Apr. 10, 2013
Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.
Toyota Tsusho Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Tsusho Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
Three Toyota Group Companies Hold Ceremony to Reaffirm
Commitment to Tohoku Region Revitalization
Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc. (TMEJ), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Toyota Tsusho) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today held a ceremony in Miyagi Prefecture in Japan's Tohoku region―the region hardest hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011―to renew their commitment to the region's revitalization.
Approximately 100 people attended the ceremony, including Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai, Ohira Village Mayor Masahiro Atobe and other national and local government officials. Also in attendance were TMEJ President Takeshi Shirane, Toyota Tsusho President Jun Karube, TMC President Akio Toyoda and representatives of local businesses. The ceremony was held at TMEJ's on-site Technical Skills Academy.
Toyota announced Tohoku revitalization initiatives in July 2011 based on three pillars: the automobile industry, new business and social contribution. Today's ceremony was conducted to express gratitude toward governmental bodies, local businesses and others for their ongoing support as a number of the revitalization initiatives move into the operational stage this spring. These include the opening of TMEJ's Technical Skills Academy, the F-Grid Concept project that will serve as the core of a smart energy system for the industrial park where TMEJ is located, and the start of operations at Vegi Dream Kurihara Corporation's third bell pepper growing facility.
Toyoda spoke on behalf of the companies, saying: "True revitalization will take a long time. That is why the entire group of Toyota companies is dedicated to working together to carry out ongoing revitalization programs."
Miyagi Prefecture Governor Murai expressed high expectations for the ongoing support programs of the three companies, saying: "The continuous and widespread support of the Toyota group of companies in Tohoku is a powerful driving force that pushes ahead the revitalization of the region. Going forward, we will undertake revitalization efforts in even closer collaboration with Toyota and with a sense of urgency."
Approximately 100 people attended the ceremony, including Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai, Ohira Village Mayor Masahiro Atobe and other national and local government officials. Also in attendance were TMEJ President Takeshi Shirane, Toyota Tsusho President Jun Karube, TMC President Akio Toyoda and representatives of local businesses. The ceremony was held at TMEJ's on-site Technical Skills Academy.
Toyota announced Tohoku revitalization initiatives in July 2011 based on three pillars: the automobile industry, new business and social contribution. Today's ceremony was conducted to express gratitude toward governmental bodies, local businesses and others for their ongoing support as a number of the revitalization initiatives move into the operational stage this spring. These include the opening of TMEJ's Technical Skills Academy, the F-Grid Concept project that will serve as the core of a smart energy system for the industrial park where TMEJ is located, and the start of operations at Vegi Dream Kurihara Corporation's third bell pepper growing facility.
Toyoda spoke on behalf of the companies, saying: "True revitalization will take a long time. That is why the entire group of Toyota companies is dedicated to working together to carry out ongoing revitalization programs."
Miyagi Prefecture Governor Murai expressed high expectations for the ongoing support programs of the three companies, saying: "The continuous and widespread support of the Toyota group of companies in Tohoku is a powerful driving force that pushes ahead the revitalization of the region. Going forward, we will undertake revitalization efforts in even closer collaboration with Toyota and with a sense of urgency."
Main Toyota Initiatives Directed at Disaster Recovery and Restoration in the Tohoku Region
| Jul. 2011 | Tohoku revitalization initiatives announced with focus on the automobile industry, new business and social contribution programs |
| Automotive Industry Initiatives | |
| Jul. 2011 | Emergency AC 100 V 1500 W accessory outlets capable of supplying power from car batteries installed free of charge in 40 government "Prius" vehicles owned by prefectures in Tohoku area |
| Dec. 2011 | Kanto Auto Works, Ltd. Iwate Plant (now Toyota Motor East Japan Iwate Plant) begins production of "Aqua" compact hybrid |
| Apr. 2012 | Fifteen people from Tohoku area accepted into Toyota City Toyota Technical Skills Academy advanced technical training program as inaugural class of Toyota East Japan Technical Skills Academy in advance of its opening (to be transferred to Toyota Motor East Japan after graduation) |
| May 2012 | Central Motor Co., Ltd.'s Miyagi Plant (now Toyota Motor East Japan's Miyagi Ohira Plant) begins production of "Corolla Axio" and "Corolla Fielder" |
| Jul. 2012 | Kanto Auto Works, Ltd., Central Motor Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Tohoku Corporation merge, becoming Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc. |
| Dec. 2012 | Toyota Motor East Japan Miyagi engine plant construction completed and plant operations start |
| New Business Initiatives | |
| Oct. 2011 | Began business feasibility study for effective energy management oriented F-Grid Concept framework in Sendai Hokubu Industrial Park, home to the Central Motor Co., Ltd. Miyagi Plant (now Toyota Motor East Japan's Miyagi Ohira Plant) |
| Feb. 2012 | Installed and began operation of 7,800 kW-rated output cogeneration gas engine generator in Toyota Motor East Japan's Ohira Plant in Miyagi Prefecture |
| Oct. 2012 | Together with the Kamaishi city government, performed trial of on-demand buses linking temporary housing and urban areas of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture (Toyota provided the On-Demand Transportation System) |
| Nov. 2012 | Participated in Iwate Prefecture's Miyako City Blue Challenge Project Council |
| Dec. 2012 | TMC, Toyota Motor East Japan, Miyagi Prefecture, and Ohira Village entered a disaster support collaboration agreement |
| Feb. 2013 | Established F-Grid Ohira, Miyagi Limited Liability Partnership, an organization for promoting the F-Grid Concept |
| Apr. 2013 | Vegi Dream Kurihara's new facility―a new collaborative project between agriculture, commerce, and industry―begun public verification testing |
| Social Contribution Initiatives | |
| Jun. 2011 | Started Kokoro Hakobu disaster relief project |
| Jul. 2011 | Held Toyota Gentaiken Program, special public workshops for elementary school children in disaster areas, in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi |
| Jan. 2012 | As part of "Toyota―Meetings Between Children and Artists" initiative, held workshops by local artists in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Apr. 2012 | "Toyota Master Players, Wien" held recovery support charity concerts in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture and Morioka, Iwate Prefecture |
| Apr. 2012 | Decision made to provide support to Tomodachi Initiative, which gives young people in Tohoku region the opportunity to go on US/Japanese exchanges |
| Jun. 2012 | Decision made to hold Toyota Community Concerts in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture |
| Jul. 2012 | Held the Tohoku Automobile Festival, a special course for elementary school students |
| Aug. 2012 | Held "Science Jack-in-the-Box! What-and-Why Lecture" science/craft workshops in Morioka and Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture |
| Oct. 2012 | Kokoro Hakobu Project won the 2012 "Mecenat Award for Supporting Hearts" |
