ASICS undertakes a variety of activities to maintain the good health of its employees, with a recognition that it is a part of creating an easy-to-work environment, ultimately leading to a higher level of productivity. In 2007, we focused on three areas, namely mental health care, smoking, and metabolic syndrome, for implementing various measures by the Health Control Section and Health & Safety Committee.
Although there was only one full-time nurse assigned to the Health Control Department until 2006, the number was increased to two in 2007. Now we have one full-time nurse each at the Tokyo and Kansai branch office to provide better assistance in health care. As a result, the level of awareness on health issues among the employees has risen and the number of visits to the Health Control Sections has increased.
We plan to enhance the health management system in the future, including a further increase in the number of full-time nurses.

Number of visitors to the Health Control Section, Head Office

	FY2006	FY2007
Physical health consultation	196	415
Mental health consultation	96	201
Couseling by a psychiatrist	18	19
Others (diagnosis, first aid, etc.)	409	465
Total number of visitors (cumulative)	719	1,100

■ Mental Health Care

We try to keep the mental health of employees in good condition by providing opportunities for counseling by psychiatrists and industrial doctors regularly. The Health & Safety Committee also offer seminars on depression to heighten employees' awareness.
Reportedly, there are more employees having anxiety, distress, or stress related to work and career and as many as 60% of Japanese workers suffers from stress of some sort. As a result, the number of workers committing suicide remains at the level of 8,000 to 9,000 annually.
We will put a priority on mental health and continue to work hard to promote better understanding of mental issues among the employees.

■Addressing Smoking Issues

We try to maintain and improve employees' health by separating smoking areas and introducing products that help people quit smoking. In particular, separation of smoking areas is important in providing a healthy working environment, leading to increased productivity. For this reason, the working environment is reviewed regularly and maintained to a desired condition. In order to encourage workers to quit smoking, we designate May 31, which is the World No Tobacco Day, as ASICS No Smoking Day every year.
In 2007, we further organized the ASICS No Smoking Marathon that calls for 43 days of no smoking at the head office. Although we only had two participants in the marathon, their comments posted on the office bulletin board with an interval of several days became a common topic of conversation within the company. For the year 2008, the marathon will be expanded to other offices as well.
According to the data collected using a questionnaire on smoking, 28.8% of the respondents were smokers, of which 63.8% said they thought of quitting smoking in the past. Some even said that they would like to participate in a no-smoking program if there was one in the company.

Comments of a participant it the No Smoking Marathon Fukuhiro Kato, Accounting Department

To tell the truth, this is the second attempt for me to quit smoking. Although participants were kept anonymous, announcing the intention to quit smoking publicly helped to keep me motivated for the entire period of 43 days.
My family are all very happy and are not fuming about me anymore. But I can honestly say that I am in a better shape than before and that is the biggest reward for completing the 43 day run for me.

■Addressing Metabolic Syndrome Issues

We had a follow up examination for all employees who received a doctor's remark in the health check performed in June and provided recommendations to change their lifestyles.
The number of doctor's remarks in terms of body-mass index (BMI) reflected a significant improvement from 2006 and the figure turned out to be lower than the national average according to the data obtained from the Hyogo Health Service Association. It is safe to assume that employees are becoming more health-conscious.
Starting in 2008, waist size is measured in a designated health examination and, depending on the risk of metabolic syndrome, health guidance will be provided to each individual according to the law.
We will continue our activities to increase the awareness of health among the employees who are diagnosed to have metabolic syndrome and those with a high risk of the syndrome.

Rate of doctor's remarks by examination item, for the head office (%)

	FY2006		FY2007
Examination item	Rate of doctor's remarks	Rate of doctor's remarks, national average	Rate of doctor's remarks	Rate of doctor's remarks, national average
Body-mass index (BMI)	13.2	11.7	10.8	11.9
Blood pressure	5.4	5.3	4.5	4.8
Fat	8.7	15.1	12.7	14.9
Sugar metabolism	4.8	6.4	7	6.9
Uric acid	8.2	6.4	8	6.7
Liver, gallbladder, and pancreas	8.5	10	7.1	10.2
Anemia	3.8	3.7	2.3	3.6

Rate of doctor's remarks, national average:
The percentage was calculated using the previous year's data on 140,000 people obtained from the Hyogo Health Service Association.

When a colleague or a visitor suffers a stroke, it is critical that proper treatment is provided during the several minutes before the arrival of an ambulance, sometimes determining the fate of the person. About 70 to 80% of sudden deaths from cardiac causes are said to be the result of having a fatal arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. Using an AED (automated external defibrillator), it is possible to eliminate the fibrillation by running proper level of electric current through the heart.
ASICS has added AEDs at the two major branch offices in Tokyo and Osaka, in addition to the head office, and letting all employees learn how to use it by providing emergency medical training for citizens.
In 2007, 40 employees participated in the training session provided at the head office building in May. (24 employees in 2006) Here are some responses from the participating employees: "The hands-on experience was useful in enhancing my knowledge," "I hope the company offers the same training to spouses," "the training was useful as I serve as a coach for sporting activities in the local community," etc.
In the fiscal year 2008, we plan to provide two training sessions at the head office and expand the AED installation and training to other offices.

Comments from the person in charge Manami Morita, Health Care Section, Human Resources and General Affairs Department

ASICS is a company that offers better health for customers and its employees should be able to manage their own health. I want to help to make that a reality.
The Health Control Section* wishes to provide comprehensive health care to each individual, in addition to improving the average level of health for the entire organization.
We would like to expand our activity to other offices with a determination to make the year 2008 the year 1 in ASICS health management.
* Renamed from previous Health Control Section in April 2008.