Happy New Year! I look forward to continuing to work together in the year ahead. 

 2025 marks the year of the Wood Snake, the 42nd position in the 60-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Wood Snake years are seen as a time for steadfast effort and ensuring stability in all endeavors. 

 “Wood” represents the second of the ten celestial stems and is symbolically associated with resistance or friction. According to ancient traditions, wood embodies a yin energy, symbolizing growth and expansion as plants gradually grow and spread. It symbolizes flexibility and cooperation, as well as the ability to move toward one’s goals, while maintaining harmony with the surroundings. 

 The Snake holds the sixth position among the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. Since ancient times, snakes have been revered as sacred being, often associated with fertility and prosperity. Their remarkable resilience, exemplified by their molting that renews and heals their skin, has made them a symbol of medicine, healing, and regeneration. This signifies that 2025 holds the promise of good fortune.  

 Businesses like ours may not be able to solve societal issues or make sweeping changes to lifestyles. However, by consistently making small efforts and evolving our organizational structure, we can enhance our ability to offer better products and services. 

I am positioning this year as a year of change, and will focus on contributing to both lodging facilities and local communities, while renewing the concept of “future quality”, with an emphasis on sustainable luxury. 

I look forward to your continued guidance and support this year. 

January 1, 2025 

Keiko Yamakawa,President and CEO