Masonic Foundation of Japan Newsletter
(First Half of Year 2004 Jan-Jun)

Vol. 1 September 2004

Greetings to the members of the Masonic organizations in Japan

Your support for the Masonic Foundation of Japan is always valued and appreciated. The Board of Trustees makes every effort to comply with your requests and expectations.

We are happy to advise you that the Board decided to publish semiannual newsletters to provide information on activities of the Masonic Foundation of Japan. We are looking forward to your comments.

Trustees of the Masonic Foundation of Japan

1. Charity Donations

FY2003 (Jan - Mar 2004)

• Recommended by the Red Feather Association, the Masonic Foundation of Japan made donations of the communication equipment of braille personal computers, printers and displays as follows. The recipients were NPOs, which promote computer classes for the visually handicapped in the community, and organizations which promote to improve reading environments of the visually handicapped using advanced IT technology.

• Donations for overseas organ transplants introduced by NPO Japan Transplant Support Association

• Disaster Relief

The following donations were also made.

FY2004 (Apr - Jun 2004)

• FY2004 Donation Presentation Ceremony

The FY2004 donation presentation ceremony was held at the Blue Lodge Hall on April 27 at 13:30. Bro. Kitamura, Chairman, Bros. Iwahama and Kojima attended. According to the FY2004 charity project, the Chairman presented checks and/or certificates of donations to 18 organizations (30 persons). They exchanged information and had good communication during the gathering after the ceremony. Attached is the list of charitable organizations which Masonic organizations support.

• Masonic Children's Festival (sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Japan)

The 29th Masonic Children's Festival was held on May 23. The Festival was a success having had 1,248 attendants of children, entertainers, volunteers and Masonic related people. The Chairman received flowers on the stage from the children who were successful with their heart transplant operations. Bro. Iwahama, Chairman of the Children's Festival Committee, stated that the committee is planning to produce a DVD, commemoration goods, etc. to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the festival next year, expecting cooperation of Masonic Brethren.

The following donations were made from the Open Target and Overseas Organ Transplants accounts:

• Overseas Organ Transplants

• Mindanao Children's Library

Solicitation of donations through homepage (http://www.tma-japan.org) has started from this fiscal year to find more worthy charitable projects. Items solicited for donations this time were welfare equipment, such as, personal computers with special braille software, vehicles for wheelchairs, etc. The donation budget is l0 million. The application deadline is the end of August 2004, applications will be examined at the Board meeting in September, and donations will be made in October.

2. Moving of Ito Yokado/Request from Mori Trust regarding the Renovation of the 38MT Building

1) Change of service companies after Ito Yokado moved

Ito Yokado moved to Nibancho, Chiyoda-ku, during Golden Week in May. Accordingly, the cleaning company was changed from Sanyo Sobi K.K. to Taisei K.K. (listed on the Nagoya Stock Exchange II), and the security guard and building maintenance companies was changed to Nihon Kanzai K. K. (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange I).

2) Renovation of the 38MT Building

Mr. Yoshida, Executive Director from Mori Trust, visited to explain the renovation work on the infrastructure for the purpose of increasing the quality of the building after Ito Yokado's move. He also requested financial cooperation from the Masonic Foundation of Japan. The renovation work includes raising the floor, painting of inner and outer walls, renewal of lighting fixtures and toilet facilities, adjustment of the electric capacity of each floor, and improvement of air conditioning. The work will be completed in spring 2005. The 38 MT Building and the Masonic Building have inter-connected electrical and air conditioning systems. Mori Trust informed the office that, in the process of renovation, suspension of electrical and water supplies a few times, and temporary closure of the garden behind the 38MT Building are inevitable, and sought cooperation of the Masonic Foundation of Japan.

3) Request from Mori Trust

Mori Trust officially announced a budget of approximately ¥2.2 billion for the renovation of the 38 MT Building after Ito Yokado's move. This renovation will upgrade functionality of the building to attract first-class tenants. The proposal from Mori Trust regarding the 38 MT Building was a request for a rent decrease of ¥15 mil per year for 3 years to finance a part of renovation. In regard to this proposal; a) A rent decrease of ¥15 mil for this year will be accepted. b) The rent for the second and third years should be discussed each time, limiting the maximum amount of decrease to ¥15 mil.

3. Reform of the Public Interest Corporation System

A council consisting of professional experts was formed in November 2003 to discuss reform of the public interest corporation system. A summary of the discussions was announced in March this year, and an official report will be issued by the end of this year. The Chairman commented that the Trustees should pay attention to the status of the reforms, as this will affect future operations of the Masonic Foundation of Japan.

Please refer to the homepage regarding the FY2004 Officers of the Masonic Foundation of Japan, the FY2003 reports of the charity project/financials and the FY2004 plans of the charity project/financials.

* The Masonic Foundation of Japan is a common name of the Tokyo Masonic Association. Donation Activities Directly Supported by Masonic Organizations FY2003 & FY2004

Donation Activities Directly Supported by Masonic Organizations FY2004 & FY2004