Heartful Kawauchi Co., Ltd. (Heartful Kawauchi), a special subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka), has received the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers (JEED) President's Award for 2024. This award, presented every September during Disability Employment Support Month, recognizes outstanding organizations that actively employ persons with disabilities.

Heartful Kawauchi was established in 2011 to create job opportunities for people with disabilities, offering them a place to fully demonstrate their abilities. The company received certification as a special subsidiary in January 2012 and has since been actively working toward normalization by promoting the employment of individuals with physical, intellectual, and mental disabilities. The company has built a robust support system, including qualified professionals such as in-house vocational counselors, industrial counselors, and certified psychiatric social workers who serve as supervisors. Additionally, Heartful Kawauchi offers sick leave and medical appointment leave separate from annual paid leave, as well as a structure where multiple employees are assigned to a single task, ensuring a workplace where employees can rest with peace of mind and work at their own pace. These efforts to create a supportive work environment for people with disabilities have contributed to stable employment. Furthermore, the organization actively participates in government-led initiatives to promote disability employment, organizes workplace tours and job training experiences with special needs schools and employment support organizations, and holds seminars and tours for companies struggling with disability employment. These contributions to the local community have been highly praised and culminated in this prestigious award.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical believes that a diverse workforce drives innovation and global expansion. As such, we position Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) as a key management strategy, respecting a wide range of values and fostering an environment where each employee can fully express their individuality and thrive. As a company in constant pursuit of innovation, we will continue to actively promote D&I initiatives, creating new value and enhancing our corporate strength through the contributions of a diverse workforce.

Employees with disabilities at Heartful Kawauchi engage in a wide range of tasks, including office support, printing, website creation and maintenance, packaging and shipping, factory cleaning, raw material transportation, tomato cultivation and harvesting. With six locations in Tokushima Prefecture, the company promotes a workplace where employees understand and support each other, easy to consult with one another and allowing each person to utilize their strengths.