In September, NYK President Takaya Soga, accompanied by company executives, visited Kotohira-Gu Shrine in the town of Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture, to offer prayers for the safe operation of the approximately 900 vessels operated by the NYK Group and for the safety of the seafarers who operate those ships. Kotohira-Gu Shrine, a historic shrine revered as the guardian deity of maritime safety, has long been a traditional destination for NYK executives. This year, in a notable gesture, the delegation ascended the 1,368 stone steps leading to the inner shrine.

In fiscal year 2024, NYK made a donation to the preservation and restoration of the Asahi Shrine located within the larger Kotohira-Gu Shrine complex through the corporate version of Japan’s hometown tax donation program. During this visit, Soga and other NYK executives attended a ceremony at Kotohira Town Hall to commemorate this contribution. In recognition of NYK’s support, a commemorative stone inscribed with the company's and the president’s names was placed along the approach path leading to the inner shrine.