OREANDA-NEWS.  February 17, 2012. ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that ITOCHU is officially sponsoring and exhibiting a pavilion that focuses on the environment, at KidZania Tokyo (Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo) which is a facility for children to experience the diverse occupations operated by KCJ Group Inc. (Headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO Einosuke Sumitani), starting from April 2012. Utilizing the know-how on environmental education accumulated through the global environmental “MOTTAINAI Campaign” (based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Tatsuo Nanai), in which ITOCHU has participated, the Eco Shop pavilion will open where children can experience eco-friendly activities.


Objective

ITOCHU advocates fostering future generations and environmental conservation as part of the Basic Activity Guidelines on Social Contribution, which is pursuing initiatives in these areas as part of its CSR activities. Involved in the MOTTAINAI Campaign since 2005, ITOCHU has aimed to make the word “mottainai,” which embodies reduce (reducing waste), reuse, recycle, and a feeling of respect toward the irreplaceable resources of the Earth, an international keyword for protecting the environment, to held build a sustainable and recycling-oriented society. By sponsoring a place where children can learn about environmental conservation from a global perspective while having fun at KidZania Tokyo, a popular facility for children, ITOCHU aspires to help foster the next generation of sustainable society leaders.

Features of the Pavilion

The ITOCHU Pavilion features the activities of the MOTTAINAI Campaign, and visitors will create eco-friendly and original products such as My Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth, Eco-Bag for Shopping, and My Chopsticks to Carry Along, using eco-friendly materials. Kids may take home the goods they created and use them in their daily lives as their own eco-friendly goods. We are hoping this will help enhance their awareness of environmental conservation in their daily lives.
 Also, the amount equivalent to one tree sapling will be donated to the Green Belt Movement, the tree planting activity established in Kenya by Ms. Wangari Muta Maathai (1940-2011), for each child who participates. These activities are intended to help participating children familiarize themselves with global environmental issues, and cultivate an awareness of the need to participate in specific actions.