On behalf of the BHN Association (BHN), I sincerely wish that this year will be a wonderful one for you all.

BHN was established in September 1992 with the belief that “information and communication are among the Basic Human Needs (BHN： elements that constitute the foundation of living, such as clothing, food, and shelter). This year marks the 33rd anniversary of our founding. BHN commenced its first support activity for the people afflicted by the Chornobyl nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union, now Ukraine. Since then, we have been actively engaged in a variety of support activities based on three pillars: social development, emergency relief, and human resource development, both domestically and internationally.

These activities have been made possible thanks to the generous support and cooperation of corporate and organizational entities, including the NTT Group, national and local governments, as well as individual members. For this, I express my deepest gratitude.

As we enter the New Year, it is worth reflecting on the current international and domestic situation. Throughout the world, calamity and turmoil continue to escalate. Extreme weather, and intensified natural disasters wreak havoc globally. The war in the Ukraine shows no signs of ending while conflict spreads in the Middle East and the civil war in Myanmar rages on. Unfortunately, in such circumstances, the number of poor, displaced, and marginalized people requiring aid for survival is on an ever-increasing trajectory.

Amid these challenging circumstances, we at BHN are committed to continuing and improving our support activities with renewed drive, drawing on the experience and knowledge gained from our various support activities since our establishment.

I humbly ask for your continued understanding and support of BHN’s activities throughout the following year.