 |
 |
Throughout the world, a vast human
potential is held back by a lack of resources and education. To address this problem,
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) awards scholarships to approximately
250 students in 11 countries each year. The program focuses on developing nations,
where students may have no other way of furthering their education.
In April this year, MC’s Johannesburg
Branch held a ceremony to celebrate award-winners from the University of the Witwatersrand
(Wits University) in South Africa. The ceremony was held at the company residence
of Kazuo Korenaga, the CEO of the Johannesburg Branch and MC’s Regional
CEO for Africa. Participants included staff from the Johannesburg Branch, three
scholarship students and representatives of Wits University. After Mr. Korenaga
opened the ceremony with a brief speech, | |
|
 |
|
| Mr.
Korenaga presents university students with certificates commemorating their selection
as scholarship students |
|
|
|
each student received
an award certificate.
Professor Loyiso Nongxa, Vice Chancellor and
Principal of Wits University, stressed the large impact of the program: “The
scholarships do not only benefit the individual recipients; the effects ripple
out, lifting up the students’ families, their local communities and even
the nation as a whole.”
Said one of the scholarship winners: “This scholarship allows me to continue
my studies. I intend to raise my abilities so that I can contribute to the development
of the country.” |
|
PAGE
TOP |
 |
|
 |
|
| Yukimori
Akanoma, Board Chairman of Japan Association for UNHCR, being presented with the
fund donation by Shigemitsu Miki, Honorary Chairman of the tournament and Chairman
of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. |
| |
|
Between May 24 and May 27, golf fans
flocked to the Oarai Golf Club in Ibaraki Prefecture to enjoy the Mitsubishi Diamond
Cup Golf 2007. The competition was close until the last hole, when Mr.Tetsuji
Hiratsuka prevailed in the heated battle.
The tournament, which went under the theme
“interaction, excitement and charity,” was hosted by the companies
of the Mitsubishi Group, as well as by Kansai TV and SRI sports.
The total prize money was ¥110 million, with a winner’s share of ¥22
million.
Importantly, this year’s tournament
raised ¥20 million for the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf Charities, thanks to
the coordinated efforts of the parties associated with the tournament, including
the |
|
Oarai Golf Club, the
sponsoring companies, the Japan Golf Tour Organization, the Players Association
and the volunteers. Of course, the large crowd in the gallery contributed greatly
as well.
A total of approximately ¥100 million has been raised since the establishment
of the fund five years ago.
A portion of this year’s donations will go to the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) via Japan Association for UNHCR. Also, a “Diamond Cup
Social Services Vehicle” and a digital high-definition LCD TV will be donated
to the city of Oarai.
The 2008 tournament will be held at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture. |
|
PAGE
TOP |
 |
|
Sometimes, things that
are normally totally unrelated come together and produce wonderful results—in
this case, NYK, wheelchairs and a top-level sumo wrestler.
The outcome of this unlikely combination? Some very happy Bulgarian children,
who are now, despite disabilities, able to enjoy a new freedom of movement with
new wheelchairs.
NYK shipped the wheelchairs free-of-charge to Bulgaria, the homeland of Kotooshu,
a professional sumo wrestler who has appeared in numerous NYK advertisements and
promotions over the past year.
The initiative itself, which was fronted by
Kotooshu, was a joint arrangement with Volunteers Group to |
Send Wheelchairs to Overseas Children,
a Japan-based NPO. Established in 2004, this NPO collects, cleans and repairs
used wheelchairs in Japan and sends them to children with disabilities overseas.
So far, they have sent approximately 400 wheelchairs to children in four countries.
This latest batch left the NYK Tokyo Container
Terminal on May 10. After arriving in Bulgaria in June, the wheelchairs were presented
to the Bulgarian Minister of Health at a special ceremony on July 25.
Kotooshu and the NPO aim to assist as many children with disabilities as possible
in Bulgaria, where wheelchairs are in short supply. Helping to load the wheelchairs
into containers in Tokyo on April 24, the 203-centimeter, 152-kilo Kotooshu commented:
“I’m happy that the children will be able to use these wheelchairs
to freely roam and enjoy the outdoors.” |
|
|
|
 |
|
| Kotooshu,
sumo champion of the second highest rank (ozeki), helps to load the wheelchairs |
|
|
|
PAGE
TOP |
|
