Chairman of Mitutoyo & Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism) Toshihide Numata Awarded "Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany"

Toshihide Numata, Chairman of Mitutoyo Corporation, was awarded a "Verdienstkreuz erster Klasse des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany)" from the Federal Republic of Germany. The conferment ceremony was held on May 14 at the Germany Embassy in Japan, where the Honorable Henrik Schmiegelow, German Ambassador to Japan, conferred the order upon Mr. Numata. Mitutoyo has been actively engaged in sales and research in Germany to meet the needs of local users since March of 1968, when we established Sampo Germany (currently Mitutoyo Messgeraete GmbH) as a local subsidiary in Dusseldorf. Yehan Numata, the founder of Mitutoyo and the father of the current chairman, established Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai in Germany for the purpose of disseminating Buddhism overseas, and also to achieve his grand ideal of spreading the spirit of Oriental culture in Germany. To practice his beliefs, Mitutoyo has implemented a range of programs there, including the building of the EKO Japanese Culture Center in Germany, involvement in the activities designed to propagate Oriental culture, and establishment of a sponsored course on Buddhism at Hamburg University. The conferment of the order to Mr. Numata demonstrates Germany's appreciation of Mitutoyo's contribution to the promotion of friendship between Japan and Germany, as well as for the advancement of science and research, through the EKO Japanese Culture Center in Germany and Mitutoyo's research facilities in the FRG. Mitutoyo will continue to play a role in promoting a deeper understanding between Eastern and Western cultures, while spreading a spiritual culture of coexistence and coprosperity. We will strive to accomplish as much as we can the wish of the founder, so that we might serve as a bridge to the world peace.

May 14,2002

[ Close ]