The Advancing Ubiquitous Society -- Revealing What's Next, Changing Tomorrow: CEATEC JAPAN 2005 Has Opened Its Doors.

TOKYO -- The CEATEC JAPAN Organizing Committee announced today that CEATEC JAPAN 2005 opened its doors at Makuhari Messe (Nippon Convention Center) in Chiba Prefecture for the 5-day period from October 4 to 8, under the sponsorship of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), the Communications and Information network Association of Japan (CIAJ) and the Japan Personal Computer Software Association (JPSA). (CEATEC stands for Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies.)

Exhibition Theme

Japan's ubiquitous society has entered a period of stable development characterized by digital appliance evolution, broadband communications diffusion, increasingly accessible terrestrial digital television broadcasts and strengthening of the mobile infrastructure. These and other developments are bringing about a convergence of imaging, information, and communications, which is creating new value and new markets.

Against the backdrop of this expanding ubiquitous society, the theme for the sixth staging of CEATEC JAPAN 2005 is "The Advancing Ubiquitous Society -- Revealing What's Next, Changing Tomorrow."

Exhibition Scale

On opening day, 788 companies and other organizations, including 293 from 28 countries and regions worldwide, opened 2,775 booths at CEATEC JAPAN 2005. Reflecting the many advancements taking place in the ubiquitous society, the number of exhibitors this year has surpassed that of CEATEC JAPAN 2004, when 728 exhibitors, including 266 from 20 countries and regions outside Japan, sponsored 2,754 booths.

Robust pre-registration on the official CEATEC JAPAN web site has led exhibition organizers to forecast that visitor numbers will rise above the 182,000 recorded last year.

Seventeen Highly Topical Keynote Speeches

Reflecting CEATEC JAPAN's uniqueness as an exhibition sponsored by three leading industry associations, this year's exhibition is providing a series of Keynote Speeches by top industry executives and opinion leaders. This year's program kicked off on Tuesday, October 4, with a speech by Mr. Tadashi Okamura (Director Chairman of the Board, Toshiba Corporation) under the title of "New Lifestyles Created by Electronic Information Technology Innovations." Mr. Tamotsu Nomakuchi (President and CEO, Mitsubishi Electric  Corp.) gave a speech entitled "Toward the Realization of a Safe and Reliable Ubiquitous Society," and Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman and CEO, Sony Corp.) spoke on "The future of consumer electronics in the digital age." A total of 17 Keynote Speeches have been scheduled through Friday, October 7.

In addition, Mr. Donald J. MacDonald (Vice President, General Manager, Digital Home Group, Intel Corporation) and Mr. Antonio M. Perez (Chief Executive Officer and President, Eastman Kodak Company) delivered Special Guest Speeches on October 4. Mr. MacDonald's speech was entitled "Intel: Transforming Your Home," and Mr. Perez spoke under the title of "The Power of Partnership." These and other leaders of the IT and electronics industries worldwide offered a rare glimpse of their strategies and views on the future of the industry.

Leaping Forward to Become an International Exhibition

In line with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "Visit Japan Campaign (VJC)," CEATEC JAPAN 2005 has been actively implementing overseas visitor promotion activities and opened an on-site International Visitors Center from October 4 to 6. This center is also home to JETRO BIZMATCH@CEATEC JAPAN, a program supporting the business communications activities of overseas and Japanese companies co-sponsored by the Japan External Trade Organization  (JETRO).

Leading IT and electronics companies from around the world are exhibiting in national and regional pavilions from, for example, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan.

In addition, the IEEE Advance Seminar was held from October 5 to 7. Leading U.S. and European representatives of universities and research organizations, as well as research authorities in the private sector gave presentations on the latest trends in their fields of expertise.

Diffusion of Digital Broadcasting and Digital Home Appliances

Among the Special Exhibits in the Home & Personal Zone, with its focuses on digital appliances, is the Digital Broadcasting PLAZA, which will introduce mobile terminal services, server-based broadcasting services and digital broadcasting services of the future together with the most recent results of broadcasting technology development. Visitors to the PLAZA are also able to experience the power of 5.1-channel surround sound. With terrestrial analog broadcasting set to end in Japan in 2011, this PLAZA presents a look at the future of broadcasting.

The Digital Broadcasting Forum was held on October 6, featuring Keynote Speeches by representatives of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NAB-J). A panel discussion on portable and mobile digital broadcasting was also held.

Information Networks -- Embodying the Ubiquitous Society

Exhibits in the Business & Society Zone center on corporate network services and systems. "Ubiquitous Style Pavilion -- Find the Ideal Network Society" is the name of a special exhibit combining the contents of individual plazas at previous CEATEC JAPAN exhibitions, including the Plaza of Information Terminals and Technologies, RFID Plaza, HATS Plaza, Accessibility Plaza, and IPv6 Plaza. This Pavilion introduces service solutions being realized by information communication technologies in the ubiquitous society as new business styles.

Electronic Components and Devices Sustaining Technology Innovation

In the Electronic Components, Devices & Industrial Equipment Stage, various projects are being held under the stage theme of "Monozukuri (Product Creation) Innovation Created with Electronic Components and Devices." The goal of these projects is to provide business opportunities by conveying information about Japan's technological excellence.

"Car Electronics Sustained by Electronic Components and Devices" is a special exhibit introducing expanding market opportunities in the automobile industry, which is increasingly adopting semiconductor devices and electronic components for automobiles.

In addition, "Display Device Forum 2005" was held on October 5 to introduce information on global trends and domestic initiatives supporting the continuing growth of Japan's electronic display industry. The Monozukuri (Product Creation) Innovation PLAZA introduces samples of the many advanced Japanese electronic components and devices that lead the industry globally.

Promoting Academic-Private Sector Collaboration and Fostering New

Generations

In an effort to promote the fostering of generations of industry professionals and technology interchange in general, CEATEC JAPAN 2005 is hosting "intebro," an Internet broadcasting network managed by university students, and the "Collaborations between Academic and Private Sectors Pavilion."

On October 8, the "Kids' and Junior High School Students' Electronics Workshop" will give elementary school students, junior high school students, and parents a chance to experience the joys of monozukuri (product creation). Also on October 8, the "Kanto Regional Finals of the FSI-All Japan Robot-Sumo Tournament" will be held in the event hall adjoining the exhibition hall.

A Wide Range of Conference Sessions

The CEATEC JAPAN Conference is another important source of information at the exhibition, with programs focusing on every area of the IT and electronics industries. Trend Sessions introduce the latest IT and electronics trends, while Special Sessions cover a wide range of subjects, and Advanced Sessions present state-of-the-art technologies. Topic-specific information is available in programs such as the Software & Solutions Track, Information Systems Track and Communications Network Track.

Individual exhibitors also showcase their unique technologies, products and services in exhibitor presentations and seminars. Visitors can participate free of charge in any of the 131 Conference sessions being held.

The organizers and sponsors of CEATEC JAPAN 2005 would like to encourage people from around the world to visit the exhibition and experience the "nexts" and "tomorrows" brought about by the advancing ubiquitous society.

The CEATEC JAPAN 2005 Press Center is open to support the on-site activities of media representatives from October 4 to 8 on the 2nd floor of the International Conference Hall at the Japan Convention Center (Makuhari Messe).

For queries after CEATEC JAPAN 2005, please contact the CEATEC JAPAN Management Office.