A Bimonthly Review of the Mitsubishi Companies and Their People Around the World 2010

October & November

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©2010 Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee Printed in Japan on recycled paper

Volume 32 No.11

A funny thing happened when I visited grandfather's

village. I started dancing in the pasture, and all the animals

stopped and stared at me.

Grand Prix Winners

2008-2009

Started in 1990, the Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa is a program that seeks to promote literacy education and to stimulate cultural exchange among children by allowing them to learn about each other through “enikki” ( illustrated diaries).

■ http://www.mitsubishi.com/mpac/e/activity/enikki/index.html

■ http://www.mitsubishi.com/mpac/e/talk/form.html

Roza Amanzhanova　　Age:12 GirlRepublic of Kazakhstan

Brunei’s Roadmap For Future of Methanol

S hichi-Go-San [literally 7 (years)- 5 (years) – 3 (years)] is a Japanese festival where parents take their children to a shrine and offer prayers of thanks to the deities for their offspring

having safely reached the age milestones of three (girls), five (boys) and seven (girls) and to ask that they enjoy future happiness and a long life. The ritual was originally restricted to members of the Imperial Court and the nobility but over the years has come to be celebrated by one and all and is today generally held around November 15. The festival today celebrates the fact that three marks the age at which a girl has grown enough to have her hair dressed up in Japanese style; five is the age when a boy is big enough to wear a traditional “hakama” long-pleated skirt, and seven is the age at which a girl adopts the practice of wearing a “furisode” deep-sleeved kimono.

Shichi-Go-San: November Festival Celebrates Milestone Steps in Childhood

©getty images/amanaimages

＊ ＊The Enikki entry above, when necessary, has been translated into English from the language it was originally written in.

In May this year, Brunei Methanol Company (BMC) –

an international joint venture between Mitsubishi Gas

Chemical (MGC, 50% shareholding), ITOCHU Corporation

(25%) and the Brunei National Petroleum Company (25%) –

began commercial shipments of methanol.

　　The methanol plant was opened by His Majesty the

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam1 in a

ceremony held on May 25. The joint venture was established

in March 2006, the production plant was completed in

December 2009 and production commenced in April 2010,

with an annual production capacity of 850,000 tons, and the

plant employs some 190 personnel.

　　Methanol is an important primary material for chemical

industries and provides a wide variety of derivatives including

formalin and acetic acid. In the future, methanol is expected

to be applied to a range of new applications, including use

in bio-diesel fuel and dimethyl ether (DME). Supplied with

natural gas by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company, BMC

employs proprietary processing technology developed jointly

by MGC and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

　　Global demand for methanol is growing at around five

percent annually. BMC is ideally located to supply its major

export markets in Asia and expectations are high that it will

produce a competitive product, bring added value to society

and further contribute to industrial growth in the Sultanate.

BMC will also enable MGC to expand its presence in the

global methanol industry.

State of Brunei Darussalam Methanol Plant Comes on Stream

Front LineNews&Products

2 3

Cleansui Water Purifiers to Be Installed in Wagas Café Chain in Shanghai

Mitsubishi Rayon Cleansui , a subsidiary

of Mitsubishi Rayon, is working to

expand the use of water purifiers in

homes in China. Installation of Cleansui

purifiers at outlets of the popular Wagas

café chain in Shanghai began in July and

will allow customers to sample the safe

and pleasant-tasting tap water that the

units supply. This drive to encourage the

use of tap water will reduce waste from

and vehicle fuel used in PET bottled water deliveries.

Cleansui’s market penetration in China

has grown steadily since it introduced the first

purifiers in 2006. Installation of Cleansui purifiers

in restaurants serving the Beijing International

Convention Center and Shanghai New

International Expo Centre has raised awareness

regarding their safety and effectiveness among

commercial users and the general public.

■ http://www.mrc.co.jp/english/pressroom/p10/press20100701.html

Faithful Photo Reproduction on Home Printers

Pictorico is well known as a supplier of high-end inkjet media

to photographic, proofing, graphic arts and signage markets.

　　The company is also enjoying growing popularity among

the general public as an increasing number of digital single-

lens reflex camera owners seek better results from the

photographic paper they use in their home printers.

　　The secret to the popularity of Pictorico paper lies,

above all, in its high quality image reproduction. The high

gloss finish and outstanding color reproduction of the printed

photo combine to produce hue-rich images. Pictorico

monotone paper, meanwhile, reproduces black and white

images in bold and beautiful tones. Grayscale refers to the

different shades of gray or halftones in a photograph and

Pictorico monotone paper delivers halftone resolution of the

highest clarity.

　　Inkjet media made by Pictorico, a

fully-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi

Paper Mills, is developed to

faithfully reproduce the photo

subject just as the person using the

camera pictured it.

■ http://pictorico.eu

Mitsubishi Paper Mills Est.1898

4-2, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005＊＊＊＊

Mitsubishi Paper Mills (MPM) is a leading paper manufacturer of printing and business communication paper, inkjet media and photographic materials. MPM is world famous for its excellent product quality and innovation. MPM has its main production sites in Japan and Germany.

■ http://www.mpm.co.jp/

Latest Nikon Equipment for Russian Segment of International Space Station

Nikon has received an order for one Nikon D3S and two Nikon

D3X digital-SLR cameras, four interchangeable lenses, including

the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, software and various

accessories from S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation

Energia, the general contractor to the Russian Federal Space

Agency for the International Space Station (ISS) program.

The cameras and lenses have the same specification as those

available to general market consumers—testimony to their

amazing reliability—and will be used alongside other Nikon

SLR cameras and NIKKOR lenses already in use in the Russian

segment of the ISS. The new equipment transported to the

ISS by the Soyuz

TMA-19 spacecraft

to be launched

from the Baikonur

Cosmodrome on

June 16, 2010.

■

http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2010/0614_energia_01.htm

Mitsubishi Electric to Supply 127 Elevators and Escalators for Shanghai JingAn Kerry Centre

Mitsubishi Electric has received an order from Shanghai

JiXiang Real Estate Co., Ltd. for 127 elevators and escalators

to be installed in the Shanghai JingAn Kerry Centre, a building

complex under construction in Shanghai, China. The order is

worth ¥1.5 billion and shipments started in September 2010.

The order is for 42 high-speed elevators, 37 low-speed

elevators and 48 escalators. All high-speed elevators and 30

low-speed elevators will use power-regenerative technology

to reuse energy generated during elevator operation, thereby

reducing their environmental

impact. The twin towers

composing the Shanghai

JingAn Kerry Centre will

house many offices and

commercial facilities including

the Shangri-La Hotel as well

as the Hong Kong-based

Kerry Group's business

operation in mainland China.

■

http://global.mitsubishielectric.com/news/news_releases/2010/mel0805.pdf

First Mitsubishi-UE Marine Diesel Engine Built in China

Under a technology licensing arrangement with Mitsubishi Heavy

Industries, Yichang Marine Diesel Engine Co., Ltd. (YMD), a group

company of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, has completed

production of its first Mitsubishi-UE low-speed marine diesel engine.

YMD, located in Yichang, Hubei Province, is expected to complete

three more Mitsubishi-UE engines this year.

The first China-built Mitsubishi-UE engine is the "6UEC43LSII"

with a power output of 6,300 kW or 8,580 PS at 160 rpm. The unit

will be fitted as the main engine on a German-owned 32,000 DWT

timber/cargo carrier currently under construction in Fujian Province.

Licensing arrangements

with other Chinese

companies give MHI

a dynamic structure

to offer a broad range

of UE engines to that

market.

■

http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/story/1006071361.html

Cover Story】

Note 1 : The head of the Nation of Brunei.

Dia Moulding Slovakia (DMSK) is the newest European investment by Mitsubishi Plastics (MPI). After

construction was completed, production started in August 2009. Today, DMSK employs more than one

hundred employees and annually produces more than one million plastic frames for SONY LCD TVs.In

summer 2008, I was asked to help MPI search for a HR Manager for a new investment in Slovakia and,

luckily, I got the job.

I do not refer to what I do as my duties or my tasks. I refer to it as my

responsibilities. The reason is that I feel responsible for the wellbeing of members

of DMSK in all aspects. Besides having a nice, safe and fair working environment,

it is important that they smile and laugh when they leave for home. This means

that they are not depressed and exhausted, but are able to happily enjoy the rest

of the day with their family and friends. This is what I consider a success.

Slovakia has rather short history as an independent country, The Slovak

Republic, however in terms of its nature and history, this is a different story.

Tatra mountains and Spas

Nature in Slovakia is indescribable. We

say we have it all, except for the sea!

However, there is nothing like the Tatra

Mountains and even after the wind storm

and fire in 2004 they did not loose any of their greatness or dominance. The Tatra Mountains occupy

an area of over 750 km2, and Gerlach (2,655 m) is the highest mountain. You enjoy an active vacation

here, whatever the season. You can not make a mistake by taking your kids, your beloved one or your

grandparents there. The mountains offer great places for winter sports, climbing and hiking.

If you like being pampered, relaxing and enjoying yourself, you definitely should visit one of the spa

towns of Slovakia. Piestany and Trencianske Teplice are well known for their springs that help recovering

from injuries or surgery by improving the function of body organs. There are also many more spa towns

with excellent wellness and healthcare system, outdoor and indoor sports activities that you can visit.

How about castles? Hundreds years old and built on rock, these old castles and ruins have witnessed

many life stories and romances that after years became legends. Who knows if the Turkish Omar really

dug the Well of Love as a ransom for his beautiful fiancé Fatime who was held as a hostage or if the Lake

of Tears really is a lake formed from Lady Barbora’s tears that she cried over her marriage. By the way,

rumor says that you can see her ghost at midnight in her palace in Trencin Castle.

My hobbies, my konicky.

In Slovak, the word for hobbies is “konicky” and that is what you

call horses in Slovak as well. In my case, it applies 100%. I am a

passionate horseback rider. Luckily, I get to saddle up two or three

times a week. I somehow came to own two female golden retrievers,

Jessica and Peddy, and a male chiuaua, Gigi. At the weekends, we often go dog-walking along the river

and surprisingly we watch horses on pastures. It is wonderful to have hobbies that can be combined –

animals and sport. You get charged with positive energy and enjoy a great experience. After an hour in the

saddle or playing with a dog, you simply forget everyday problems and have a smile on your face.

Global Spotlight focuses on employees from the Mitsubishi Companies, who are excelling in their respective fields around the world. In each issue we will get to know different employees, who will tell us about their hometowns, businesses, culture, and past-times.

4 5

GlobalSpotlightfrom　Slovakia

Ms.Karen WiechertAssistant to Management Board

Ms. Ing. Zuzana BaloghovaHR Manager

Germany

from

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Flensburg GmbH1

Dia Moulding Slovakia s.r.o.

Slovakia – heart of Europe

In the northernmost corner of Germany at the border to Denmark lies the beautiful city of Flensburg.

Dominated by the Flensburg Fjord which forms the picturesque harbour and the centre of the city, this Baltic

Sea inlet presents small beaches along the coasts of the fjord making it an attractive tourist area. The proximity

to Denmark gives the town a multicultural flair. Danes and Germans live here side by side, and Danish schools

are as popular among Germans as their own.

Founded around 1200 by Danish settlers, Flensburg was, after Copenhagen, the second biggest port

in the Kingdom of Denmark for centuries. Thanks to the rum trade in the 18th century, Flensburg relived

another economic boom. Cane sugar was imported from the Danish West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands)

and refined in Flensburg. Of the former 200 rum distilleries only two

remain.

Flensburg is also known as the seat of the nationwide database of

traffic violators ("Punkte in Flensburg") and for its Flensburger Pilsener

beer, its successful handball team SG Flensburg-Handewitt, being

the centre of the Danish national minority in Germany, and the Naval

Academy with its famous training ship Gorch Fock. Flensburg hosts

several maritime and cultural events: sailing regattas and open-air

concerts in its beautiful traditional courtyards in the historic centre.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper takes the lead

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Flensburg is one of the oldest paper mills in Germany.

Since 1696, different types of paper have been manufactured in the middle of

Flensburg. Today, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper consists of the paper mill in Flensburg

and its affiliated company in Bielefeld, together one of the world’s market

leaders in high-quality thermal and inkjet papers.

I joined the company 13 years ago after having finished my secondary education as a foreign language

correspondent in English and Spanish. Since then, I have supported the German and Japanese Managing

Directors and my colleagues both in Flensburg and Bielefeld. The working atmosphere here is characterized by

open-mindedness, sociability and outstanding motivation. What has impressed me most is how all employees

function as a team. Many staff regularly participate in sports events. For example, every year we organize the

"Mitsubishi Cup" football competition between teams from both German paper mills.

One highlight is the Dragonboat Cup which takes place every summer on the Flensburg Fjord. For the past

few years, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Flensburg has participated in this competition that attracts more than 90

teams. This event is always dominated by an extraordinary team spirit and, of course, by a great deal of fun,

as you can see from the photos.

If you would like to try one of our fine

rums or a typical "Flens" beer or have a

swim in the Baltic Sea, you are welcome to

visit Flensburg and Mitsubishi HiTec Paper!

Flensburg, Germany: Two languages, one culture

Note 1 : A subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills.

Mitsubishi Fuso Donates 20 Canter Light-Duty Trucks for Haiti

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation has donated

20 units of its Canter light-duty truck for aid operations and

in support of the people in Haiti following the earthquake in

early 2010. The global presence of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck

and Bus Corporation, an integral part of Daimler Trucks, was

an advantage for the company as the vehicles were prepared

at short notice in the neighboring Dominican Republic,

where the company has already a presence in. As rebuilding

efforts continue, the trucks are used for helping distribution of

goods, materials and food for the people of Haiti.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation is committed

to its role as a responsible corporate citizen. This commitment

entails an ultimate focus on quality in all its operations and

business practices. The company also has been working

closely with parent company Daimler AG to offer continued

support for social contribution including cultural exchange

and educational programs.

Green DiamondsSpraying Road with Recycled Water to Mitigate Heat Island Effect in Tokyo Summer

Mitsubishi Estate and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s

Bureau of Construction are working together in an initiative that

uses recycled water to spray roads and limit rises in road surface

temperature in order to tackle the heat island effect in summer.

Starting in June, the initiative uses recycled water from

the Marunouchi Building in central Tokyo to spray the Gyoko-

dori Avenue that runs from Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi

Entrance to Hibiya-dori Avenue. The water is stored in a

special water-holding layer in the road surface and as the

air temperature rises the water is transformed into vapor.

Also known as “evaporative cooling,” this process uses heat

energy contained in the water molecules and thus causes a

drop in temperature in its surroundings.

■ http://www.mec.co.jp/j/news/pdf/mec100617.pdf

6 7

Green Diamonds highlights the ongoing efforts of Mitsubishi companies to foster a greener, more sustainable planet and brighter, more vibrant communities through wide-ranging environmental and social initiatives.

LED Lighting Leads to 69% Energy Saving on NYK Hikawamaru NYK switched interior lights on the former cargo-passenger

ship NYK Hikawamaru, currently moored at the port of

Yokohama, from conventional light bulbs to LEDs1 in June.

As part of NYK’s ongoing drive to adopt energy-saving

technology a total of 156 lights and spotlights in the ship’s

entrance lobby and the NYK Lounge were switched to LEDs.

The change to energy-efficient LED lighting will result in

annual reductions of 69 percent in both power consumption

and CO2 emissions.

The company was assisted in the change over by

Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Electric Lighting, both

member companies of the Energy-efficient Appliance

Promotion Forum/Energy-efficient Lamp Promotion Forum

which was established to promote the spread of energy-

saving household appliances and lighting in Japan.

■ http://www.nyk.com/english/release/788/NE_100622.html

Planting Mangrove Forests & Promoting Environmental Awareness at School

As one of its initiatives for protecting the global

environment, in 1999 Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire

Insurance embarked on a mangrove forest planting

program and by March 2010 had planted around 6,293

hectares of mangrove forest in seven countries such as in

South East Asia.

In addition, as part of its activities to promote

environmental awareness, the company has sent

employees to elementary school throughout Japan

to give classes on the subject of “Global Warming &

Protecting the Ecosystem,” using materials on mangrove

forest planting titled “Green Lessons : Mangrove Stories.”

As of end of March 2010, around 23,000 preschool

and elementary school pupils throughout Japan had

attended these classes.

Rainwater, waste water from shops, kitchens in Marunouchi Bldg.

Route of recycled water sprayed onto road surface

Supply route of recycled waterfrom Marunouchi Building

Recycling plant Water tank & pump

Gyoko-dori Ave.

RainPrecipitation

Surface heatdrives evaporation

Water-retaining material

Multi-pore asphalt

Asphalt with water-retaining material sub-layer

Road surface up to

10°C coolerthan conventional surfaces.

Note 1 : Light emitting diode