To the representatives of the 29 organizations receiving grants from the Suntory Fund for Bird Conservation for the 2026 fiscal year: congratulations on this occasion. Established in 1990, this fund supports wild bird conservation activities both in Japan and overseas; thanks to your support, we are now marking our 37th presentation ceremony. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in supporting these efforts. As a company sustained by the bounty of nature, Suntory has been dedicated to bird conservation since 1973, adopting wild birds—which are highly sensitive to environmental changes—as our symbol.
Guided by the philosophy "Today Birds, Tomorrow Humans"—the idea that the well-being of birds today may lead to the happiness of humanity tomorrow—we remain committed to helping protect and nurture natural environments rich in biodiversity, including wild bird habitats. We look forward to your continued partnership and support.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Suntory Fund for Bird Conservation and to all the recipients of this grant for your ongoing understanding and support regarding the conservation of the natural environment. I also wish to extend my deepest respect to Suntory Holdings for its more than three decades of support for bird conservation activities both in Japan and abroad.
In March of this year, the Ministry of the Environment released its fifth Red List, revealing that the number of endangered bird species has risen by ten since the previous assessment, bringing the total to 108. Key factors contributing to this trend include the deterioration of bird habitats and the impact of invasive species.
On the other hand, there are species—such as the red-crowned crane—whose populations have recovered thanks to years of conservation efforts and habitat improvements, leading to their removal from the endangered list.
Your community-based activities play a vital role in the conservation of birds and their habitats. I look forward to your continued efforts and offer my heartfelt thanks.

Distinguished guests, trustors, trust beneficiaries, and everyone present here today—thank you very much for attending this presentation ceremony.
To begin, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the recipients of the 2026 grant. Congratulations on this achievement. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who worked so hard to organize this event. Thank you very much.
The projects selected for these grants were chosen following enthusiastic deliberation by the steering committee. We hope that our support will prove useful to your activities, and we are confident that you will achieve outstanding results.
Through the "Suntory Fund for Bird Conservation," we remain committed to working closely with you all to support bird conservation efforts and protect the natural environment in Japan and around the world. We look forward to your continued partnership.
I will conclude my remarks here. Thank you very much.