Survey of Corporate Reports in Japan 2023

KPMG Sustainable Value Services Japan issued a survey report on corporate reports issued by Nikkei 225 companies.

This is the 10th report after KPMG Japan issued its first report in 2014. We surveyed reported contents in the Securities reports, the Integrated reports, as well as the Sustainability reporting (including sustainability reports and pages related to sustainability on corporate websites) of Nikkei 225 companies. Then a comparative analysis was made between these three reports and against the results of previous years.

In this 10th survey, we focused on “Materiality”. In a world where a wide variety of sustainability-related issues impact the ability to deliver corporate and social sustainability, it is critical to consider the content to include in their reports using a common understanding of materiality which the board of directors and executive officers share as a starting point. Corporate reports which the understanding of materiality and the related corporate conduct can be clearly perceived will be the foundation for gaining the trust of stakeholders.

In addition, we also looked at key points regarding how Japan’s corporate reports, including both sustainability information and financial information, are meeting the expectations of overseas and domestic investors, and how companies are adapting to advances in reporting to be more useful in investor decision-making. These points included speeding up the timing of the disclosure of sustainability information, third-party assurance for improving credibility of information, and English language disclosure. We also looked at issues which will be discussed in greater detail in the future, such as climate change, human capital and diversity.

1. About the survey
2. Key recommendations
3. Materiality
4. Next steps for adapting to advances in reporting
   i.Timing of reporting sustainability information
   ii.Credibility of sustainability information
   iii.Disclosure in English
5. Thematic Survey
   i.Information related to climate change
   ii.Human capital and diversity
   iii.Sustainability Topics
6. Survey of integrated report
   i.About the Issuing Companies
   ii.About the Integrated Reports

Japanese text

日本の企業報告に関する調査2023

KPMG Sustainable Value Services Japan