The Art of Kyosei: An International Women’s Day Special
For those who are unfamiliar, Canon’s corporate philosophy is built upon two age-old Japanese words — 共生 — or Kyosei. It literally translates to ‘co-living’ and carries the meaning of ‘living and working together for the common good’.
Kyosei underpins who we are as a global corporation. It guides our belief in seeing all people living and working harmoniously together regardless of race, religion or culture. And speaks of a greater future where we coexist responsibly and sustainably with our planet and our society.
Simply put, Kyosei reminds us to be mindful of the world around us. And that includes our customers, our partners, our community, our planet. Everything we do has a ripple effect. And Kyosei guides us to make that effect a positive one.
Kyosei x International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day, we shine a special spotlight on the very art of Kyosei. We take a look at its influence through the eyes of seven inspiring ladies. Women who hold their own in their respective capacities; who see the value of Kyosei in shaping their lives and their communities.
So come with us as we hear their thoughts and stories on the art of Kyosei. And how they managed to take this age-old philosophy out of the corporate context and turn it into a purposeful way of living.
Shirley Lee, Senior Manager of Product Regulatory at Canon Singapore
Shirley Lee:
“Kyosei reminds me to live a life that is more connected to the environment and the people around me. It inspires me to create small but impactful differences, through my actions, for the greater good. In our busy lives, we tend to focus too much on ‘me’ and too little on ‘us’. So Kyosei is a reminder for me to approach life in a more mindful and compassionate manner.
At Canon, it’s our mission to strive to improve quality across the entire product life cycle. My role here is to ensure that everything we develop meets regulatory standards so our customers can be assured of products that are in line with responsible safety and environmental standards.
That’s how I contribute to our customers and our community.”
New Huifen, Shayna Ng, Bernice Lim, Cherie Tan, Daphne Tan
(Singapore Bowling Federation)
Singapore's National Women's Bowlers:
“We’ve grown so much with Canon as our major partner for the last 10 years. Their generous financial support has enabled us to nurture many batches of champion coaches and athletes. The state-of-the-art equipment they’ve donated to our National Training Centre has also enhanced the way we organise and publicise our events to delight bowling fans.
This, to us, is Kyosei in action. The partnership we have with Canon has elevated the status of Singapore bowling and helped place many of our bowling talents on the world map. Their achievements have instilled national pride and inspired aspiring athletes to achieve their sporting dreams. And we’re excited to see what other things we can achieve as we continue to move forward together!”
Lee Jia Wen, Content Producer
Jia Wen:
“As a photographer, I embrace the philosophy of Kyosei by using photography as a tool to connect with people. To me, photography is not just about capturing images but also about building relationships with people and communities. The fleeting seconds that we often take for granted — a warm hug, a soft smile, a quiet companionship — these are the moments that I strive to uncover and capture. I enjoy connecting with my subjects and make them feel comfortable with me so their raw emotions and stories can be authentically captured. With that, the stories that I document often strive to reflect the footprints of souls, the whispers of hearts, and the colours of shared memories.
For me, Canon 1DX is a camera that sits really close to my heart. It’s the camera that was issued to me for my first ever full time job as a photographer. This is a milestone to me as it made me realise that after years of shooting for leisure, I’m officially being recognised as a photographer!”
Embracing the Kyosei way of life
As we can see, Kyosei is a philosophy that can very much be applied to all aspects of our lives. All it asks is for us to take a moment to contemplate. What is our place in this world? What kind of ripple effects are we creating? There is no right or wrong in the art of Kyosei. Everyone’s interpretation is different. But the outcome will all be the same. And that is to live and work together for the common good — men and women alike.
So what does Kyosei mean to you?
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