Hitachi Hosts Japan Teachers in North America, as Part of Long Standin

    Business Editors/Education Editors/High-Tech Editors

    TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2005--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, Australia 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 educational system in the U.S. and Canada, as well as observe and teach classes. They will meet with local education, government and business leaders in the Detroit, Michigan area, Westchester County, New York and Toronto, Canada, and spend the day with the family of a Hitachi employee, and tour points of interest in the respective cities, 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, Mich.; Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; and Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown; 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." Some 130 educators have been part of this program, since it began in 1986.
    The Japan-based teachers in this year's program are Ms. Tomomi Ohira, Hirasawa Junior High School, Hitachi City, Japan; Mr. Motojiro Takada, Tabiko Junior High School, Hitachinaka, Japan; Mr. Hidetoshi Sato, Katsuta Senior High School, Hitachinaka City, Japan; and Ms. Atsuko Watanabe, Takahagi High School, Takahagi, Japan.
    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 347,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2004 (ended March 31, 2005) consolidated sales totaled 9,027.0 billion Yen ($84.4 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 Website at http://www.hitachi.com.

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CONTACT: Hitachi America, Ltd. Branding & Corporate Communications Group Gerard F. Corbett, 650-244-7900 gerard.corbett@hal.hitachi.com

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS EDUCATION SOURCE: Hitachi America, Ltd.

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