Blood drive campaign
As a pioneer in corporate blood drives
On August 21, 1964, OKI launched Japan's first corporate blood drive, inspired by a proposal submitted by a single employee. This event—Japan's first corporate blood drive—was organized with help from the former Japanese Red Cross Society's Central Blood Bank. From OKI, 175 employees participated in the drive campaign, an event reported in newspapers and on TV that inspired other corporate blood drives.
(Left) The first group blood donation campaign held at the plaza located near the entranceway in front of the Shinagawa Station (Right) The present-day regular blood donation campaign
The entire OKI Group has been involved in blood donation programs ever since, and currently over 2,000 employees participate every year. These activities led to the presentation of the Showa Emperor Memorial Award for Promoting Blood Donations at the 42nd national assembly for promoting blood donations held on July 13, 2006. The award was presented in recognition of OKI's sustained promotion of blood drives for more than 40 years, for OKI's donation of blood transport vehicles and other items to the Red Cross Blood Centers in various areas of Japan from fiscal 1996, for support provided to the Japanese Red Cross Society Homepage, and for organizing and holding donor registration drives for bone-marrow banks at all business sites in Tokyo, Saitama, Gumma, and Shizuoka Prefectures, alongside blood drives, from 2001.
OKI receives Showa Emperor Memorial Award for Promoting Blood Donations at the 42nd national assembly for promoting blood donation
OKI President Katsumasa Shinozuka (left) receiving award from Crown Prince Naruhito, honorary vice president of the Japanese Red Cross Society
OKI received the Showa Emperor Memorial Award for Promoting Blood Donations at the 42nd national blood donation assembly held July 13, 2006. OKI initiated Japan's first-ever corporate blood drive on August 21, 1964, based on a proposal submitted by a single employee. The company has now taken an active role in promoting blood drives for more than 40 years. In addition, OKI has donated refrigerated blood transport vehicles to Red Cross Blood Centers in various areas of Japan since fiscal 1996, using the funds collected as part of OKI 100 Yen Fund of Love and equal amounts provided by OKI in a matching gift program. OKI has also provided support to the Japanese Red Cross Society Homepage since fiscal 1996, while holding donor registration drives for bone-marrow banks alongside the blood drives since fiscal 2001. The Showa Emperor Memorial Award for Promoting Blood Donations recognizes OKI's energetic, sustained activities to contribute to blood programs administered by the Japanese Red Cross Society.