Takashi “Tachi” Kiuchi,

Chairman, NPO - The Future 500 Chairman, E­Square Inc. Counsellor, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Lecturer, Musashi Institute of Technology Chairman, Patent & License Exchange K.K. Chairman, Childrens Express Japan Advisory Board, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

Tachi Kiuchi's "get-involved" personality has thoroughly cast him as a leader in relations between Japan and the United States. His personal philosophy leads him to run full marathons --- 27 of them, Boston, New York and Los Angeles, ride roller coasters and skydive as hobbies. His profusion of energy extends beyond physical exercise into both his professional and personal commitments.

Kiuchi was the first executive from overseas operations to be appointed to the board of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Tokyo and currently serves as a counsellor. Kiuchi is a strong advocate of creating corporate culture from the best of both Japanese and non-Japanese business practices. By stressing the value of each individual, he urges his managers to combine teamwork, trust and communication to build strong and personal relationships. Also dedicated to preserving the environment, Kiuchi is a cofounder and chairman of The Future 500 in the U.S.and Japan, a group that strives to promote sustainable industry and sound environmental practices.

In 1992, Kiuchi received the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award for promoting greater U.S.-Japan understanding, in 1995, he received the International Citizenship Award from the Japan America Society, and in 2000 Appreciation Award from World Association of Representatives for Descendants was presented.

Kiuchi is the author of “Working in America,” “Good Morning, This is Kiuchi Talking,” “New Economy --- Proposals from the Rainforest,”

“New Advocacy of Learning --- Road to Ecological Economy,” and “What We Learned in the Rainforest --- Business Lessons from Nature.”

Kiuchi was born in Germany in 1935, spending his first few years there and in England before relocating to Japan in 1939.  He earned his B.A. in economics from Keio University in Tokyo in 1958, and his M.A. from the University of British Columbia, Canada in 1960.

Kiuchi and his wife, Kyoko, have three sons, one daughter and three grand children.

What I Learned in the Rainforest

8 - 10 July 2004

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Takashi Tachi Kiuchi

Chairman, the Future 500

CEO Emeritus, Mitsubishi Electric America

ABSTRACT

          Modern civilization was built on the exploitation of natural capital. We know that if a company is run on the depletion of capital, instead of creating sufficient continuous streams of revenue, it is only a matter of time before the company goes bankrupt. The more 'employees' we have, and the higher the costs they incur, the faster the road toward the abyss. Why is it that we, the managers of "Earth, Inc." have not yet learned this lesson. Why is it that we continue to build our materials and energy economy overwhelmingly on natural capital? With the very wasteful luxurious ways of some of the richest employees of Earth, Inc., it should be crystal clear that this is suicidal behaviour.

            What is our natural income? It is quite simply the sources of energy that can be renewed endlessly and the use of materials which can be replenished, either through mindful and frugal use thereof or through the continuous reuse and recycling of materials.

 We have no choice but to work with renewable energy and material sources. In order to accomplish it, it is of absolute necessity to understand five fundamental principles.

1. The acceptance of natural systems as the primary systems.

2. A re-evaluation of 'Value' in modern society.

3. Active reinvestment in the health of natural systems.

4. A realization of the prime importance of resource productivity in production.

5. A realization that consumption and accumulation of wealth cannot produce human happiness.

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