 |
Even
as the Chinese government moves to restrain overheating
economic growth, China's surging real estate market
continues to thrive. With 30 years of experience
in the residential development business, Mitsubishi
Corporation has been seeking the best way to enter
this promising market, and recently found the ideal
venue.
Building on a 20-year relationship with
Shanghai Baosteel Group, China's largest iron and
steelmaker, Mitsubishi Corporation signed a joint
venture contract to acquire a 15% stake in Shanghai
Baoland Co., Ltd., the steelmaker's wholly owned
real estate development firm. The other parties
to the contract are K. Wah International Holdings
Limited, a Hong-Kong based real estate developer,
and Tokyu Land Corporation, of Japan. The net assets
of the joint venture are approximately 1 billion
Chinese yuan (equivalent to US$130 million), and
the contract is now under the Chinese government's
approval process.
Mitsubishi Corporation will send a seasoned
executive to Shanghai Baoland to fortify its management,
especially in urban residential development, including
a current major high-rise condominium project in
Shanghai. It also aims to leverage this joint venture
to create a new value chain centering on real estate
development business in China, such as securitization
of real estate and expansion of associated business.
|
|
 |
 |
As
a vibrant consumer culture slowly begins to take
shape in China, Nikon is building brand leadership
through large neon signs to promote its name and
image to the Chinese public. Its first large neon
sign was erected in Shanghai in 1995, followed a
year later by one in Beijing. A third major sign
has been installed recently in the southwestern
city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province. Chengdu is
the capital of Sichuan and one of the major cities
designated by the Chinese government for rapid economic
growth as a scientific, trade, financial and communication
center for its region.
The
new sign stands 8 meters high and is 18 meters long
on its south face and 22 meters long on its west
face, a very impressive 320 m2 in all.
The sign stands in front of Sichuan University in
the city's IT commercial district, where it will
have direct and indirect influence on purchases
of computer-related and consumer digital equipment
in this dynamic and growing city of 10 million.
|
|
|
 |
|
The Bank
of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (BTM) recently introduced a
multifunctional bank card with credit card and electronic
money functions called the "Super IC Card Tokyo-Mitsubishi
VISA."
"Super IC Card Tokyo-Mitsubishi
VISA" utilizes the latest IC technology to
achieve higher levels of security by adopting a
biometric verification system. With the new card,
in addition to the regular PIN number, the identity
of the cardholder will be verified through palm
vein recognition which is stored inside the IC chip.
BTM will be the first Japanese bank to have its
ATMs equipped with biometric recognition functions.
In
addition to the biometric feature, "Super IC
Card Tokyo-Mitsubishi VISA" is equipped with
credit card and electronic money functions for increased
convenience.
The bank plans to soon offer value-added
services to the new card's cardholders, such as
preferential interest rate arrangements on banking
products, various credit card settlement options
and preferential links between banking and credit
card transactions. The bank, in the long run, is
considering the possibility of combining banking
services with companies in various industries, including
transportation, communications and logistics.
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Eclipse |
Mitsubishi
Motors unveiled two of the freshest and most exciting
shapes in the world premiere of two new production
models at the 2005 North American International
Auto Show in Detroit on January 11. The brand-new
"Raider," Mitsubishi's first-ever midsize
pickup, and the latest Eclipse sporty coupe are
both aimed at key market segments in North America
and feature interior and exterior designs created
by Mitsubishi Motors' Cypress, California, design
studio.
 |
|
Raider |
In designing
and engineering the Raider, Mitsubishi took great
pains to create a pickup truck that would excite
users' hearts. The Raider's styling emphasizes sportiness
with a bold stance and aggressive attitude and incorporates
signature design cues from the Mitsubishi family
of vehicles—including Endeavor and Galant.
Driving excitement is written all over
the Eclipse. In addition to its class-topping performance,
with this latest version Mitsubishi Motors sought
a design that is the evolution of the Eclipse's
well-established aggressive and cool look, one that
will turn heads in the sporty car segment, a key
element for young-at-heart customers.
The Eclipse is slated to go on sale
in summer 2005, followed by the Raider in early
fall. |
|
|
 |
|
Starting
in December 2004, a Japanese edition of Bloomberg
Television's 24-hour live business and financial
news was brought to the Internet in Japan by Mitsubishi
company Space Communications Corporation(SCC). The
first programs of the new service were delivered
to customers of the online brokerage, Rakuten Securities.
With
the growth of broadband usage, Rakuten Securities
has been looking at ways to utilize images and real-time
news to convey more investor information. Now, in
addition to the usual text-based presentations,
its customers can view the Japanese edition of the
highly regarded Bloomberg programs on their home
computers, providing timely and easy-to-understand
investor information.
SCC is also offering to users of its
HitPops broadband portal site the Bloomberg Television
Japanese service via paid subscription. Viewers
can also subscribe through Bloomberg's website,
where, in addition to viewing the program, one can
read the latest related stock and economic information.
There are currently as many as 16 million
broadband users in Japan (Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications, November 2004 figures) who are
potential subscribers to live TV programs and other
broadband content from their computers. SCC supports
this trend by smoothly delivering broadband content
via satellite directly to service providers' own
facilities, bypassing bottlenecks in Internet landline
capacity that can limit program quality. |
|
|
 |
Radiation
cancer treatment works by focusing a powerful
beam on a small precise spot where the tumor is
located. The focus must be so precise that even
small movements of the patient's body during treatment
can have negative results. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
is developing the world's first radiation cancer
treatment system with precision beam targeting
capability. The system's ability to maintain pinpoint
focus on the targeted cancerous tissue within
the body will aid in the accurate treatment of
lesions that move due to breathing and other functions.
The prototype system is now being tested in a
research treatment center in Japan.
The
equipment utilizes two opposing x-ray images to
quickly locate the cancerous lesions in the body,
greatly reducing the time and effort required.
A smaller than normal radiation beam is then focused
accurately upon the cancerous area, and follows
tumor movements in real time, maintaining continuous
focus. The small and precise beam reduces the
required target area of the beam, sparing damage
to healthy tissue and lessening the burden on
the patient.
Testing at the center is aimed at
developing and producing a commercial model of
the dynamic tumor tracking function. Following
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approval,
the system will be available commercially in the
Japanese market. With this development, MHI will
become a full-fledged member of the domestic medical
equipment market.
|
|
|
 |
|
Tokyo
University is presently introducing a high-security,
multi-function IC card for use on and off campus.
An IC card contains an integrated circuit that is
capable of storing much more data and performing
more functions than cards with magnetic strips,
such as conventional credit cards or ATM cards.
The card solves multiple inconveniences
for the university and its 40,000 students and faculty,
all of whom carry ID cards. The new card will combine
the functions of an identification card with IC
data storage and a credit card.
As
an identification card, it will hold basic individual
data irrespective of the individual's position as
student, faculty or staff, increasing data security
and management efficiency.
It is also a security card that can be used to gain
entry to various on-campus buildings, replacing
a system utilizing separate cards for individual
buildings.
It is also a fully functional credit
card that is valid for both on-campus and off-campus
payment. On campus, the IC chip also enables a cashless
environment by effecting fast electronic cash purchases
for small-sum transactions with just a quick touch
to the cashier's terminal.
For school administrators, the card
improves the educational environment by rationalizing
administrative functions and providing for more
secure information management. The IC card was a
joint development of the university, DC Card, a
Mitsubishi company, and NTT Communications and will
be distributed for student identification purposes
starting in spring 2005. Distribution of IC cards
to staff will follow in the fall, at which time
cashless transactions will also be implemented.
|
|
|
|
