Stakeholders Communication

Bridgestone has always embraced its responsibility to help advance sustainable development and solve social issues.

Through proactive communication with stakeholders, we seek to facilitate an accurate understanding of the Bridgestone Group and its business activities. We also use communication as a means of gathering information on the opinions, evaluations, and anticipations of stakeholders so that this input can be incorporated into business activities to achieve ongoing improvements with a view toward sustainable growth.

Given the global nature of its business, the Bridgestone Group is endeavoring to optimize all aspects of its communication activities by establishing systems for transmitting uniform messages with one voice.

The Bridgestone Group has emphasized communication with various stakeholders. We strive to clarify our responsibilities and the issues we face with regard to each stakeholder group and to utilize the ideal communication methods and venues accordingly.

The Bridgestone Group’s Communication Activities

Major stakeholder groups	The Bridgestone Group’s responsibilities and issues	Main communication methods and opportunities
Customers	Development of appealing products and services Swift provision of ideal response and support measures Appropriate information provision Effective management of customer information	Customer Communication Center Analysis, database compilation, and internal utilization of customer input Rubber and tire museum Bridgestone TODAY Transmission of information via websites and social media Daily sales and service activities Customer satisfaction survey conducted in the form of market surveys, etc.
Shareholders and investors	Maximization of corporate value Appropriate and timely information disclosure	Annual Shareholders’ Meeting Corporate governance report Reports related to Japan’s Corporate Governance Code Financial results review meetings and Mid-Term Management Plan explanatory forums Information disclosure through investor relations website Reports based on International Integrated Reporting Framework Explanatory forums for investors
Business partners	Fair and impartial transactions Promotion of CSR procurement	Daily procurement activities Procurement policy explanatory forums Establishment and implementation of procurement guidelines Supplier awards Distributer meetings (serving as venues for discussion with management)
Employees	Respect for human rights Promotion of diversity (diverse working styles) Utilization of ideal human resources and development of human resources Promotion of occupational health and safety and health and productivity management Facilitation of mutual understanding between labor and management	Employee satisfaction surveys Group and nomination-based trainings Personnel evaluation systems and career development consultation In-house open application systems Meetings between labor and management Transmission and sharing of information through in-house newsletters and intranet Meetings allowing for direct communication between employees and management Bridgestone Group Awards and other reward systems In-house events conducted in collaboration with Olympians, Paralympians, and other athletes
Local communities	Contributions to local communities Environmental preservation support through social activities Activities in regions with Bridgestone operating sites	Plant tours for community members Environmental and safety education activities Sponsorship and aid for local events Local events leading up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo2020 Volunteer activities in regions impacted by Kumamoto Earthquake Post-Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction support activities
Government agencies, industry organizations, and education institutions	Legal compliance Development of a safe and secure motoring society	Engagement with economic and industry organizations Engagement with government officials in countries of operation Participation in the Tire Industry Project operated under the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Interaction and exchanges of opinion with municipal government agencies Communication, coordination, and support through cooperation via industry-government-academia partnerships

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Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement Concluded with Ochanomizu University to Support Cultivation of Future Female Leaders

On January 9, 2017, Bridgestone concluded a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Ochanomizu University of Japan that was aimed at supporting the cultivation of future female leaders. Both parties share a philosophy of respecting diversity and providing support for increasing the available roles to women. Through the agreement, these parties will help cultivate women that can serve as future global leaders. This agreement represents the first industry-academia partnership Bridgestone has been engaged in that targets the development of female leaders.

On the day the agreement was concluded, a discussion panel commemorating the agreement was held that was entitled “Female Leaders Create the Future—Toward a Diverse Society.” Panelists included Kimiko Murofushi, president of Ochanomizu University; Bridgestone Corporation Global CEO and Representative Executive Officer Masaaki Tsuya; Masako Konishi, graduate of Ochanomizu University and general manager of the Residential Sales and Services Division’s Sales Marketing II Department of Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.; and Mina Aoyama, Ochanomizu University graduate and general manager of the Company’s Material and Products Evaluation Quality Assurance Department. Shukutoku University Professor Hiroko Nomura served as the facilitator of the event. At this panel, discussions about leaders were advanced based on the personal experiences of the panelists, who have all demonstrated leadership on various stages. The lively panel discussion drew more than 150 people, including representatives from the university and Bridgestone as well as the general public.

Mid-Term Management Plan Explanatory Forums

Bridgestone holds annual explanatory forums on its Mid-Term Management Plan (MTP) for institutional investors and securities analysts. At these forums, Bridgestone’s Global CEO and representative executive officer provides in-depth explanations of the MTP in their own words, and attendees tend to be very proactive in asking questions. Although Bridgestone’s MTP covers a five-year period, we institute yearly, rolling updates to this plan to reflect changes in the operating environment and our outlook for the future. We thereby aim to utilize this plan as an important tool for advancing reforms in the Group’s management. MTP explanatory forums are valuable opportunities to inform investors about our medium-to-long-term efforts to maximize corporate value.

Establishing and Enhancing Communication Structures

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Town Hall Meeting between CEO, COO, Department Heads, and Employees

Town Hall Meeting between
the CEO and employees
(Poland)

Town Hall Meeting between
the COO and employees
(Singapore)

The Bridgestone Group's new management structure, launched in March 2012, involves "communication," "bottom-up," and "teamwork" focuses. Under this structure, we are working hard to re-energize internal communication.

As part of these initiatives, we regularly organize forums at Bridgestone and Group companies outside of Japan where our senior management and department heads meet directly with employees, using the "town hall meeting" format. These meetings aim to bridge the gap between employees and senior management, as well as to share senior management's message across the entire Group. We are also planning and implementing a variety of communication opportunities, including study meetings and small group discussions between department managers and employees.

Direct Communication with Customers and the General Public

The Bridgestone Customer Communication Center gathers and analyzes customer impressions from inquiries and comments as well as assessments from the Internet and disseminates this information internally to corporate officers and other employees. This leads to improved products and services, while Group reports are used in an attempt to increase employee motivation. Bridgestone is also focusing efforts on communicating Company activities in an easily understandable way to customers and the general public using the Internet and other digital forms of communication incorporating images and video.

Plant Tours for the General Public

Bridgestone offers tire plant tours to the general public every year in Japan. Visitors can see how tires are made and how we contribute to environmental conservation throughout the manufacturing process.

In 2015, Bridgestone held 14 tours and welcomed more than 300 visitors.

Stakeholders Communication

The Bridgestone Group’s Communication Activities

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Establishing and Enhancing Communication Structures

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