Social Issues addressed by Sumitomo —Compass for the Future—

Sumitomo Mitsui Card × Development of the next generation

Enhancing financial literacy of young people
Resolving social issues through contactless payments

 Development of the next generation
In view of the continuing decline of Japan’s working age population, due to population aging coupled with a low birthrate, development of the next generation is an urgent issue that should be tackled by society as whole, with the private sector playing a prominent role. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, companies need to foster human resources capable of securing future prosperity while also ensuring that the country’s precious inheritance of technology and knowhow is handed down intact to the next generation. From the “Community” perspective, the fostering of people endowed with the qualities and skills necessary to exercise effective leadership in their communities is another important theme. Through the classes Sumitomo Mitsui Card offers at schools and universities, it is enhancing the financial literacy of the younger generation. Furthermore, by making donations associated with cashless payments called Visa touch payments, and thereby achieving linkage between a socially beneficial charitable initiative and the company’s business, Sumitomo Mitsui Card is supporting activities of NPOs and other organizations that are endeavoring to resolve social issues that arise in daily life and have implications for the next generation.

Sumitomo Mitsui Card aims to realize a cashless society that is convenient, safe and secure, and beneficial for all. As a key element in its initiatives to resolve social issues, the company is promoting financial literacy education for young people while advancing toward a cashless society based on its long-cultivated know-how in the credit card business.

Sumitomo Mitsui Card’s full-scale commitment to the provision of financial literacy education for the younger generation, whether at elementary and junior high schools, high schools, or university, began in 2016. The 2019 financial literacy survey conducted by the Central Council for Financial Services Information showed that the financial literacy of the Japanese is lower than that of their counterparts in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, and in particular, financial literacy of the 18 to 34-year-old demographic in Japan trails that of other age bands in the country.

Meanwhile, the age of majority in Japan was lowered from 20 to 18 on April 1, 2022. Since 18-year-olds will be able to sign credit card contracts without parental consent, they need to be financially literate in order to avoid getting into financial difficulties or becoming the victim of fraud.

The new course guidelines for high schools etc. introduced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in April 2022 include financial education in home economics classes, where students learn about asset building and financial products. The idea is that by thinking about the use of money, the concept of investment, and the importance of asset building, high school students will acquire financial literacy as they prepare to become adult members of society.

On the other hand, the burden on teachers who are called upon to provide financial education has become an issue in the educational field. In cooperation with local NPOs, Sumitomo Mitsui Card dispatches employees registered as instructors to schools to give classes. The content is customized in light of time constraints, the age of the students, and the needs of each school. For youngsters at elementary school, video content is being prepared in order to teach them how to use money wisely, thus creating opportunities for children to think constructively about money from a young age.

University students learn the ins and outs of sound personal finance
University students learn the ins and outs of sound personal finance

It has become commonplace for elementary, junior high, and high school students to bring their smartphones to school and to use IC cards as commuter passes and for small purchases. The many young people who leave home and live alone when they become university students are likely to shop online and subscribe to video streaming services.

Although the number of face-to-face classes and lectures has plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sumitomo Mitsui Card participates in online seminars sponsored by newspapers and other organizations and gives lectures on various themes, such as how to use money wisely and the transition to cashless payments, in order to enhance the financial literacy of young people.
In fiscal 2021, 5,810 elementary, junior high school, high school, and university students received financial literacy education provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Card.

Sumitomo Mitsui Card launched the Touch Happy initiative to help resolve social issues through business in February 2020. Under this scheme, the company makes donations to NPOs that are addressing social issues, focusing on support for “the future” and “children,” according to the number of Visa touch payments and official social media shares.

Seventh Touch Happy campaign “Marine Plastic Pollution”: Beach clean-up by UMINARI (left) Eighth Touch Happy campaign “Food Bank”: Food pantry volunteers by Second Harvest Japan (right)
Seventh Touch Happy campaign “Marine Plastic Pollution”: Beach clean-up by UMINARI (left)
Eighth Touch Happy campaign “Food Bank”: Food pantry volunteers by Second Harvest Japan (right)

Sumitomo Mitsui Card has already partnered with eight organizations that are working on themes such as children, food, disaster prevention, and marine plastic pollution, and made donations in support of their activities. For the ninth Touch Happy campaign on the theme of “forests,” the company partnered with “more trees,” an organization that promotes forest conservation and is also an SMBC Card Forests partner, to support the cultivation of broad-leaved saplings, which play a crucially important role in forestation designed to protect the environment. Some of these saplings will be planted in SMBC Card Forests, for which Sumitomo Mitsui Card provides support, in the form of tree planting and thinning, linked to the company’s promotion of online statements. Through donations to NPOs and other organizations working to resolve social issues in local communities, Sumitomo Mitsui Card is promoting Visa touch payments while helping to tackle these social issues.

Forest growth cycle
Forest growth cycle

Touch Happy initiatives won the Social Products Award 2021 bestowed by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products, which seeks to realize a sustainable society through promotion and dissemination of social products.

With “Have a good Cashless.” as its brand proposition, Sumitomo Mitsui Card has been providing various products and services such as numberless cards, V Point service, and cardless cards. In promoting a cashless society through touch payments and other innovations, the company aims to achieve linkage between socially beneficial initiatives and its business.

SUMITOMO MITSUI CARD
https://www.smbc-card.com/index.jsp
Since its establishment in 1967, Sumitomo Mitsui Card has been trailblazing the credit card industry in Japan as the pioneer issuer of Visa Card and a comprehensive settlement solutions provider championing cashless payment.
Having merged with SMBC Finance Service in April 2024, Sumitomo Mitsui Card has become the mainstay of SMBC Group’s payment operations offering a wide range of solutions covering the credit card, consumer credit, and transaction businesses. Offering enhanced products and services capitalizing on its strengths and attributes, including the customer base, expertise cultivated as a leading contender in the industry and the trust earned from customers, Sumitomo Mitsui Card aspires to be the customer’s first-choice “digital & innovation” enterprise supporting payments in every sphere.

Social issues addressed by Sumitomo Group companies

Decarbonization

Decarbonization

Read about initiatives to achieve a low-carbon society, aiming at net-zero greenhouse gas emissions since these emissions are implicated in global warming.

Supply chain

Supply chain

In view of ongoing globalization and the growing complexity of supply chains, companies need to respond appropriately to issues in supply chains.

New workstyles

New workstyles

The pace of workstyle reform is accelerating as the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted numerous companies to embrace novel ways of working.

Wellness

Wellness

For companies, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the crucial importance of employee health into sharp focus.

Climate Change

Climate Change

Accelerating global warming poses serious business risks. Accordingly, companies need to formulate strategies and implement specific countermeasures from a medium- to long-term perspective.

Electrification of mobility

Electrification of mobility

Spurred by efforts to reduce environmental impacts and in line with increasing social needs, replacement of gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles is accelerating.

Community

Community

Vigorous initiatives are afoot to tackle social issues by revitalizing communities and the interpersonal relationships that bind them together.

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty persists in contemporary Japan and the existence of child poverty is a grave concern.

Development of the next generation

Development of the next generation

In view of the continuing decline of Japan’s working age population, due to population aging coupled with a low birthrate, development of the next generation is an urgent issue.

Advanced Medicine

Advanced Medicine

The rapid progress in medicine in recent years is largely due to the efforts of not only universities and other research institutions but also of companies to develop cutting-edge technologies.

Local production for local consumption

Local production for local consumption

Numerous initiatives to promote industry and commerce at the regional and community level are underway, involving the use of renewable energy and thus contributing to decarbonization.

Food loss and waste

Food loss and waste

One-third of food produced is lost or wasted globally, amounting to about 1.3 billion tons per year. Food loss and waste is a pressing issue in need of a solution.

Planetary Health

Planetary Health

Companies are addressing a wide range of issues so that people and companies can coexist in harmony with the global environment.

Resilience

Resilience

In addition to natural disasters, there are various types of hazards whose nature, incidence and severity are changing with the times. Resilience and flexibility are indispensable in dealing with them.

Regional revitalization

Regional revitalization

Read about initiatives to achieve sustainable regional revitalization. The attributes and resources that each region can offer are leveraged to strengthen local economies and overcome the problem of population decline.

PageTop