MIKIO SASAKI

THE PHILIPPINES-JAPAN SOCIETY

By unanimous resolution of the Board of Trustees

proudly confers upon

MIKIO SASAKI

the

MEDAL OF MERIT

For Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of
Philippines-Japan Relations

MIKIO SASAKI was born on October 8, 1937 in Tokyo.  He graduated from the Waseda University in Tokyo in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering.  Upon graduation, he joined Mitsubishi Corporation.  Six years after, in March, he found himself in Europe, first at Mitsubishi International in Düsseldorf, Germany, then in November of the same year, he was transferred to the London Branch of Mitsubishi Corporation.  In 1979, he was posted in Iran as the President of Mitsubishi International Corporation (Iran) Ltd.  Thereafter, he was promoted General Manager of the Heavy Machinery Department in 1985, then General Manager of the Ship & Plant Division in 1989.

The next years thereafter saw his spectacular rise within the Mitsubishi organization.  He was appointed Executive Vice-President of Mitsubishi International Corporation in New York USA in 1991, then rose to be Director of Mitsubishi Corporation in 1992.  In 1993, he assumed the Presidency of Mitsubishi International Corporation USA before returning to Tokyo as Managing Director in 1994.  In 1998, Mr. Sasaki reached the pinnacle of his executive career when he was named President and CEO of Mitsubishi Corporation.

After six years at the helm of Mitsubishi Corporation, Mr. Sasaki was named Chairman of its Board of Directors in 2004 – a post he held with distinction for another six years.  In 2010, he was elevated to the position of Senior Corporate Advisor and Member of the Board of Mitsubishi Corporation, and the following year in 2011, he was named Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors.

Mr. Sasaki is a leading officer of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, serving as its Vice-Chairman from 2000 to 2007. During that period, he served as the Chairman of the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee from 2000 to 2012, Chairman of the Japan Foreign Trade Council from 2004 to 2008, Vice-Chairman of the Keidanren from 2007 to 20011.  Todate, he continues to serve as the Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Japan, a post he has held since 2002.

As a corporate and industry leader, Mr. Sasaki has hosted leading Philippine government officials and corporate luminaries.  As early as 2002, he actively participated as a leading representative of corporate Japan in crafting the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), which took almost 8 years to complete and ratified by both countries in 2010.  Mr. Sasaki also spearheaded initiatives that promoted Japanese investments in and trade with the Philippines, through numerous investment seminars on Philippine business from 2002 until 2012.

Therefore, in recognition and deep appreciation of his notable achievements in forging closer economic and business relations between the Philippines and Japan, as well as his long, dedicated service as co-Chairman of the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee, the counterpart organization the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC), the PHILIPPINES-JAPAN SOCIETY hereby confers upon MR. MIKIO SASAKI the 35th Philippines-Japan Society Medal of Merit, the highest award within its gift to convey.

Given this 26th day of July in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen, in Makati City, Philippines on the occasion of the 35th Philippines-Japan Friendship Celebration and the 41st year of the Philippines-Japan Society.

FRANCIS C. LAUREL
President

Attest:

BENJAMIN C. LAUREL
Corporate Secretary