Greeting
Since its founding in May, 1983, the International Friendship Exchange Council(FEC) has made extensive efforts to deepen interactions and mutual understanding at a private level between Japan and countries around the world, through economic, cultural, human relations and other variety of projects.
The heart to heart interactions between individuals that we aim at never declines in importance, no matter how the times change. Relations between countries, on the other hand, are influenced by the political and economic conditions of the times. For this reason, it becomes more and more important to cultivate feelings of mutual understanding and build strong relationship of trust that will not be washed away by the currents of the times.
Our abilities may be limited, but together with all of you, we would like to promote private diplomacy, progressing step by step toward international fraternity and realization of world peace.
- Chairman of FEC
- Chihiro Kanagawa, Ph.D.
Education
| Mar. 1950 |
Graduated from Tokyo University, Faculty of Law |
| Jun. 2011 |
Conferred a Doctor of Philosophy degree by the Graduate School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo with a dissertation about management of Shintech |
Professional Career
| Jan. 2011 |
Chairman and Founder, Shintech, Inc. (continuing) |
| Jun. 2010 |
Chairman, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (continuing) |
| Aug. 1990 |
President and CEO., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. |
| Aug. 1983 |
Corporate Executive Vice President, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. |
| Jan. 1979 |
Corporate Senior Managing Director, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. |
| Mar. 1978 |
President and CEO., Shintech, Inc. |
| Aug. 1976 |
Corporate Managing Director, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
| Jan. 1975 |
Corporate Director, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., and President of International Div. |
| Feb. 1962 |
Joined Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. |
Other Career Positions
| May. 2002 |
Executive Member of the Board of Directors of the Japan Business Federation (continuing) |
| Jun. 2001 |
Chairman of the International Friendship Exchange Council (continuing) |
| May. 2000 |
Special Adviser to the Vinyl Environmental Council of Japan (continuing) |
| Jan. 2000 |
Member of the Committee on International Affairs of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (continuing) |
| Jan. 1998 - May. 2000 |
Chairman of the Vinyl Environmental Council of Japan |
| Sept. 1990 |
Director of the Plastic Waste Management Institute (continuing) |
| Sept. 1990 |
Director of the Japan Chemical Industry Association (continuing) |
| Sept. 1983 |
Permanent Director of the Japan Soda Industry Association (continuing) |
Awards
| Oct. 2011 |
Declared Honorary Citizen of the State of Washington |
| Feb. 2010 |
Received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland |
| Jan. 2010 |
Received the Grand Cross of the Order "Jose T. de Marcoleta" of the Republic of Nicaragua |
| Sep. 2009 |
Received the North Star Order of the Order of Merit in the highest degree, of Mongolia |
| May. 2009 |
Received the Stara Planina Order of the Order of Merit in the highest degree, of the Republic of Bulgaria |
| Jan. 2009 |
Received an official Commendation awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria |
| May. 2008 |
Received the Order of Friendship of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
| Jun. 2007 |
Received an official Commendation awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt |
| Jul. 2005 |
Received the Japan Foreign Minister's Certificate of Commendation |
| Jul. 2003 |
Received the 'Outstanding Manager' Award in the 19th KKC Corporate Communication Awards given by the Keizai Koho Center, the Japanese Institute for Social and Economic Affairs |
| Nov. 2002 |
Received the 'CEO of the Year' Award given by Zaikai Co., Ltd., the publishers of Zaikai (Japanese Business World) magazine |
| Oct. 1997 |
Declared Honorary Secretary of the State of Louisiana |
| Oct. 1997 |
Declared Honorary State Representative, the State of Louisiana |
| Mar. 1993 |
Received the Mainichi Shinbun's 13th Mainichi Executive Award |
| Nov. 1992 |
Received the Japanese Government Medal with Blue Ribbon for Contribution to Japanese Industry |
| Feb. 1981 |
Declared Honorary Citizen of Texas |
| Feb. 1981 |
Declared Honorary Houstonian and Goodwill Ambassador of Houston, Texas |