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Kikujiro Namba
 We announce with deepest regret the decease of a dear friend and colleague, Mr. Kikujiro Namba, President of Promotech, a technology consulting company in Tokyo, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome.
With a degree from Waseda University, much of Namba san's early career was spent in France where worked for many years with Air France and founded Japan-Europe Tourism S.A in Paris. Returning to Tokyo, and fluent in English and French, he became Vice President of Technova Inc., engaged in the promotion of innovation in areas of frontier research and technological development, in close collaboration with the leaders of major Japanese corporations. He took over as President of Technova in 1972 when his predecessor, Dr. Keichi Oshima, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Tokyo University, was appointed Director General for Science, Technology and Industry at OECD, as successor to Dr. Alex King, co-founder with Aurelio Peccei of the Club of Rome.
As President of Technova, he promoted the development of advanced technologies in many fields, ranging from magnetic levitation vehicles, nuclear fusion and innovation in the generation and transmission of energy to advanced medical technologies and the application of biotechnology to agriculture, environmental clean-up and the production of biodegradable materials. For many years under his leadership, Technova organized an annual conference of the leaders of global automobile manufacturers to promote energy efficiency, reduced emissions and environmental responsibility.
Kikujiro Namba joined the Club of Rome in 1989 and, in spite of his heavy responsibilities, committed himself to many international activities of the Club and to developing a strong international Chapter in Japan. His extensive contacts with leaders from industry, science and culture enabled him to engage with such personalities as Dr. Saburo Okita, former Foreign Minister, Dr. Koji Kobayashi, Chairman of NEC both Members of the Club of Rome, and with Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota. In September 2007 in Madrid, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Club: his last international trip was to attend a meeting of the Committee in Winterthur on the 20th February.
Besides his business and scientific interests, Kikujiro found time to compete internationally in ski events and he was dedicated to music. In the 1960's, while in France, he founded the Poitiers Music Festival. An excellent pianist, he enjoyed playing his own compositions to his friends. He was an early activist for the environment, a founding member and President of Earthwatch Japan, a not-for-profit organisation which provides opportunities for young people to participate as volunteers in world-class scientific activities on ecological and environmental projects across the world.
With a deep feeling for the cultures of Japan and of other nations, he published several books on changing values and the spiritual dimensions of human progress and on the role of human rights and responsibilities in achieving a better world. Throughout his life, Kikujiro Namba was devoted to improving the condition and prospects of humanity, particularly by building trust and mutual understanding between the diverse cultures and peoples of the planet. He was firmly committed to promoting peace in the world and to improving relations between Japan, Europe, China, Russia and the United States. He was a proud, dedicated and active Member of the Club of Rome. He will be sadly missed by his family and amany friends all over the world.
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