We would first like to express our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. We also extend our sympathies to those who have contracted the disease, as well as to their families, and pray for their full and swift recoveries. To the medical and public health professionals working with such selfless commitment on the front lines of the pandemic and to so many others, including those in production, logistics and sales, working to ensure the provision of essential goods, we offer our deepest respect and gratitude.

The Kao Group's first priority is the health and safety of all our stakeholders, including our customers and our employees and their families, and we are working hard to prevent the spread of the virus. As a company that has been committed to delivering products that support health, beauty and cleanliness ever since we launched our first product, Kao Soap, 130 years ago, we are united as one Kao and are working in collaboration with industry associations and business partners to provide the products and hygiene information consumers need to stay safe and healthy in their daily lives.

The Kao Group is complying with instructions from central governments and local authorities in all countries and areas where we do business. Although employees are working from home in most of our business locations, we have been able to continue production as planned. We continue to increase production capacity for sanitation- and hygiene-related products including sanitizers, hand soap, and bleach. In light of a significant increase in demand for sanitizers, in April we greatly increased sanitizer production capacity in Japan. Going forward, Kao will continue to work in close liaison with government and local authorities, industry associations, and other firms.

In addition, we have had many consumers contact us for advice and information on things like how to wash one's hands correctly and how to launder cloth face masks. On our corporate sites and social media channels we have published easy-to-understand information in multiple languages on lifestyle hygiene based on knowledge gained through many years of research.

We at Kao remain committed to the mission of our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, and we will come together as a strong, united organization to fulfill it. We ask our consumers, customers, and business partners to believe that everyday life, with all its simple joys, will absolutely return. Kao is at your side. We will get through this together.