In April 2011, Mitsubishi Chemical offered 200 portable solar chargers that enable cell phones to be charged by sunlight, to localities devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures). The chargers are being used by people in areas where power supply failed due to the earthquake and by those in outdoor restoration work.

Mitsubishi Chemical offered a solar power lighting system for the Message of Light event held at Tokyo Tower (organized by Nippon Television City Corp; with cooperation from Motoko Ishii Lighting Design Inc.). The event was held with the hope of providing cheer for those who suffered damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake and those in the Tokyo Metropolitan area feeling a loss of vitality in the city due to the power-saving efforts.

The event was held twice, and during the first phase from April 11 to 16, 2011, the message "GANBARO NIPPON" was lit on the Tokyo Tower. During the second phase from April 22 to May 10, a four-color, heart-shaped illumination was lit on the four sides of the Tokyo Tower observation deck with the project title "Message of Light from the Heart - Bringing Our Hearts Together." All illumination was powered by Mitsubishi Chemical's solar-powered lighting system.

The United Nations General Assembly has decided to make the year 2011 the International Year of Chemistry, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Madame Curie receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Mitsubishi Chemical conducted social contribution activities for further advancing chemistry and widely disseminating and building awareness on chemistry within our society.

The Traveling Science Class of the head office of Mitsubishi Chemical visited the Shiba Elementary School in Minato Ward in February 2011 to offer chemistry lessons to fifth and sixth graders. Children experienced making fruit-based batteries, which use zinc and copper as electrodes and lemon, apple, and other fruit juices as electrolyte. The participating children showed a great deal of interest as they spoke with each other wondering if a battery would really work using fruit. Schoolteachers requested that we continue holding these classes and we plan to make similar activities in fiscal 2011.

In January and February 2011, our Traveling Science Classroom visited four elementary schools in the neighborhood of the Kashima Plant in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, to provide chemistry lessons for fifth graders. Such classes have been held since 2000 to forge communications between the plant and local communities, and for conveying the excitement of chemistry to local elementary school children.

In fiscal 2010, a total of 40 workers participated, mainly R&D Center members who led the classes. Classes were held for four days under the topics "magic powder" and "let's make snow." In the lesson on magic powder, a water absorption experiment was done using Aqua Pearl (super-absorbent polymer manufactured by San-Dia Polymers, Ltd.) In the lesson for snow-making, children took part in experiments for making crystals of salt and other substances. The children who participated seemed enchanted by the mysterious chemical phenomena, and listened intently to lectures from the instructors. Preparations are underway for the lessons to be offered in fiscal 2011.

In October 2010, Mitsubishi Chemical held a chemistry class during the 22nd Chikuzen Kurosaki Town Festival in the Kurosaki area centered on Kurosaki Central Park in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. This is the seventh year we have held science classes during the Festival, with workers of the Kurosaki Plant serving as instructors every year. In fiscal 2010, experiments were done for making an aromatic substance from Aqua Pearl (super-absorbent polymer manufactured by San-Dia Polymer, Ltd.), and making slime from laundry starch. Both classes were hugely popular among the children. An employee who worked as an instructor noted emphatically, "I can't forget the children's surprised expressions. I want to continue working to provide dreams for children."

In November 2010, Mitsubishi Chemical Mizushima Plant and two Group companies presented exhibits in three booths at the 2010 Youngster's Science Festival in Kurashiki. Mitsubishi Chemical conducted an experiment for making slime from laundry starch, under the title "Let's make sparkling slime." One of the Group companies, TM Air Co., Ltd., offered an opportunity to witness a super low temperature (-196℃) by using liquid nitrogen. Another Group company, MC Humanets, performed an experiment using a toy made of PET bottle that floats and sinks in water.

A large number of children participated in the experiments, with keen interest. Mitsubishi Chemical hopes to foster interest in chemistry among children through such experiments.

Mitsubishi Chemical has supported the Mitsubishi Chemical Junior Designer Award (MCJDA) since fiscal 2006, for supporting young designers and promoting design. MCJDA is the only Award in Japan for graduation projects of students aspiring to be leading designers, in all areas of design including product, graphic, fashion, multimedia, packaging and design studies. Through MCJDA, we strive to create opportunities to find promising young designers and introduce them to the public. We usually issue a call for works in January, and announce the award winners and exhibit the winner's project in the fall.

In fiscal 2010, the 10th^* awards, 304 works were sent in, the largest number yet. Of these, 14 won award for their uniqueness, representing a great variety.

* This is the fifth awarding since the title changed to MCJDA because of changes in supporting companies

For half a year starting October 2009, Mitsubishi Chemical conducted activities to reduce the use of printing and copier paper at its head office building. Teams were formed by each division competing in the volume of paper reduced. Teams that achieved a 20% or greater reduction in cost could spend the reduction amount on social contribution activities or for introducing business efficiency improvement tools.

The activity led to a roughly 320,000-sheet reduction in the use of A4-sized paper and CO₂ emissions were decreased by around 1,311 kg. Taking this opportunity, a contribution was made to My Tree, one of the programs of Green Tokyo Community Chest, which is aiming to revive Tokyo into a greenery-filled city. In May 2011, our company planted seven candleberry trees along Kaigan-dori in Shibaura, Tokyo.