The inaugural reception of Michi Creative City Designers Inc., which took place on February 27 at the International House of Japan in Tokyo, was a great success with about 80 participants including distinguished guests.
The reception was convened by three distinguished figures, who have been close friends of Michi Kohno, President and CEO, and are now strong supporters of Michi’s new ambition of creating a company; namely, Professor Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, ex-President of Science Council of Japan, ex-President of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and ex-Dean of the University of Tokyo; Mr. Kunio Hatoyama, a Member of House of Representatives, former Minister of State for Interior (Local Autonomy and Telecommunication), and former Minister of State for Education; and Professor Takashi Onishi, the President of Science Council of Japan and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo in Urban Engineering.
The reception started with the opening remarks by Professor Onishi, one of the conveners, which was followed by a congratulatory speech and toast by Dr. Masaharu Sumikawa, Special Advisor and a former Executive Vice President of Hitachi, Ltd., and Michi made a thanks greetings after this.
While the reception attendants enjoyed talking with other attendants, congratulatory speeches were given by such distinguished guests as: Professor Hiroshi Komiyama, Chairman of Mitsubishi Research Institute and ex-Dean of the University of Tokyo; Mr. Kazuo Furukawa, Chairman of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, a governmental agency, and an ex-President of Hitachi, Ltd.; Mr. Tsuyoshi Nakawake, Vice President and Board Director of NIKKEN SEKKEI, Japan’s largest architect and urban master planning enterprise; Mr. Mitsuo Takayama, President of Hitachi Information and Control Solutions; and Mr. Ichiyo Ishikawa, Senior News Commentator of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Bureau).
In the latter part of the reception, Mr. Hatoyama, one of the conveners, made an encouraging greetings, and the other convener, Professor Yoshikawa delivered the closing remarks, which successfully finished the reception.