Overview of the agency

ESTABLISHMENT	October 1, 1996
Form of the Organization	Non-profit Organization
President	Mr.Wataru Hamamoto
Head office	3F, Akasaka Nakagawa Bldg. 3-11-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku Tokyo Japan 170-0052 Tel 03-5570-2181, +81-3-5570-2181(from abroad) Fax 03-5570-8035
Kansai branch	3F, Nanbamuromachi Bldg. 1-12-5 Nanbanaka Naniwa-ku Osaka Japan 556-0011 Tel 06-4396-8680, +81-6-4396-8680(from abroad) Fax 06-4396-8681
Chugoku branch	5F, 502-B Nakagawa Bldg. 6-7 Teppocho Naka-ku Hiroshima Japan 730-0017 Tel/Fax 082-222-5101, +81-82-222-5101(from abroad)

Main spirit

As we are facing the more serious problems like rapid aging and very low birth rate, Japan would eventually be an aged society. No other country, other than ours, has ever experienced such difficulty before. It is a real shock to know that statistically, a quarter of the total population in Japan will be composed of the elderly aged 65 and over in 2014. Under such conditions, we think that senior people must willingly take part in social activities for Japan in order to keep their high energy and maintain the same standard of living as they are having today and more in the future. We recognize an urgent need to make a stage for senior people to join together and gain more success. To address this need, Mitsui Interbusiness Research Institute (MIRI) formed Mitsui Volunteer Network ( Mitsui V-Net) and it was founded in 1996 by the Mitsui Group of Companies and MIRI.

Idea

The Mitsui V-Net, which is mainly composed of the Mitsui Group of Companies' members or retired workers, primarily promotes volunteer activities for senior people and supports them in having continuous health and wealth and eventually finding their life worth. We firmly believe that the Mitsui Group of Companies takes the lead and wholeheartedly dedicates themselves to help our society.

Summary of activities

Right now, an annual total of 5,000 persons composed of the Mitsui Group of Companies' members, retired men and women, with their families, and friends, are involved in our activities such as following.

1 International Exchanges

＊One-on-one interaction with international students and their families. Giving advice in everyday life, Japanese language training, learning about society, economy, culture and traditions and customs in Japan, among others. We have cooperated with the following universities:
The University of Tokyo, Chiba University, Komazawa University, Yokohama National University, Saitama University, Kobe University, Doshisha University, Osaka University, and Osaka Metropolitan University.

＊We also plan and implement events at each university that bring international students and volunteer members together aside from one-on-one interaction where pairs of them work individually. (Examples: Welcome walk, kimono wearing experience, calligraphy class, and factory tour)

• About International Exchanges

2 Environment Protection

＊We co-sponsor the " International Cleanup Activity"and the " International Coastal Cleanup Campaign " so that we can do voluntary cleanup tasks at Tama River, Arakawa River, Kamakura Yuigahama Beach, Suma Beach, Kaizuka-shi Nishiki no Hama, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and others.
We are also caring for cherry blossom trees along Haji Dam lakeside in Hiroshima Prefecture.

3 Medical Care, Welfare and Cultural Activities

＊Volunteer work at hospital：We assist patients on how to use a transaction device for revisiting patients and the process of paying by ATM. As volunteers, we also guide the patients inside the hospital and check out books at the following medical care facilities: Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, University of Tokyo Hospital, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Chiba University Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital, Osaka Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Kobe University Hospital, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital.

＊Volunteer for events management：We provide back-up support on the organization of events, exhibitions and classes conducted by Nippon Charity Kyokai Foundation who takes care of both the mentally and physically handicapped persons as well as elderly people.

＊Volunteer work at the child welfare facility: We try to reach out to children who are housed at Elizabeth Saunders Home, a foster home, in addition to maintaining good living facilities as well as conducting cleanups. A charity concert is also held to support fund raising.

＊Volunteer at the culture facility :We help in accomplishing the tasks done at the front desk, guide and gardening at the following culture facilities: Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum, Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa, Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, and Kids Plaza Osaka.
Supporting reception work at opera performances at JMS Aster Plaza in Hiroshima.

＊We regularly hold Taiko a concert at the Hogaraka and Hikarinosono Nursing Homes and at the Resort Arcadia Village.

＊Sports support volunteer: Support on the day of events such as Professional golf tournament, "Osaka Marathon", "Kobe Marathon", "Emperor's Cup National Interprefectural Men's Ekiden Tournament", etc.

4Regional activities

Our members serve the society as community- based volunteers and have gatherings to update one another on the conduct of activities, Syounan Club.

5 Other

＊Activity of Mitsui V-Net Foundation for child- support to developing countries
We are raising scholarship funds by collecting refundable spoiled postcards and stamps.

＊Publication of our newsletter

We publish our newsletter once a year for the retired men and women of Mitsui V-Net Cooperative Companies.

Operating member companies (oder of the Japanese syllabary )

SANKI ENGINEERING, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Taiju Life Insurance, DENKA, TOSHIBA, TORAY, The Japan Steel Works, BIPROGY, Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsui Interbusiness Research, MITSUI MINING & SMELTING, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING, SUMITOMO MITSUI CONSTRUCTION, SUMITOMO MITSUI TRUST BANK, MITSUI-SOKO HOLDINGS, MITSUI & CO, MITSUI FUDOSAN, ISETAN MITSUKOSHI HOLDINGS