Sustainability
Social Contribution Activities
Basic Approach
The NGK Group has established the NGK Group Social Contribution Activities Policy and will actively engage in various activities to realize a sustainable society.
We will help to solve social issues through our business activities in various regions across the globe. In addition, as a member of society, with the aim of being a corporate citizen trusted by local communities, we will strive to cooperate and collaborate with diverse partners and undertake social contribution activities in response to needs in each region.
The NGK Group’s social contribution activities are promoted by establishing the Social Contribution Subcommittee under the Sustainability Management Committee, and the General Affairs Department plays a central role in carrying them out. NGK collects reports from Group companies in and outside Japan on the social contribution activities they have conducted in various places. In FY2024, a total of 40 reports were received.
NGK Group Social Contribution Activities Policy
Social contribution expenditures
Number of social contribution programs
Number of collaborations with NPOs/NGOs
Breakdown of Activities
NGK’s Social Contribution Activities
Providing Assistance to International Students (People, Education, and Community Relations)
In 1998, NGK established the NGK Foundation for International Students to contribute to the development of global human resources. Through the Foundation, NGK continues to provide assistance with housing and scholarships to students visiting from overseas.
The impetus for the Foundation’s establishment stems from gratitude for the warm community support and hospitality shown to NGK’s first employees and families posted overseas after we established branch offices and representative offices back in the 1930s, as well as when we later expanded production and sales sites overseas. Our activities are conducted in the hope that the students will feel glad that they came to Japan and develop a fondness for the country.
In April 2022, this Foundation became a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation through deliberation by the Aichi Council for the Authorization of Public Interest Corporations. In FY2024, we provided housing to 35 students from nine countries, and scholarships (non-repayable) to 20 students from seven countries.
The NGK Foundation for International Students
Exchange Between Supported Students, Local Residents, and Employees
To advance international relations between supported students, local residents, and employees, since the year 2000, we have held annual exchange meetings where international students introduce their native languages and cultures. In FY2024 we held six exchange meetings at our dormitory and Ishiki Cosmos Futaebori Class (a Japanese class for foreign children living in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture and housed in one of the rooms of the NGK company dormitory). A total of 34 people participated, including residents living near the dormitory, and students and teachers from our Ishiki Cosmos Futaebori Class. Intercultural exchange meetings were held five times at our dormitory, and participants in the Ishiki Cosmos Futaebori Class were introduced to Chinese culture. As of FY2024 a cumulative total of 1,116 people have participated in such exchange meetings.
Communication After Support Ends
In FY2024, we distributed NGK International Friendship Club Members Cards to international students whose support had ended. In addition, to maintain relationships with international students who received support, every year we send New Year’s cards with updates on the Foundation and NGK to around 320 exchange students and alumni even after support ended.
Japanese Language Learning Support for Foreign Children Living in Japan (People, Education, and Community Relations)
Since 2022 NGK has been providing support for foreign children to learn Japanese. We are working in coordination with the Aichi Employers' Association and Central Japan Economic Federation. And we allow the private organization Ishiki Cosmos Support Study Group, based in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, and the MIRAI Project based in Handa City, Aichi Prefecture, to use our company facilities.
In addition, employees utilize our volunteer annual paid leave system to work as teaching assistants.
FY2024 Results
| Classroom | Location | Activity Time | Number of Children | Number of NGK Registered Assistants | Number of Times Held | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishiki Cosmos Futaebori Class | NGK Komaki Dormitory | Every Wednesday and Friday, 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | 14 | 21 | 95 | |
| Local Japanese Classes | MIRAI Project | NGK Chita Kosei Hall | Every Thursday, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | 10 | 10 | 45 |
| AiueOguchi in Oguchi-town, Aichi Minato Japanese School in Nagoya-city, Aichi Children’s Japanese in Nagakute-city, Aichi Kodomo nihongo hiroba in Higashiura-town, Aichi |
Differs for each class | Differs for each class | Differs for each class | 5 | - | |
Support for Wheelchair Tennis (People, Education, and Community Relations)
NGK supports wheelchair tennis as part of our support for persons with disabilities and for local sports.
We assist six wheelchair tennis athletes based in Aichi Prefecture in various ways, such as helping to fund their travel in and outside Japan. From FY2020 to FY2022, we established a new hard court and clay court and renovated the clubhouse and outdoor restrooms at the NGK Group company-operated Moronoki Tennis Club (located in Midori-ku in Nagoya City) to make them wheelchair-friendly, since the facilities are open to wheelchair tennis athletes and aficionados alike. We also built an indoor court for the club in FY2024 to provide a place to practice anytime, regardless of the weather. Moreover, NGK has signed an official supporter agreement with the Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association (JWTA), with whom we work to sponsor annual events, competitions, and other opportunities for expanding and developing the sport of wheelchair tennis. In FY2024, we cooperated in the Wheelchair Tennis Experience Program organized by the Social Welfare Corporation Nagoya City Rehabilitation Agency, held an opening event for our indoor court, and held an exchange event for “new mixed doubles*” athletes.
NGK’s exchange event for Moronoki Tennis Club school students, general users, and the wheelchair tennis athletes we support.
Reforestation Activities: NGK Minnano Mori Mizunami (Environment, Community Relations)
NGK carries out reforestation activities in the “NGK Minnano Mori Mizunami” forest (17 ha) owned by NGK in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture. We carry out these reforestation activities with the aim of contributing to regional development. In 2022, we signed an afforestation agreement with the Tono Seibu Beekeeping Association: Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture and established the Western Tono Beekeeping and Forestry Cooperation Promotion Roundtable to promote this initiative. Through these activities, we hope to create a rich natural environment, promote beekeeping which is one of the local industries in the Tono region, and create opportunities to interact with local residents and learn about the natural environment.
In March 2024, part of the “NGK Minnano Mori Mizunami”—an area of approximately 5.6 ha which includes spring-fed wetlands and hardwood forests of local origin—was designated a Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site by the Ministry of the Environment. In FY2024, we continued to fell hazardous trees, protect wetlands, take countermeasures against animal damage to preserve biodiversity, and create rich and healthy forest resources.
Also, we partnered with beekeeping operations to promote local industry, and aimed to raise environmental awareness through contact with the natural environment. To these ends, we conducted activities in cooperation with the Gifu Prefecture program “Creating forests in collaboration with companies” which included forest workshops, exchange events with the residents of Hiyoshi-cho, and the like. In addition, we cooperated with the local beekeeping association to collect honey from the apiary we maintain in “Minnano Mori Mizunami.”
Promoting Social Contribution Activities by Employees
Volunteer Annual Leave System
In April 2024, NGK established the volunteer annual leave system with the aim of supporting participation in volunteer activities by employees to promote their growth through social contributions and various experience. In FY2024, 27 people used the system, and spent a cumulative total of 309 hours on volunteer activities.