Aspiring to support the health of
the planet and all living things

Hiroshi Narita
President and Representative Director

Guided by the ideals of Shirota-ism

In 1935, long before the concept of using beneficial microorganisms to promote human health gained global recognition, Yakult’s founder, Minoru Shirota, made a groundbreaking discovery.
He identified L. paracasei strain Shirota,^*1 which was capable of reaching the intestines alive and exerting beneficial effects. With the help of colleagues, Dr. Shirota used this lactic acid bacteria to develop Yakult, a fermented milk drink designed to strengthen intestinal functions and contribute to people’s health, and he began sharing this value with the world. Today, around 38 million^*2 of our dairy products are enjoyed daily by people in 40 countries and regions around the world, including Japan.

Dr. Shirota pioneered a value that was unprecedented at the time and expanded it globally with a spirit similar to today’s entrepreneurial startups. Guided by his founding aspiration “to contribute to people’s health,” we consider it our mission to carry on this legacy. We continue to develop and deliver products and services that support the health of people around the world.

*1 Until March 2020, it was classified as Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota.
*2 As of fiscal 2024.

Redefining material themes in line with our business strategy

The Yakult Group has always sought to address the prevalent social issues of the day. In recent years, Yakult 1000 and Y1000 drinks have been widely embraced as part of our efforts to offer solutions to modern-day health concerns like stress and sleep quality. In response to growing customer awareness of sugar and calorie intake, we introduced Yakult 1000 Toshitsu Off and Y1000 Toshitsu Off. Recognizing the importance of supporting the health not only of humans but also of companion animals, in 2023 we began working with another company to develop products using Yakult’s proprietary ingredients. This collaboration led to the launch of a supplement for cats in 2024, followed by dog food products in 2025.

These initiatives are just a few examples of our efforts to achieve the long-term goals of Yakult Group Global Vision 2030 (YGGV2030), established in 2021. YGGV2030 articulates our vision to evolve into a healthcare company that provides products and services to meet the diverse needs of people around the world. This vision is grounded in our corporate philosophy: “We contribute to the health and happiness of people around the world through pursuit of excellence in life science in general and our research and experience in microorganisms in particular.” To this end, we have established and are implementing long-term business strategies aligned with the following three qualitative goals: deliver good health to as many people as possible around the world, offer customers new value that matches their needs, and realize a society in which people and the planet co-exist.

In 2025, four years after establishing YGGV2030, we announced our Medium-term Management Plan 2025–2030, titled Paving the Way to Our Centenary. This plan positions non-financial strategies as a vital foundation for maximizing corporate value, with an emphasis on achieving sustainability through the strengthening of human capital and natural capital.

In line with this initiative, we have revised our material themes to better reflect the changing social environment and increasingly diverse issues confronting society. To ensure continued global growth, we established new material themes aligned with the three qualitative goals of YGGV2030, as follows:

Deliver good health to as many people as possible around the world

• Provision of safe and secure products and transparent information disclosure
• Value co-creation with communities
• Establishment of a resilient and sustainable supply chain

Offer customers new value that matches their needs

• Promotion of health initiatives rooted in local communities
• Creation of health value that meets diverse health needs

Realize a society in which people and the planet co-exist

• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Transition to sustainable plastic containers and packaging
• Sustainable water source management
• Biodiversity conservation

In addition, recognizing that people are the foundation for achieving these goals, we have newly established material themes centered on human capital supporting business growth.

• Worker health, safety and well-being
• Development of innovative human resources capable of delivering new value
• Embracing the diversity of our workforce

Concrete initiatives addressing material themes

Among the qualitative goals outlined in YGGV2030, the aspiration to “realize a society in which people and the planet co-exist” strongly reflects our belief that “in order for people to be healthy, everything around them must also be healthy.” This goal is linked to our four environment-related material themes, namely: climate change mitigation and adaptation, transition to sustainable plastic containers and packaging, sustainable water source management, and biodiversity conservation. Each represents a critical issue for the continuity of our business. Guided by our Environmental Vision 2050, which calls for management approaches aimed at achieving zero environmental impact across the value chain, we are advancing various initiatives, including the introduction of renewable energy and development of horizontal recycling systems for plastic containers and packaging.

The role of Yakult Ladies is deeply connected with four material themes, namely, value co-creation with communities and the three centered on human capital. In the context of Japan’s demographic shift toward population aging and declining birth rates, Yakult Ladies’ role within local communities continues to grow. Across the country, our marketing companies collaborate with many municipalities to engage in community-based activities, such as monitoring older adults living alone and supporting crime prevention efforts. Yakult Ladies thus not only contribute to customer health but also help deepen community ties. By building strong relationships, fostering trust in the Yakult Group and contributing to society, they represent one of our greatest assets.

We believe that addressing the 12 material themes described above will advance the achievement of YGGV2030 and the realization of our corporate philosophy, thereby enhancing the sustainability not only of the Yakult Group but also of society and the planet.

Deepening our commitment to sustainability management

Sustainability is a core concept that directly impacts our business itself. In today’s world, business continuity depends on management practices that account for the sustainability of the planet and society.

To this end, we have reinforced our governance structure for promoting sustainability. In 2024, we established the Sustainability Advisory Committee as a body tasked with deliberating on sustainabilityrelated measures and responses and reporting to the Board of Directors. This fiscal year, we merged the CSR Promotion Committee and the Committee to Address Plastic Containers to form the new Sustainability Promotion Committee under the Board of Directors. This committee is responsible for discussing and promoting basic strategy and measures for sustainability. By strengthening the oversight function of the Board of Directors, we are further advancing sustainability management.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Yakult’s founding, and we will be celebrating our centennial—a major milestone—in 2035. Yet when compared to the long history of Homo sapiens, even 100 years is but a fleeting moment. I imagine that the evolution of humanity, which has overcome countless diseases, has been greatly aided by intestinal bacteria. Much like space exploration, the study of the intestines remains a frontier with many unknowns, and there are likely many beneficial microorganisms that have yet to be discovered. I believe that new strains will continue to emerge, ones that will support the health of not only humans but also animals and plants.

Health is a universal, irreplaceable value for all living beings, transcending national borders and cultural differences. As a manufacturer of probiotics, we aspire to be a company that supports the health of the planet and all living things.

November 2025