FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPlanting to take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Area's Water Source Tokyo, March 9, 2006 --- Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) (TSE: 2914) announced today that, in accordance with its commitment to natural conservation, the company would start its second afforestation and forest conservation project in Japan. Beginning May 2006 and continuing for five years, JT will plant broad-leaved trees in a forest of needle-leaved trees in Kosuge-mura, Kitatsuru-gun, Yamanashi prefecture, and work to conserve the planted area, which extends approximately 13 hectares (approximately 32.5 acres), following the company's first successful initiative of this sort in Wakayama prefecture. The planting will take place within the water source forest for the Tokyo metropolitan area, and this initiative is expected to improve the function of the water source and contribute to the fight against global warming and ecosystem integrity. In the Wakayama project, approximately 250 people, including JT employees and their families along with many local residents and support staff, participated in a tree-planting ceremony, in which about 1,500 trees were planted. Then, about 100 people got together to trim weeds around the trees last September. Considering how successful those events were, JT will again call for additional cooperation with its conservation activities in the Kosuge project. JT will continue to be committed to the creation and conservation of a better eco-environment for future generations. ###
Japan Tobacco Inc. is the world's third largest international manufacturer of tobacco products. The company manufactures internationally recognized cigarette brands including Camel, Winston, Mild Seven and Salem. Since its privatization in 1985, JT has actively diversified its operations into pharmaceuticals and foods. The company's net sales were JPY 4.664 trillion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. |
