GAMAGORI, Japan, May 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- NIDEK Co., Ltd. announced today that Mr. Hideo Ozawa received the highly decorated and prestigious award of "Order of The Rising Sun" from the Japanese Government and the Emperor of Japan -- His Imperial Majesty Akihito. The coveted award and decoration system is part of the current royal dynasty in Japan -- the Chrysanthemum Throne. Mr. Hideo Ozawa, Founder and President of NIDEK Co. Ltd., accepted the high honor and award in a special awards ceremony held in Tokyo, Japan, where the Emperor of Japan presided over the awards ceremony.
The Jokun (award) is a conferment decoration system in Japan, and is given by the Japanese Government and the Emperor of Japan to specially nominated individuals in Japan. Mr. Ozawa was selected from several thousand executives and it is the rare case in the history of the award, that an executive of a venture company (1,282 employees) has been recognized and given the award.
Mr. Ozawa was selected and given this high honor, based on several principal selection criteria, which he successfully met and surpassed:
-- Mr. Ozawa's long-standing contributions and dedication to the
Japanese & worldwide Ophthalmic Industry.
-- His dedicated efforts in the pursuit of clinical and surgical
advancements in the global medical and healthcare markets.
-- His advancement of technology and a philosophical driving focus
in research and development.
-- His individual contributions as the Chairman of the Japanese
Ophthalmic Instruments Association since 1997.
-- His long-standing commitment and support to develop the local
economy of Gamagori, Japan; where NIDEK has been headquartered
since its inception in 1971.
These general selection criteria were established for all individuals and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry nominated and recommended that Mr. Ozawa be given the "Order of the Rising Sun - Gold Rays with Rosette" award for 2004.
"I graciously accept this highest honor on behalf of all the members of NIDEK and its employees in Japan and around the world. This award is also the result of hard work and dedication from our business partners and distributors; without whom, our high achievement level and steady long-term growth would not have been attainable and possible. This is a collective award and for that I am honored and grateful to all. We have stood firm and steadfast from our inception days, some 33 years ago and we continue to focus our business activities in Japan and around the world on bringing innovative products and technologies to the ophthalmic industry," Mr. Ozawa commented at the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan. "In the last few years, we have diversified our business to include areas of visual prosthesis, pharmaceutical and tissue engineering; all of these with a focus -- on bringing to bear new advancements for the ophthalmic industry and the healthcare industry at large."
With worldwide operations headquartered in Gamagori, Japan, NIDEK develops, manufactures and sells laser systems and diagnostic equipment of ophthalmology, optometry, general surgery, gynecology and cosmetic dermatological surgery. NIDEK's ophthalmic and optometric products are specifically designed for diagnosing and treating retinal diseases, glaucoma, refractive therapies, retinopathy of prematurity, and pre- and post-operative cataract surgery therapy. NIDEK's surgical products are designed to treat patients in the growing applications of cosmetic laser surgery and laser skin resurfacing. NIDEK distributes its products through a network of distribution partners and a direct sales force.
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