Chugai Hosts a Charity Concert Hamakko Jazz Club Terumasa Hino Workshop Vol. 2 to Support Cancer Patient Associations

December 13, 2007 - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Osamu Nagayama (hereafter, "Chugai")] announced today that it will serve as the special sponsor for Hamakko Jazz Club Terumasa Hino Workshop Vol. 2, a charity concert for supporting the Cancer Patient Associations.

Hamakko Jazz Club Terumasa Hino Workshop is a concert in which Japanese elementary and middle school students, who had received coaching in advance by some of Japan's foremost jazz players, demonstrate what they had learned through training. Playing a key role in instructing the youths is Mr. Terumasa Hino, a jazz trumpeter who carries out vigorous activities to teach music to, and foster musicians among, the younger generation.

Chugai has been promoting a variety of social action programs in the fields of medicine and welfare, as well as education, with the hope of further contributing to people's health. As part of these activities, the company has been hosting, since 2005, charity events aimed at supporting the activities of various Cancer Patient Associations. This will be the third time that Chugai has sponsored such an event.

This charity concert is held with two goals. The first goal is to publicize that the Cancer Patient Associations play a part in providing mental care to help patients and their families overcome their pain and distresses, and to show that the association is a familiar presence with which the patients and their families can turn to, to discuss their problems and concerns related to the disease. The second goal is to encourage all the participants - members of the Cancer Patient Associations who are combating cancer, the children who are on the stage, and people in the audience - to become one, and to foster and share their dreams and hopes for the future.

The 2007 Yokohama Cancer Charity Executive Committee, which hosts this concert together with Nippon Broadcasting System, comprises fifteen patient groups and patient support organizations that support the objective of this event, and which carry out activities either in the Kanto region, or throughout Japan. Content of each group’s activities will also be displayed inside the concert venue. Moreover, part of the proceeds from the admission fee will be donated to the 2007 Yokohama Cancer Charity Executive Committee to fund their activities.

As a pharmaceutical company with a role in the field of medicine, Chugai's mission is to dedicate itself "for the benefit of the medical community and human health around the world," and is committed to continue delivering innovative drugs, and to carrying out these social action programs on an ongoing basis.

[Reference]

An Overview of "Chugai Presents Hamakko Jazz Club Terumasa Hino Workshop Vol. 2, a Charity Concert to Support the Cancer Patients' Network"

Date and time: December 16, 2007 (Sun.), from 14:00

Venue: Main Hall, Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center
 
Performers: Terumasa Hino (trumpet) Quintet, Hisao Osumi (drums), Hikari Ichihara (trumpet), sixth grade students at Yokohama Municipal Nakawada Minami Elementary School, and the Yokohama Municipal Taisho Junior High School brass band

Hosts: Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc., 2007 Yokohama Cancer Charity Executive Committee

Supporters: Civic Vitality Promotion Bureau, City of Yokohama

Planning and Production by: SoL

Cooperation by: Pacifico Yokohama, Pormani

Special sponsor: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
 
Tickets: All the seats are reserved. (Advance sale: \3,500; sold on the day of the event: \4,000)

Inquiries: Hot Staff Promotions  Tel: 03-5720-9999 (weekdays 16:00 - 19:00)

<Content of the event>
Jazz players led by Mr. Terumasa Hino will visit children's schools in advance to teach how to perform music. Afterwards, they will head for the main event's stage, with the children, held on December 16. On the day of the event, about 100 elementary and junior high school students create a wonderful stage, together with professional jazz players.

<List of 15 groups participating in the 2007 Yokohama Cancer Charity Executive Committee>
Ichi, Ni no San de Onsenni Hairu Kai; (NPO) Josei Tokuyuno Gan no Support Group -Orange Tea; Gan to Tomoni Ikiru Kai, incorporated foundation; (NPO) Ganno Kodomo wo Mamoru Kai; Group Nexus; (NPO) Japan Wellness; "Sukusuku," a Family Group of Children with Retinoblastoma; Gan Kanja to Kazoku Izoku no Kai Dongurinokai; Japan Pancreatic Cancer Patient Group Action Network (Pan-Can Japan); Chiba Breast Cancer Patients' Group Nemuno Kai; (NPO) Hope Project; "VOL-Net"-Voice Of Life Net (patients and networks for listening to voices together); (NPO) Breast Cancer Support Group VOICE; Yamanashi Mamma Club; Rimpa no Kai