Seiko Epson : Epson President Minoru Usui Awarded Prestigious Medal with Blue Ribbon

- TOKYO, Japan, November 2, 2018 -

Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, 'Epson') is pleased to announce that President Minoru Usui has been selected by the Japanese government to receive the prestigious Medal with Blue Ribbon this autumn.

Reason for selection

1. Contributions to the advancement of the company and industry through business
   1. Contributions to the advancement of business as representative director and president of Epson
   2. Contributions to digital printing in color inkjet printer development and photography culture
   3. Contributions to the development of the 3LCD projector business for the education market
   4. Contributions to the advancement of the watch industry through the development and popularization of the world's first GPS solar watches
2. Contributions to the advancement of the office equipment industry as chairman of the Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association (JBMIA)

Comments from Mr. Usui

'It is a tremendous honor to receive the Medal with a Blue Ribbon. It would not have been possible without the support of countless other individuals, to whom I am profoundly grateful.

'One of the main reasons cited for this honor was color inkjet printers-products that I am proud to say contributed significantly to the spread and advancement of digital photo printing. The color inkjet printers we developed provided photo-quality prints at a price that was affordable to ordinary consumers, and this created a culture in which we empowered anyone to easily and conveniently print photos at home. Along the way, I think we were able to contribute to the popularization and advancement of the digital photo printing culture, including digital camera photo printing and the development of inkjet-printed New Year's greeting postcards in Japan.

'As a company executive, I look forward to the challenge of developing new products in different areas, creating new markets, contributing to industrial and cultural development, and making Epson an indispensable company.'

The Medal with a Blue Ribbon

Six types of medals, each with a different ribbon color (red, green, yellow, purple, blue, and dark blue), are conferred to individuals who have made notable achievements in one of six areas. The Medal with a Blue Ribbon is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in areas such as the advancement of industry and the promotion of public welfare and education through their business activities or work with other groups or organizations.

The 2018 autumn medals of honors will be presented in a ceremony on November 14 at the Tokyo Prince Hotel, followed by an audience with His Majesty the Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace.

Profile of Minoru Usui

November 1979	Joined Shinshu Seiki Co. Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corp.)
April 1997	Appointed General Manager, IJ Development & Design Department, Imaging and Information Products Division
April 2002	Appointed Deputy General Administrative Manager, Imaging and Information Products Division
June 2002	Appointed Director
November 2004	Appointed Deputy General Administrative Manager, Corporate Research & Development Division
November 2005	Appointed General Administrative Manager, Production Engineering & Development Division
July 2007	Appointed General Administrative Manager, Corporate Research & Development Division
October 2007	Appointed Managing Director
June 2008	Appointed Representative Director/President (current position)

Awards

November 2008	Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, 2008 Kanto Region Invention Awards-Embodiment Award (for the embodiment of a method of depositing multi-sized ink droplets)
November 2009	Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, 2009 Kanto Region Invention Awards-Embodiment Award (for the embodiment of a high-lumen compact liquid crystal projector)
November 2010	Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, 2010 Kanto Region Invention Awards-Embodiment Award (for the embodiment of an inkjet printer with borderless printing capability)
June 2012	Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, 2012 National Invention Awards-Invention Embodiment Award (for the development of a high-lumen compact liquid crystal projector)
November 2012	Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, 2012 Kanto Region Invention Awards-Embodiment Award (for the invention of a mechanical wristwatch with the accuracy of a quartz watch)
November 2016	Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, 2016 Kanto Region Invention Awards-Embodiment Award (for the invention of a solar GPS wristwatch)

Awards won by past Epson officers and employees

The Medal with a Yellow Ribbon

1980	Kentaro Hattori	(then chairman)
1983	Reijiro Hattori	(then president of Hattori Tokeiten)
1986	Tsuneya Nakamura	(then vice-president)
1996	Hideaki Yasukawa	(then president)
2006	Saburo Kusama	(then chairman)
2011	Seiji Hanaoka	(then chairman)

The Medal with a Yellow Ribbon

1956	Mr. Takaishi
2005	Kenji Shiohara
2010	Kazuo Takeoka
2011	Koichi Shibata (Epson Atmix)
2015	Yoshifusa Nakazawa
2016	Takashi Iimori

About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, watches and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 81,000 employees in 85 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.
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