Announcement: Application to Delist Stock

At a 17 December 2002 meeting of the board of directors, we have decided to apply to delist our common stock from the Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo stock exchanges. Details follow.

1. Reason for Application to Delist Stock

Historically, our common stock has been traded on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo stock exchanges. Nevertheless, little trading of our stock takes place at the Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo stock exchanges, and we believe that delisting will have minimal impact on shareholders and investors. For this reason, we have decided to apply to delist our stock from these exchanges.

2. Listed Stock Exchanges other than Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo Stock Exchanges

Tokyo Stock Exchange, Osaka Stock Exchange

3. Date of Application to Delist Stock: 18 December 2002 (Wed.)

4. Future Prospects

We will submit an application to delist our stock to each of these stock exchanges. After each exchange receives the application, it will assign it to the temporary post for stocks to be delisted. It is expected that the stock will be delisted from each exchange 3 months after this date.