News Releases

03/22/2004

Hitachi Hosts Japanese Teachers in North America, as Part of Long Standing Global Exchange Program

BRISBANE, Calif. and TARRYTOWN, N.Y., March 22, 2004 -- Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), today announced that four teachers from Japan are taking part this week in an educational and cultural exchange venue in North America as part of Hitachi’s long-standing International School Teachers Exchange Program (HISTEP).

The HISTEP program provides educators from the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan the opportunity to experience each other’s educational system and society, and promote the open exchange of ideas between cultures.

The four teachers will receive an overview of the U.S. educational system, as well as observe and teach classes. They will meet with local education and business leaders in the Detroit, Michigan area and Westchester County, New York, and spend the day with the family of a Hitachi employee, and tour points of interest in New York, before returning to Japan. In addition, the teachers will take part in roundtable discussions with their North America counterparts and alumni of the HISTEP Program, and participate in teaching venues in schools in Farmington and Farmington Hills, Mich.; and Sleepy Hollow and Hartsdale; N.Y.

Masao Hisada, president and CEO of Hitachi America, Ltd., said, “The HISTEP program provides us the opportunity to promote and support education infrastructure and the mutual understanding among different cultures. The teachers have the opportunity to observe another culture and share the experience with their students.” Approximately 200 educators have been part of this program, since it began in 1987.

The Japan-based teachers in this year’s program are Ms. Keiko Odashima, Oshima Junior High School, Hitachinaka City; Ms. Kumiko Nishikawa, Sakamoto Junior High School, Hitachi City; Mr. Yoshihiro Hiroki, Taga High School, Hitachi City; and Mr. Toshiaki Fujino, Katsuta Technical High School, Hitachinaka City.

Hitachi America, Ltd. markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and consumer electronics, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information on Hitachi in North America, visit http://www.hitachi.us.

Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 340,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2002 (ended March 31, 2003) consolidated sales totaled 8,191.7 billion yen ($68.3 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com