In December 2009, Kyokuyo introduced a new jib crane of 120-ton capacity. It is the biggest investment in our plant in 4 years.

Kyokuyo has recently entered into a long-term contract with a language education company for further improving the English communication skills of its employees.

Time goes really fast these days, and it's October again. Yes, it's the month for "Kyokuyo Open", the golf game we hold annually to celebrate the anniversary of Kyokuyo's foundation 67 years ago. To thank our customers, suppliers, sub-contractors and other stakeholders, we invited no less than 144 players(!) to the most prestigious (and very difficult) course of the city, "Simonoseki Golf Club", on October 9.

After being launched impressively, as reported in News100, S-485 was named and delivered on August 31, 2009. She is the eldest of 4-unit series of 16,000m2 pure car carriers ordered by Sumitomo Corporation for Gram Car Carriers AS of Norway.

7 fresh technicians, out of Kyokuyo's 11 new recruits of 2009 as we introduced in news098, got their assignment recently.

Do you know Kyokuyo set up a cooperative in 2004 with several other companies in shipbuilding industry? In addition to group purchasing, it runs a trainee program, which makes it possible for young Chinese technicians to train in Japan.

Kyokuyo has installed 6 sets of roller fender systems in its main building dock. Together with block factory refurbishment, this is the highlight of the series of investments that the company has been focusing on to upgrade its overall manufacturing process efficiency.

In May 2009, Kyokuyo hosted a "reunion" golf tournament inviting former members of the company. This event, although held only irregularly, has a long history. Last year, we decided to renew it as an annually held event under name of "President's Cup" and voilà, it is the second time to host the game.

On April 10, a launching ceremony was carried out to celebrate S485, the first of a series of 16,000m2 PCTCs (Pure Car/Truck Carriers) Kyokuyo is building for a Europe-based customer.

This issue features the untimely report of Kyokuyo's yearly cherry-blossom-viewing a.k.a. "hanami" party, which was held on Saturday March 28 this year. The organizing team, consisting of '08 rookie employees, did good job analyzing weather reports, advertising the event, and getting what was necessary.

April 1, the first day of a fiscal year, is the day of personnel assignment and reassignment of Kyokuyo, like many other Japanese firms. This year, no less than 20 employees were reassigned, and most cases are that of mid-level members who gained appointment to a higher or management position within the framework of the managerial challenge for organizational rejuvenation.

On March 24, naming and delivery ceremonies for a 13,400tdw type multi-purpose cargo ship took place. The vessel, code-named S492, was ordered by Diomedes World S.A. to be chartered out to Carisbrooke Shipping of England. The ceremonies were attended by 15 guests including Carisbrooke Managing Director Mr. Ian Walker and his wife Janet, and ex-Managing Director Mr. Willem Wester and his wife Heleen, among others.

Hello, I am Saeki, General Manager of Production Division. In this issue, I will introduce the car carrier that Kyokuyo will build for the first time in 25 years!

Tetsuo Mitsui, Kyokuyo's senior managing director, delivered a special lecture at Ito New Campus of Kyushu University on January 22, 2009.

As explained in the news079, Kyokuyo Shipyard presents a gift every year to the employees who have just reached 20 years of age, on the occasion of "Seijin-no-Hi", Japanese coming-of-age day. Being celebrated on the second Monday of January, this national holiday fell on January 12 this year. We held our ceremony on 9th, the working day immediately before Seijin-no-Hi.

Wishing you all a happy new year, I would like to say some words about 2009's Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation.