December 2007 With the cooperation of professional soccer team FC Tokyo, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) organized a one-day soccer school for elementary school students in the care of local welfare institutions. Held on December 1st, it was the 11th time that MC has organized such a school and 5 volunteers from MC were also on hand to assist. 31 children participated in the event and all listened intently as they received professional guidance from FC Tokyo's coach, including advice on basic skills like dribbling and passing. With a "mini-game" held during the latter half of the program, the children enjoyed a full day of soccer.

On December 10th and 12th MC held its annual Christmas Charity Bazaar at the Marunouchi and Shinagawa offices, respectively. This year 7 NPO's supporting children's education, poverty alleviation and other philanthropic activities domestically and overseas set up booths and sold various items including gifts for the holiday season. President Kojima, Senior EVP Ueno and EVP Katsumura as well as 10 other MC employees volunteered their time to help promote the event. Over 500 MC employees visited the bazaar which boasted sales that greatly exceeded last year's performance. All proceeds from the event will help support the activities of each of the organizations.

On December 5th and 13th a total of 30 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees gathered at the Shinagawa and Marunouchi offices to make toys for children with disabilities. MC volunteers, with the cooperation of the volunteer circle Group Moko Moko, made cloth piece-together-puzzle books made up of sun, moon, stars and various other shapes. The finished books, which can help promote hand movement skills and are safe for children to use, will be donated to various institutions including schools for the disabled, special needs classrooms within elementary schools and toy libraries.

On December 22nd Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and the National Museum of Nature and Science teamed up to offer Tokyo citizens with disabilities an exclusive viewing of the museum's permanent exhibit and Theatre 360. MC works with various museums to offer those with disabilities the opportunity to visit after hours in order to enjoy the facility's offerings at their own pace and without the bustling crowds. This was the first time for the National Museum of Nature and Science to hold such an event. 12 volunteers from MC showed up to help with such tasks as registering and guiding some of the 130 people who participated. Comments from participants included "It was great fun touching some of the interactive exhibits and listening to the different noises at the animal sounds corner!" and "While inside the Theatre 360 I really felt like I was at the bottom of the sea or surrounded by dinosaurs! It was truly a wonderful experience."

November 2007 On November 13th and 15th, 33 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) volunteers took time to prepare picture books for children in Southeast Asia. This activity, which has grown quite popular among MC employees, involves adhering stickers translated into various local languages to Japanese language picture books. Books were prepared in Cambodian and Laotian as well as other languages like Pashto and Karen which are used in Afghanistan and Myanmar respectively, and will be donated to children in each of the designated countries.

On Saturday November 17th the National Museum of Western Art and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) teamed up to offer individuals with disabilities an exclusive viewing of a special exhibit featuring the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch in addition to a concert by the accomplished violinist Rio Yamase. MC works with various local museums to offer those with disabilities the chance to visit after hours so that they may enjoy art at their own pace and without the normal bustling crowds. For this event, around 160 participants had the chance to view Munch's work as well as hear Ms Yamase play the traditional Norwegian Hardingfele or Hardanger Fiddle. 29 volunteers from MC showed up to help with such tasks as registration and guiding participants in wheelchairs around the museum. Comments from participants included "I had a truly enjoyable time not only taking in the works of art but also listening to the wonderful music. It was quite an extravagant experience!" and "Viewing the many works of art by Munch with one of the volunteers allowed me to relax and enjoy the experience."

The 47th Marunouchi Citizens' Environmental Forum was held in Tokyo on November 28th. Since 1993, these forums, which are held several times a year, have been jointly organized by Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Japan Airlines and the Tokyo Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Company. Dr. Seita Emori, Chief of the Climate Risk Assessment Research Section within the Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies spoke on the topic of "Current Conditions and Future Outlook of Global Warming" to an audience of around 150 people. Dr. Emori's PowerPoint presentation incorporated visual simulations which helped the audience better comprehend this complex issue. Following the main presentation the fulfilling forum wrapped up with a lively question and answer session which was filled with inquiries from the audience.

On November 29th a total of 16 Mitsubishi Corporation Kansai Branch (MC Kansai) employees gathered at their office in Osaka to make cloth toys for children with disabilities. The event was held with the cooperation of the volunteer circle Group Moko Moko. On this occasion, MC Kansai volunteers created Santa Claus wrist bands that make noise when pressed. Some of the volunteers were quite experienced in needlework which greatly helped in contributing to the cause. The finished toys, which will help promote hand movement in addition to being safe for the children to use, will be donated to various institutions including schools for the disabled, special needs classrooms within elementary schools, and toy libraries.

October 2007 On October 23rd and 25th, 2007, a total of 40 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees, in cooperation with Kanagawa Prefecture-based volunteer circle Group Moko Moko, gathered at the Shinagawa and Marunouchi offices to make cloth toys for children with disabilities. On this occasion, MC volunteers created Santa Claus wrist bands that make noise when pressed. The finished toys, which will help promote hand movement in addition to being safe for the children to use, will be donated to various institutions including schools for the disabled, special needs classrooms within elementary schools, and toy libraries.

The 27th Oita International Wheelchair Marathon Race was held on the weekend of October 27th to 28th, 2007, under clear autumn skies in Japan's Oita Prefecture. Mitsubishi Corporation is a proud sponsor of the race which is hosted by Oita Prefecture, the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation, the Japan Paralympics Committee, Oita City and others. This year, 30 volunteers from Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) including employees from our Kyushu Branch in Fukuoka, Oita Branch Office and Mitsubishi Corporation (Korea) in Seoul turned out to lend a hand by providing race management support such as minding the wheel chairs and hand luggage of competitors and providing assistance in and around the race course. This year the race also served as the Olympic Selection Race for the Beijing Paralympics to be held next year in China and the atmosphere in Oita City was at fever pitch from the fierce competition between the different countries' top athletes.

During the October 6th to 8th long-weekend, the "Autumn Camp at Lake Yamanaka" was once again held at Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi Prefecture. Working in partnership with the Tokyo YMCA, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has been supporting the camp since 2003. The camp aims to give children with learning disabilities a chance to try a variety of activities in a free and open environment, thereby fostering a new sense of confidence among the participants; at the same time, it is hoped that the children can develop stronger communications skills as they cooperate with each other to accomplish various tasks during the program. Thirty-four camp leaders, including three volunteers from MC, joined 37 children at the camp again this October. The children enjoyed a variety of activities together with camp leaders, choosing from a program that included hiking, handicrafts and canoeing on the lake. The participants spent an action-packed three days under sunny autumn skies.

On October 24th, a chigiri-e, (hand-made picture made out of tiny torn pieces of multi-colored Japanese paper) was presented to the children and medical staff of the National Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The chigiri-e, which was a featured article for Environmental and Social Activities last month, was created by 40 MC volunteers using an outline of the picture and art materials provided by project partners, the Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR). Attending the presentation ceremony for the A2-sized finished work were employees from Mitsubishi Corporation Phnom Penh Office and representatives of FIDR. MC received a comment from the hospital saying, 'It brightens up the hospital and also brings joy to the children. We expect it will contribute to the healing process.' MC hopes that this picture lifts the spirits as many children as possible.

September 2007 On September 12th and 27th a total of 40 MC employees took time to help create a colorful 42 cm x 59.4cm hand-made picture made out of tiny torn pieces of multi-colored Japanese paper. The activity was run in cooperation with the Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR) who also provided the outline of the picture used. Volunteers worked in small groups and each group completed one of the 8 total pieces of the picture which features children and animals playing together. The picture is planned to be presented to the National Pediatric Hospital in Cambodia sometime in late October.

On September 14th and 26th, 50 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) volunteers took time to prepare picture books for children in Southeast Asia. This activity, which has grown quite popular among MC employees, involves adhering stickers that have been translated into various local languages to Japanese language picture books. Books were prepared in Cambodian and Laotian as well as other languages like Pashto and Karen, which are languages used in Afghanistan and Myanmar respectively, and will be donated to children in each of the designated countries.

On September 17th, 11 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees volunteered to run in the 2007 Green Ribbon Running Festival which MC also co-sponsored. The green ribbon is the international symbol for organ donation and transplant awareness and this event gave organ transplant recipients, the disabled and concerned citizens in general the opportunity to run for the cause. Roughly 2,500 participants came out to run and to share in the joy of living healthy lives. In addition Yuichi Takahashi, a gold medalist at the Athens Paralympics and an employee at IT Frontier one of MC's group companies, ran in the 10 kilometer race as a guest runner.

Tokyo YMCA's International Charity Run, which is held in order to help support the outdoor activities of children with disabilities, was held under beautiful fall skies in Tokyo on September 22nd. The Charity Run comprises of a relay race run by teams made up of 6 volunteers each. Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) was a co-sponsor of the race and was also proud to have 3 teams of MC employees, 18 volunteers in total, run for the cause. YMCA's Charity Run is held at 12 locations throughout Japan including Hokkaido, Kobe and Hiroshima and all profits are used to support the running of outdoor activities for disabled children.

August 2007 On August 21st and 22nd a total of 40 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees gathered at the Shinagawa and Marunouchi offices after work to make cloth toys for children with disabilities. MC volunteers, in cooperation with the Kanagawa Prefecture-based volunteer circle Group Moko Moko, sewed together pull string toy birds that make various cheeping and chirping sounds. The finished toys, which can help promote hand movement skills and are safe for children to use, will be donated to various institutions including schools for the disabled, special needs classrooms within elementary schools and toy libraries.

July 2007 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has held its Friendship Camp for Mothers and Children each summer since 1974 and this year's gathering, held from the 28th to the 31st of July, marked the camp's 34th year. Single mothers and their children from the Tokyo area were invited to spend four days and three nights together in the rich natural environment surrounding a small town in Niigata Prefecture. Around 100 mothers and children participated in this year's camp. With the assistance of 26 volunteers from MC and MC group companies, the participants enjoyed the great outdoors and encountered many new discoveries out in the wilderness. A number of special workshops and activities were also organized for the mothers, and both the parents and the children spent a memorable four days at the camp.

The Tokyo National Museum and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) teamed up to invite 51 disabled citizens and their families to participate in a Netsuke* workshop on July 7th. A volunteer group from the museum instructed the participants on how to make the Netsuke while eight MC volunteers helped with the running of the event. The participants used colorful clay to make Netsuke that resembled animals, flowers and various other objects. After the Netsuke were finished, some of the participants added string to their creations so that they could hang them from their cell phones or wear them as a pendant. Some of the comments received from the participants included, "I thought that it was a very fulfilling event and really hope that they hold it again in the future." * During the Edo period (1603-1867) traditional clothing did not contain pockets so many men carried personal items like pipes and money in pouches that hung from a string attached to the obi (sash/belt). A Netsuke is a small ornamental toggle that was originally used to stop the string from slipping from the obi.

On July 14th, seven Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees joined volunteers from the Chiyoda Volunteer Center to participate in Hohoemi Festa 2007 which was held at a local senior citizens complex called Iwamotocho Hohoemi Plaza. In order to prepare the volunteers for the event, pre-training was held on a wide range of activities including how to assist those in wheelchairs, how to apply make-up and how to give hand massages. In addition to the makeovers and hand massages that ensued during the actual event, volunteers also helped those in wheelchairs partake in musical performances and in exercises that used musical instruments. A booth was also set up to take pictures of the senior citizens with their volunteer helpers. The pictures were then given to the senior citizens in order to commemorate a day that was enjoyed by all.

The Marunouchi Citizens' Environmental Forum has been jointly organized and hosted by Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Japan Airlines and the Tokyo Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Company since 1993. On July 17th, the 46th forum was held featuring a lecture on the theme of "Towards a Barrier-Free Minded Society" from Kayoko Hosokawa, Chairwoman of Special Olympics Nippon (SON). During her lecture, Chairwoman Hosokawa discussed her involvement with the launching of SON, what she has learned through working with the organization and what her experiences have been like as a woman active on the front-lines of society. Around 150 people attended the lecture which was followed by a very lively exchange of questions and answers.

On July 5th and 10th a total of 67 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) volunteers took time to prepare picture books for children in Southeast Asia. The activity, which has grown quite popular among MC employees, involves adhering stickers that have been translated into various local languages to Japanese language picture books. During this most recent activity, books were prepared in Cambodian and Laotian as well as other languages like Pashto and Karen, which are languages used in Afghanistan and Myanmar respectively. Several new titles were also added to the list of picture books that can be prepared.

June 2007 On June 6th and 7th, a total of 50 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees gathered at the Shinagawa and Marunouchi offices after work to participate in a volunteer activity that involved making cloth toys for children with disabilities. With the guidance of a member from the Kanagawa Prefecture-based volunteer circle Group Moko Moko, MC volunteers sewed together cloth bunny rabbits and bears that make noise when you squeeze them. The finished toys, which will help promote hand movement in addition to being safe for the children to use, will be donated to various institutions including schools for the disabled and toy libraries. It was the first time for MC to hold this particular volunteer activity and with positive feedback from the participants there are plans to offer the program regularly in the future.

On June 20th, 6 students from the Oguchi Hokubu Junior High School located in Aichi Prefecture's Oguchi Town, visited Mitsubishi Corporation's (MC) Marunouchi office. The students were in Tokyo to learn about the activities of corporations and other organizations in order to gain insight into potential future career paths. Students learned about MC's business activities by talking with MC staff, watching a DVD presentation on the company and even by handling samples of the materials traded by MC, such as iron ore and rock salt. The students were also very inquisitive throughout the study tour which helped to enhance the substance of their experience.

May 2007 Since 2005, staff from Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) have volunteered time to help with forest preservation activities within designated conservation areas on the outskirts of Tokyo. On May 2nd, 150 new MC hires participated in the same program, but at three separate locations due to the sheer number of participants. Tasks for the day differed by location, but included cutting back excess trees and clearing away undergrowth in order to better maintain the conservation areas. Local volunteer groups started the day off by giving the new hires an overview of the purpose and importance of the preservation activities that the group was about to partake in. The informative explanations were well appreciated by the MC volunteers as the content provided them with a better feeling of satisfaction and achievement when the day was done. MC plans to continue this program for new hires in the future.

On Saturday May 19th, Tokyo National Museum and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) collaborated to hold a special viewing of the temporary Leonardo da Vinci exhibit entitled "The Mind of Leonardo". Over 440 Tokyo citizens with disabilities attended the event to view various da Vinci works including the masterpiece "Annunciation". 32 MC volunteers came out to the event to help with various administrative tasks as well as with guiding participants in wheelchairs around the museum. Many words of appreciation were received from the participants including, "It was great fun to be able to view the various works of art together with the volunteers" and "I am really glad that I was able to participate in the event. I had almost given up the thought of seeing the exhibit as I knew there would be throngs of people in attendance due to the popularity of Leonardo da Vinci."

A total of 60 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) volunteers showed up on May 14th and 16th to help prepare picture books for children in Cambodia and Laos. The activity involves adhering stickers with Cambodian (Khmer) and Laotian translations into Japanese language children books. The translations for the books were prepared prior to the event by the Shanti Volunteer Association. This particular volunteer activity has proven very popular among MC employees.

The earthquake that struck Central Java in Indonesia in May of 2006 claimed over 5,800 lives and destroyed or damaged over 400,000 homes and buildings. In an effort to assist in the area's reconstruction efforts, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) teamed up with Plan Japan (a national branch of the Plan international organization) to construct a new Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) center in Wonokromo Village, Bantul Regency . On May 1st 2007, the facility was officially opened thanks in part to the local citizens who were actively involved in the planning and construction of the center. The ECCD center, which will also be run by the local citizens, will benefit roughly 140 children and parents.

Since 2005, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has been implementing the "Global Coral Reef Conservation Project" which brings industry, academia and citizens together in an effort to contribute to society through environmental preservation. The project is conducted across three sites globally: Okinawa in Japan, Midway Atoll in the United States and the Republic of Seychelles. The Okinawa study volunteer program was held from May 17th to May 21st, kicking-off this fiscal year's schedule of programs. Under the guidance of Professor Yoshimi Suzuki of Shizuoka University's Graduate School of Science and Technology, 10 MC volunteers assisted in research activities at Sesoko Station which is run by the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa. The remaining schedule for this fiscal year includes programs in Midway and the Seychelles in July as well as a second Okinawa study in September.

A handing-over ceremony was held on Tuesday May 8th in Cebu, Philippines to recognize Mitsubishi Corporation's (MC) donation of classroom buildings as part of the Classroom, Gailing sa Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad (CGMA) project. This project is part of the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment's request for contributions to help address the persistent lack of suitable classrooms for elementary and junior high students in the country. MC, through its Manila Branch, has been involved with this project since 2006 as part of its Overseas Regional Aid Program. This particular handing-over ceremony, which was attended by MC's Manila Branch GM, Toshifumi Inami and two employees, was held to recognize the completion of 6 public elementary school classrooms in two fishing villages in Cebu. These classrooms were part of the donations originally initiated in 2006. On the day of the ceremony, students, teachers and staff from the schools showed up to express their thanks through words and through written letters. This project has helped to increase the consciousness of the MC Manila Branch employees; so much in fact that many voluntarily chipped in to purchase and then donate electric fans to the schools.

April 2007 The National Museum of Western Art and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) teamed up to offer disabled individuals an exclusive viewing of the museum's permanent collection. On Saturday April 14th around 100 Tokyo area citizens with disabilities participated in the event which featured sculptures and paintings by the likes of Rodin, Monet and others. 16 volunteers from MC showed up to help with such tasks as registration and guiding participants in wheelchairs around the museum. Comments from participants included "Viewing the art together with one of the volunteers put me at ease as I didn't have to worry about getting lost." The next event similar to this one is scheduled for this coming autumn.

Each year Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) collects damaged or out of date postcards, used stamps etc. and donates them to welfare facilities who ultimately exchange them, in mass quantities, for money. On April 24th and 26th, 14 MC volunteers took time to separate, sort and cut away unnecessary envelope from gathered stamps. This tedious process is usually done by the recipients of the donations as it is necessary in order to trade the stamps in for cash. The event proved to be doubly rewarding for the participants as they also used the opportunity to exchange thoughts and information on volunteering.

March 2007 The 45th Marunouchi Citizens' Environmental Forum was held in Tokyo on March 2nd. Since 1993, these forums have been jointly organized by Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Japan Airlines and the Tokyo Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Company and are held several times a year. Masato Mizuno, Chairman of the Sports and Environment Commission of the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC), spoke on the topic of "Sports and the Environment" with regard to the sports industry's approach to environmental conservation. In addition, Olympic gold medalists Mitsuo Tsukahara (Gymnastics) and Takashi Kobayashi (Wrestling) each spoke about issues regarding environmental consideration. 185 people attended the forum which included a question and answer session that was filled with inquiries from the audience.

Tokyo YMCA "liby" is a program that provides a place to gather for children who are unwilling to go to school because they feel that they don't fit in. A Charity Concert was held on March 10th as a way to help support the activities of this program. Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees not only assisted with administrative issues but members from MC's Chorus Club also performed in the concert itself. Nearly 200 people showed up for the lively concert which included performances by the children from "liby", student music groups and by professional musicians. Part of the profits and all of the donations from the event will go to help support the programs of "liby".

A total of 73 Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) volunteers from both the Marunouchi Office and Shinagawa Office took time out of their schedules to help prepare picture books for children in Cambodia and Laos on March 7th and 12th. This easy to do activity, which involves attaching Cambodian and Laotian translations to Japanese children's books, has grown to be a very popular volunteer opportunity within MC.

Nine Mitsubishi Corporation Kansai Branch (MC Kansai) employees volunteered time to clean up a bridge in the city of Osaka on March 25th. The activity was organized by a local NPO called "Osaka Mizukaido 808" which conducts environmental improvement projects related to rivers within the city of Osaka. A total of 200 volunteers showed up on a beautiful sunny day to clean the Nishiki Bashi bridge, which is very close to the MC Kansai Office. Volunteers spent over an hour using scrub brushes to clean away dirt and grime from the bridge. Although this wasn't your usual task, everyone that participated came away with a better sense of appreciation for the bridges that they use on a daily basis.

February 2007 With the cooperation of professional soccer team "FC Tokyo", Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) organized a one-day soccer school for elementary school students in the care of local welfare institutions. Held on February 3rd, it was the 10th time that MC has organized such a school and volunteers from MC were also on hand to assist. 63 children participated in the event and all listened intently as they received professional guidance from FC Tokyo's coach, including advice regarding basic skills like dribbling and passing. With a "mini-game" held in the latter half of the program, the children enjoyed a full day of soccer.

"Tokyo Marathon 2007" was held on February 18th and offered professional as well as amateur runners a chance to run through the streets of Tokyo together. Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) employees braved the weather to help hand out drinks to the runners and to cheer them on as they ran through the cold, wet course.

Toyota Motor Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation's Chubu Area Branch Office (MC Chubu) co-hosted a new social contributions program for graduating high school students who have been in the care of welfare institutions in Aichi Prefecture. Around 40 soon-to-be graduates were invited to the event on February 24th which featured such opportunities as a tour of the Toyota Kaikan, a manners class taught through a full course French meal and a chance to speak with and gain encouragement from former graduates. MC Chubu volunteers were present throughout the event to provide support and to interact with the students as they enjoyed the full day of activities. MC Chubu hopes to continue this program in the future.

During the month of December 2006, several typhoons, including the powerful typhoon Durian, tore through the central region of the Philippine islands, claiming over 1,000 lives and destroying nearly 150,000 homes. In response to this disaster, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) donated two (2) vehicles to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council in Marinduque Province, an area that suffered significant losses due to the typhoons. It is hoped that the donated vehicles, one Isuzu DMAX pick-up truck and one Isuzu Crosswind AUV, will help provide transport support for relief aid in the area. A handing-over ceremony was held on February 15th, and was attended by Governor Reyes of Marinduque and by President Komura of the Isuzu Philippines Corporation where the donated vehicles were manufactured.

January 2007 Forest conservation activities organized by Tokyo Greenship Action were held on January 13, 2007 in Hachioji City on the outskirts of Tokyo. Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) contributes to Tokyo Greenship Action by providing funds to help preserve conservation areas designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and by recruiting employees to volunteer in related activities. This particular event was the second one MC has participated in during fiscal 2006. Roughly 40 volunteers, including MC employees, their families and MC international scholarship recipients studying in Japan, spent the day working under the guidance of a local non-profit organization. Some of the work accomplished included tree thinning and construction of a footpath through the designated conservation area.

Preparing picture books for children in parts of Southeast Asia has been a successful and continuing volunteer project at Mitsubishi Corporation (MC). Most recently, over 100 employees assisted with the project at MC's Tokyo headquarters in Shinagawa and Marunouchi on January 17 and 18 respectively. Volunteers spent time cutting out Cambodian and Laotian translations of popular Japanese children's stories and attaching them to the inside of the story books. The finished books, which are very much appreciated by the children who receive them, will eventually be sent to local schools and libraries that are in short supply of such reading material. This project is also run at other MC branches and offices throughout Japan.