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Wakamaru
shaking Matsumoto's hand |
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Aseries
of unique recruiting events were staged for new university
graduates by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Visitors
were welcomed to venues and encouraged in their job-seeking
efforts by a Wakamaru home-use robot, which helped
to demonstrate the power of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries'
technology.
Trials of these wheeled robots in monitor
households have started this spring. They are one
meter tall and weigh 30 kilograms. Wakamaru robots
can memorize 10 faces and engage in simple conversations.
They can recognize about 10,000 words.
Comic-book and animation artist Reiji
Matsumoto, who is well-versed in science and technology,
was also invited to the event for a discussion with
Wakamaru's developers. He spoke about the importance
of science and technology and offered words of support
to the students. |
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Mitsubishi
Electric has successfully developed a “Face-to-Face”
Video Call Center System, utilizing a broadband network
to allow high-quality, face-to-face communication
between customers and providers of professional services,
such as financial, legal and medical consultation.
With it, for example, bank could station loan officers
at a central office and serve all its branches remotely
as needed.
The system is integrated with Mitsubishi
Electric's front-projection display, video encoding/decoding
technology and application sharing devices, enabling
users to view each other's documents simultaneously.
The potential exists for professional
consultants to be based at remote call centers by
applying this new technology. Because the consultants'
travel would be eliminated, they could serve more
customers and serve them faster. It also becomes practical
to extend service availability beyond normal working
hours.
The system comprises a set of stations
equipped with the necessary communication equipment,
including desk-shaped sharing devices, featuring Diamond
Touch multi-user touch technology, allowing both users
to simultaneously write or draw on the documents in
front of them, thereby making it easier for the consultant
to explain complicated information, and even conduct
written communication. |
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On
April 5, 2004, Kirin Brewery commenced sales in Japan
under exclusive marketing rights of the luxury brand
“Lanson” champagne, manufactured and sold
by the Marne & Champagne Group. The Marne &
Champagne Group is the world's second-largest
champagne manufacturer in terms of volume. Kirin sells
eight varieties of six items, including Black Label
Brut Non-Vintage, which is the mainstay of the Lanson
range, and the super-premium Noble Cuvée.
Lanson champagne is the creation of a
traditional champagne house established in 1760. The
excellent quality of these wines has earned them the
patronage of royal households in several countries,
including the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden. The
Marne & Champagne Group sells Lanson champagne
in over 120 countries for the enjoyment of champagne
lovers throughout the world. Kirin aims to strengthen
its wine business by introducing this world-class
label into the Japanese champagne market, which has
been expanding steadily for several years. |
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Nippon
Oil and Takara Co., Ltd. have signed a business partnership
agreement under which Nippon Oil will sell toymaker
Takara's new POPED tu electric scooters and provide
exclusive maintenance services through its “Dr.
Drive” outlets. The Dr. Drive format is described
as a “family doctor for your car.” Positioned
as the premium outlets in Nippon Oil's ENEOS service
station chain, they offer high-quality products and
services at reasonable prices. Mechanics working in
“Dr. Drive” outlets have government-approved
qualifications and are also required to complete in-house
training programs run by Nippon Oil. They combine
advanced maintenance technology with premium service.
The POPED tu is a totally new type of
foldable electric scooter that can be powered either
by its motor or by pedals. Created to make transportation
fun, it reflects Takara's unique perspective and
highly imaginative design approach as a toy manufacturer.
Nippon Oil has introduced maintenance services at
approximately 200 Dr. Drive outlets throughout Japan
to coincide with the nationwide launch of the POPED
tu. Depending on sales, it aims to increase the number
of participating outlets to about 1,000. |
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On
March 19, 2004, Nikon began splashing bold graphic
advertisements on the sides and rear of the Airport
Limousine buses, which connect travelers between Narita
International Airport and major hotels and train stations
in metropolitan Tokyo.
Since the launch of the new brand symbol
in April 2003, Nikon has been promoting the brand
symbol through various venues, including sponsorship
of American Major League Baseball, soccer games and
motor sports. The new wrapping advertisement, which
features a large Nikon brand symbol, will enhance
Nikon brand awareness, especially among business travelers
and tourists who fly overseas. |
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The
European Colt carries over the “one-motion lines”
from the Japanese version that deliver benchmark roominess
and stylish appeal. The Colt's attractive and
dynamic front end portrays Mitsubishi Motors'
new design identity.
A
new Mitsubishi Motors Colt 5-door compact car and
the 3-door Colt CZ3 concept car made their world premieres
at the 74th Geneva International Motor Show from March
2 to 14. The Colt is the new face of the Mitsubishi
Motors brand in Europe. A result of Mitsubishi Motors'
alliance with DaimlerChrysler that covers all areas
from research and development to procurement, production,
marketing and sales, the new Colt benefits from an
intelligent approach to sharing major components.
For 2003, Mitsubishi Motors will post
the first profit ever in its European history of more
than 30 years. This achievement comes two years after
it launched an ambitious turnaround plan for Europe
and is one year ahead of schedule. As the new face
of the Mitsubishi Motors brand in Europe, the Colt
illustrates the dynamics of global manufacturing.
It was developed by Japanese engineers, designed by
the Mitsubishi Motors European Design Center in Trebur,
Germany and drew additional resources from the alliance
with DaimlerChrysler. The company is confident that
this process has created the ideal formula for its
European customers.
At the show, the company displayed a total
of 17 vehicles, including the recently launched Lancer
Evolution 4WD sport sedan and the Grandis minivan.
The European Colt is assembled at Mitsubishi
Motors' NedCar factory in Born, the Netherlands,
and went on sale in May.
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Truck-Ad,
a collaborative venture of Mitsubishi Corporation,
Mitsubishi Shoji Packaging Corporation and Toppan
Printing Co., Ltd., has dramatically expanded the
coverage area for its truck-based advertising system.
In January 2004, the system, which supplies advertising
space on “wrappers” covering the cargo
boxes of commercial delivery vehicles, was expanded
from a limited region to encompass 471 Lawson delivery
areas in 37 prefectures throughout Japan. The expansion
marks the start of the full-scale development of the
business.
Jointly developed by Mitsubishi Corporation
and Toppan Printing, the Truck-Ad system is a new
outdoor advertising medium. It began with the signing
of a contract with the Lawson convenience store chain
providing for the placement of advertising on refrigerated
trucks that supply Lawson outlets.
Because distribution vehicles have specified
delivery areas, it is possible to target areas for
advertising, such as commercial or office districts,
to match the content of the advertising and the target
audience. This makes the Truck-Ad system a very effective
advertising medium. Another advantage is the ability
to secure large advertising spaces at a lower cost
than conventional outdoor advertising. In addition,
the advertising is produced with environment-friendly
materials. |
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Construction
and Leasing of New Shopping Mall
Mitsubishi
Logistics plans to demolish a conventional shopping
center built in 1989 in Toda City, Saitama, a bedroom
community on the outskirts of Japan's capital.
It will use the site, together with a newly acquired
adjacent site, to build a shopping mall that will
be double the size of the old facility. ÆON Co.,
Ltd., one of Japan's leading retailers, will continue
to lease the shopping center, scheduled for completion
in November 2004.
Kirin
Beverage Joint Venture in China
Kirin
Beverage has established a joint venture with President
Enterprises (China) Investment Co., Ltd., one of China's
leading corporate groups, and its manufacturing and
sales arm, Beijing President Enterprises Drink and
Food Co., Ltd. Kirin Beverage and the President Group
each own one-half of the venture, which began this
spring to manufacture and sell Kirin Beverage's
soft drink products. This is Kirin Beverage's
second business operation in China, following its
establishment of a presence in Shanghai.
Real-time Earthquake
Information
To reduce
casualties from earthquakes, Tokio Marine Risk Consulting
Co., Ltd., an affiliate of The Tokio Marine and Fire
Insurance, has introduced what it calls the Real-time
Earthquake Information Utilization System. The new
system uses information detected by sensors immediately
after an earthquake to predict the intensity and time
of arrival of seismic waves at specific locations
in Japan. Information is then automatically distributed
to mobile phones as text messages.
Making Tap Water Safer
In mid-March 2004, Mitsubishi Rayon
commenced sales of the world's first hollow-fiber
membrane faucet filter capable of removing nine substances
identified as affecting health, including dissolved
lead and trihalomethanes.
Mitsubishi
Chemical Launching PTA Plant in China
Mitsubishi
Chemical, jointly with Mitsubishi Corporation and
ITOCHU Corporation, has decided to proceed with a
project in China to manufacture purified terephthalic
acid (PTA), a raw material for polyester fiber. They
expect Chinese government approval in June 2004.
The three companies will participate with
CITIC Group in a joint venture company in East China,
Ningbo Mitsubishi Chemical. The new venture is scheduled
to commence commercial operation in September 2006
under a Mitsubishi Chemical strategy to manufacture
locally in growing markets. |
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