Epson’s President, Minoru Usui.
Minoru Usui has been awarded the Medal with Blue Ribbon by the Japanese Government.
The honour is bestowed on Usui for multiple reasons, not least his “contributions to the advancement of the company and industry through business,” as both a Representative Director and as President of Epson.
Other reasons given for the award include Usui’s “contributions to digital printing in colour inkjet printer development and photography culture,” “contributions to the development of the 3LCD projector business for the education market,” and contributions to the advancement of the watch industry through the development and popularisation of the world’s first GPS solar watches.”
Usui’s contributions “to the advancement of the office equipment industry, as Chairman of the Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association (JBMIA)” were also recognised.
“It is a tremendous honour to receive the Medal with a Blue Ribbon,” Usui declared, as he paid tribute to “the support of countless other individuals, to whom I am profoundly grateful,” and without whom “it would not have been possible.”
He continued: “One of the main reasons cited for this honour was colour inkjet printers – products that I am proud to say contributed significantly to the spread and advancement of digital photo printing. The colour inkjet printers we developed provided photo-quality prints at a price that was affordable to ordinary consumers, and this created a culture in which we empowered anyone to easily and conveniently print photos at home. Along the way, I think we were able to contribute to the popularisation and advancement of the digital photo printing culture, including digital camera photo printing and the development of inkjet-printed New Year’s greeting postcards in Japan.”
Usui first joined Epson nearly forty years ago, in November 1979, rising through the ranks to become a Director in June 2002, and eventually to become Managing Director in October 2007. The following year, he was appointed Representative Director and President of the OEM, a position he has held for the decade since.
“As a company executive, I look forward to the challenge of developing new products in different areas, creating new markets, contributing to industrial and cultural development, and making Epson an indispensable company,” Usui added.
Japan bestows six different medals upon individuals who have made notable achievements in one of six areas, which each area receiving a medal with a different coloured ribbon (red, green, yellow, purple, blue, or dark blue.)
The Medal with a Blue Ribbon is awarded to individuals who have made “outstanding contributions in areas such as the advancement of industry and the promotion of public welfare and education through their business activities or work with other groups or organisations.”
Usui will be presented with his medal at a ceremony at the Tokyo Prince Hotel on the 14th of November, which will be followed by an audience with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace.
