Panasonic to Send Hope with a Sakura Tree for Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Tuesday, October 11th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC)(TOKYO:6752)("Panasonic") announced today to collect "Messages of Hope" from around the world to encourage children in disaster areas, from October 6 to December 31, 2011, in support of the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The collected messages will be presented together with young cherry trees to the Tohoku region in the spring of 2012.

A "Message of Hope" may be posted on the special website, Facebook, or Twitter. Each message will be added as a cherry flower to the cherry tree on the website until it is in full bloom. Once it reaches full bloom, posters and tapestries of it will be made and presented together with young cherry trees to children in disaster areas.

In 2007, Panasonic started its "Let's Plant a Tree for a Unit!" campaign and has continued the activity to plant a tree for each unit of an applicable ECO NAVI*1 product sold in Japan. With the cooperation of LEAF and Eco-Schools of Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)*2, which is an international NGO, over 1.8 million trees have been planted in 45 countries. (As of the end of September 2011)

In 2011, tree planting is scheduled to be done in 58 countries. In Japan, in support of the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, young cherry trees will be planted at elementary schools, kindergartens, and day-care centers primarily in the Tohoku region, and the "Messages of Hope" collected from around the world will be presented in the spring of 2012.

We look forward to receiving messages from many people. Please join us in this project.

Related Links 'Send Hope with a Sakura Tree for Japan' Special Website

*This website also reports on Panasonic's tree planting activities. "Panasonic Sakura" Apps on Panasonic News Portal Facebook Page

* Using Facebook Apps to post a message. Panasonic News Portal : Global News Exclusive

*1: "ECO NAVI" is the brand new technology by Panasonic, standing for "Ecology (= Energy Saving) Navigation" which automatically senses the human presence, location and activity level to operate itself in the most efficient and energy saving way. Panasonic appliances range with 21 product categories. (As of September 2011, in Japan)

*2: FEE: Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a non-governmental and non-profit organization aiming to promote sustainable development through environmental education (formal school education, training of staff and general awareness raising). FEE is mainly active through their five environmental education programs. FEE has member organizations in 63 countries worldwide.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/

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Panasonic Corporation

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