Press Information

Tamachi Building Co. Invites Kindergarten Children to Potato Dig
At Company's Rooftop Garden
-- Offering Fun Learning Opportunity about Environment as CSR Activity --

No.1458
Tamachi Building Co., Ltd.,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Print

Tokyo, October 24, 2011 - Tamachi Building Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) dedicated to office building services, invited children of a nearby kindergarten for a sweet potato digging event on the rooftop garden of a company building in central Tokyo. The event, held to make a social contribution under the MHI group's CSR (corporate social responsibility) guidelines, provided the youngsters an opportunity to learn about environmental issues through a familiar and enjoyable activity. The occasion marked the third potato dig to date and the fifth event of this kind, also including two strawberry picking events held in early summer. As the potato dig was also attended by people from the local community, it enabled the company to further promote exchanges with its neighbors.

The garden where the event took place is situated on the roof of the Dai Ichi Tamachi Building, directly across from East Japan Railway's Tamachi Station in Minato-ku. Since May 2009 an area of 219 square meters (m2) of the rooftop (approx. 2,600m2) has been used as a garden as part of a program to achieve full-fledged rooftop greening in the near future. The initiative is linked to Minato-ku's greening campaign, which targets a green space ratio of 25% by 2026.

Within the rooftop garden, a 21.5m2 vegetable garden has been used for potato cultivation. Sweet potato was selected for planting because during the summer season it offers a high green coverage ratio, thereby providing excellent heat insulation; also, sweet potatoes offer good opportunities for children to dig and taste. The remainder of the garden is being utilized primarily for planting grass, flowers and evergreens.

At the latest event, about 30 children attending a nearby kindergarten first learned about the rooftop garden system and its benefits through easy-to-understand explanations using photos and drawings. They then enjoyed digging up the potatoes and eating potatoes steamed on the site.

Tamachi Building, a wholly owned subsidiary of MHI, was established in 1964 to own, rent out and manage office buildings. The company also conducts various activities reflecting MHI's CSR guidelines and environmental policies in line with a business philosophy calling for the provision of services enabling safe and comfortable building spaces.

 [Potato Dig by Kindergarten Children] [Potato Dig by Kindergarten Children]

 

Business contact:Tamachi Building Co., Ltd.,

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.