronting the structural issues that Japan is facing and contributing to its resolution.

For example, public pensions—which support people’s lives in retirement—carry structural risks of gradual loss in real value in an inflationary environment.

By expanding private pensions, such as corporate and individual pension schemes, our Group will help to alleviate people’s anxieties about the future and strongly support the realization of a society where individuals can invest with confidence.

Moreover, domestic capital investment has stagnated for some decades—particularly in infrastructure, energy, and environmental fields, which are critical to Japan’s sustainable growth.

By supplying long-term, stable funds—including pension assets—to society and strongly supporting investments that build the foundations of the next generation, our Group will contribute to strengthening Japan’s growth capability.

Amid escalating geopolitical risks, including the situation in the Middle East, and the rapid technological innovations, particularly in generative AI, the environment surrounding us is becoming increasingly complex.

In this opaque and uncertain era, predicting the future is more difficult than ever.

However, the future is ours to create.

Under our Purpose, “Trust for a flourishing future,” Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group will continue to contribute to the creation of a prosperous and sustainable future for all our stakeholders.

We hope you will look forward to the Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group as we pioneer the future of the next 100 years.

April 2026