Unicharm Corporation

With long-term interest rates climbing above 3 percent, Japan's business community is experiencing a mix of caution and expectations for a halt in the yen's decline.小林健, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acknowledged that higher rates are tough for companies but stressed the importance of productivity improvements. Referring to the currency risk faced by small and medium-sized enterprises due to rising raw material costs, he said, "I hope the exchange rate will recover somewhat with this." Mitsubishi Motors President Kishiura pointed out the impact on auto loans and said the company is working to mitigate the effects of higher rates, while indicating that its growth investment plan of approximately 1 trillion yen over the four years through fiscal 2029 will remain largely unchanged. Infronia Holdings President Issei Kibe stated that the shift to a "world with interest rates" will test management capabilities, and he views it as an opportunity for differentiation. Kirin Holdings said it is monitoring the impact on funding costs but sees no significant effect at this time, while Unicharm indicated a policy of curbing funding costs in preparation for large-scale M&A.